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Published Papers 【 display / non-display 】

• Severe and widespread coral reef damage during the 2014-2017 Global Coral Bleaching Event.

  Eakin CM, Heron SF, Connolly SR, Devotta DA, Liu G, Geiger EF, De La Cour JL, Gomez AM, Skirving WJ, Baird AH, Cantin NE, Couch CS, Donner SD, Gilmour J, Gonzalez-Rivero M, Gudka M, Harrison HB, Hodgson G, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Hoey AS, Hoogenboom MO, Hughes TP, Johnson ME, Kerry JT, Kimura T, Mihaly J, Muñiz-Castillo AI, Obura DO, Pratchett MS, Rivera-Sosa A, Ross CL, Stein J, Thompson A, Torda G, Viehman TS, Walter CS, Wilson S, Marsh BL, Spady BL, Dyer N, Adam TC, Alcolado P, Alidoostsalimi M, Alidoostsalimi P, Alvarez-Filip L, Álvarez-Noriega M, Arias-González JE, Bahr KD, Barnes P, Barraza Sandoval JE, Baum JK, Bauman AG, Beger M, Berry K, Bessell-Browne P, Bigot L, Bonito V, Brodnicke OB, Burdick D, Burkepile DE, Burt AJ, Burt JA, Butler IR, Caldwell JM, Chancerelle Y, Chen CA, Cherh KL, Childress MJ, Coker DJ, Costa B, Coward G, Crabbe MJC, Dallison T, Dalton S, DeCarlo TM, Drury C, Drysdale I, Edwards CB, Eggertsen L, Elma E, Ennis RS, Evans RD, Eyal G, Fenner D, Figueroa-Zavala B, Fisch J, Fox MD, Gadoutsis E, Gilbert A, Halford AR, Heintz T, Hewlett J, Hobbs JA, Hoot WC, Houk P, Johnston L, Johnston MA, Kayanne H, Kennedy EV, Kikuchi RKP, Kloiber U, Koike H, Kramer KL, Kuo CY, Lang J, Lawrence A, Leadbeater A, Leão ZMAN, Lee JN, Lewis C, Lirman D, Longo GO, MacDonald C, Mallela J, Mangubhai S, da Silva IM, Mason-Parker C, McDonough V, McField M, Mello T, Miternique-Agathe C, Madi M, Moldzio S, Monroe AA, Montefalcone M, Moses KS, Mostafavi PG, Moura RL, Munasinghe CS, Mwaura J, Nakamura T, Nicet JB, Nuttall MF, Oliveira MDM, Oxenford HA, Pandolfi JM, Patankar V, Perez D, Perera N, Prabuning D, Precht W, Raj KD, Reimer JD, Richardson LE, Rotjan R, Ryan N, Salm R, Sandin SA, Schopmeyer S, Shedrawi G, Shokri MR, Smith JE, Smith K, Smith SR, Smith TB, Sommer B, Soto M, Suckoo R, Sykes H, Tagarino KA, Teoh M, Thai MQ, Toh TC, Tredinnick A, Tso A, Tyley H, Ussi AM, Vargas-Angel B, Vaterlaus C, Vermeij MJA, Vo ST, Voolstra CR, Wee HB, Weiler BA, Williams DE, Yahya SAS, Yeemin T, Ziegler M, Manzello DP

  Nature communications ( Nature Communications )  17 ( 1 ) 1318   2026.02 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

  　View Summary

  Abstract Ocean warming is increasing the frequency, extent, and severity of tropical-coral bleaching and mortality. During 2014–2017, marine heatwaves caused the Third Global Coral Bleaching Event. We analyze data from 15,066 reef surveys globally during 2014–2017. Across all surveyed reefs, 80% and 35% experienced moderate or greater (affecting >10% of corals) bleaching and mortality, respectively. We assess the global extent of coral bleaching and mortality by applying bleaching response curves calibrated from surveyed reefs to predict bleaching globally, based on comprehensive remote-sensing of heat stress. These models predict that 51% and 15% of the world’s coral reefs suffered moderate or greater bleaching and mortality, respectively, during one or multiple years, surpassing damage from any prior global coral bleaching event. Our findings demonstrate that the impacts of ocean warming on coral reefs are accelerating, with the near certainty that ongoing warming will cause large-scale, possibly irreversible, degradation of these essential ecosystems. With heat stress levels during this event surpassing those observed previously, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration developed more extreme Bleaching Alert levels that are now being used during the ongoing Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event.

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• Differential feeding preferences and population responses of six obligate corallivore fishes during a mass coral bleaching event

  Gomez R.

  Coral Reefs ( Coral Reefs )    2025.10 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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• Assessing spatiotemporal variations in ecoacoustic indices and their relationships with indicators of ecosystem functions in coral reefs

  Kimura L.Y.

  Marine Ecology Progress Series ( Marine Ecology Progress Series )  768   1 - 15   2025.09 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

  　View Summary

  To ensure the sustained delivery of ecosystem services, monitoring methods that capture spatiotemporal dynamics are essential. Passive acoustic monitoring and the use of ecoacoustic indices have emerged as potential complements to traditional visual-based monitoring. However, their application to coral reef ecosystem monitoring is hindered by the limited understanding of the spatiotemporal variability in ecoacoustic indices and their reliability as proxies for ecosystem functions. This study aimed to elucidate the spatiotemporal variations in ecoacoustic indices across multiple sites and depth zones within coral reef habitats around Okinawa Island, Japan, and to explore their relationships with select benthic structure and fish functional groups in coral reefs. Two hours of acoustic recordings and biophysical data were collected concurrently at shallow and deep zones across 5 sites during summer of 2023 and spring of 2024. The acoustic complexity index (ACI, 0.5-1 kHz) and snap rate were quantified from the acoustic recordings, and their spatiotemporal patterns and correlations with the benthic structure variables and fish functional groups were analyzed. Analyses revealed that site, depth zone, and season significantly influenced ACI and snap rate. ACI tended to be higher, while snap rate was lower in shallow zones than in deep zones. Moreover, although significant Spearman correlations between ecoacoustic indices and functional groups were identified, partial correlation analysis revealed that these relationships were non-significant and most likely confounded by site, depth zone, and season. These results highlight that ACI and snap rate did not serve as consistent proxies for functional groups of fish and benthic structure.

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• Multi-dataset-integrated Coral-Lab segmentation with enhanced towed camera array for rapid large-scale coral reef monitoring and mapping

  Wang J.

  International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation ( International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation )  143   104819 - 104819   2025.09 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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• Spawning and early-life history of the soft coral Sarcophyton cf. elegans (Octocorallia) in Okinawa Island, Japan, with notes on spawn predation by copepods

  Agus A. Hakim, Emmeline A. Jamodiong, Geminne G. Manzano, Tracy D. Tabalanza, Sota Komeda, Daisuke Uyeno, Takashi Nakamura, Marin Anraku, Michihiro Kumekawa, Haruko Kurihara, James D. Reimer

  Marine Biodiversity   55 ( 4 )   2025.08 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Books 【 display / non-display 】

Books 【 display / non-display 】

• Chapter 32. What are corals? In: Paradise of Nature ~Understanding the Wonders of Palau~

  Takashi Nakamura ( Part: Single Author ,  Chapter 32. What are corals? )

  Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)  2017.10

• Chapter 37. Coral bleaching In: Paradise of Nature ~Understanding the Wonders of Palau

  Takashi Nakamura ( Part: Single Author ,  Chapter 37. Coral bleaching )

  Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)  2017.10

• What are Corals? In: Paradise of Nature~Understanding the wonders of Nature

  Nakamura T ( Part: Allotment Writing )

  Palau International Coral Reef Center  2017

Presentations 【 display / non-display 】

Presentations 【 display / non-display 】

• Bleaching impacts and recovery of corals in Sekisei Lagoon

  Takashi Nakamura, Mitsuhiro Ueno, Kana Ikeda, Mariam Shidha Afzal, Riku Tsukamoto

  14th International Coral Reef Symposium  2021.06  -  2021.06 

• 八重山海域での異常高水温攪乱とサンゴ群集の変化

  中村 崇, Mariyam, Shidha Afzal, 小島(池田)香奈

  2020年度海洋学会・水産海洋学会 九州沖縄地区合同シンポジウム「南西諸島近海における大気・海洋・生態系」  2020.12  -  2020.12 

• ウミキノコ属Sarcophyton に対するUV吸収剤・散乱剤の影響

  藤原 望海, 種山 穂奈美, 髙橋 宏和, 渡辺 百合香, 永禮 由布子, 清水 秀樹, 本堂 瑠璃, 中村 崇

  第23回日本サンゴ礁学会  2020.11  -  2020.11 

• 琉球列島海域での造礁サンゴ群集比較

  中村 崇, 塚本 陸, 徳田 侑大, 石田 潤一郎, 池田 香菜, Mariam, Shidha Afzal, 井口 亮

  第23回日本サンゴ礁学会  2020.11  -  2020.11 

• Effect of consecutive thermal stress on Acropora tenuis

  Sanaz Hazraty Kari, Frederic Sinniger, Takashi Nakamura, Saki Harii

  第23回日本サンゴ礁学会  2020.11  -  2020.11 

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Other Research Activities 【 display / non-display 】

Other Research Activities 【 display / non-display 】

• Editor-in-Chief, Japanese Journal of the Japanese Coral Reef Society

  Editing academic journals etc. 

  2022.04

  　

  　

  　View Summary

  Editorial supervision of the Japanese Journal of the Japanese Coral Reef Society.

• Deputy Editor of the Japanese Journal of the Japanese Coral Reef Society

  Editing academic journals etc. 

  2019.04

  -

  2022.03

  　View Summary

  Deputy editor of the Japanese Journal of the Japanese Coral Reef Society as assistant editorial supervisor of the journal.

Academic Awards 【 display / non-display 】

Academic Awards 【 display / non-display 】

• JCRS Kawaguti-Prize

  2008.11.23   Japanese Coral Reef Society  

• JCRS Poster Presentation Award

  2001.11.03   Japanese Coral Reef Society  

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 【 display / non-display 】

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 【 display / non-display 】

• Assessment of the impact of microplastics in the coral reef environment on coral disease

  Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(B)

  Project Year: 2024.04  -  2026.03 

  Direct: 2,500,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 3,250,000 (YEN)  Total: 750,000 (YEN)

• Assessment of the impact of microplastics in the coral reef environment on coral disease

  Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(B)

  Project Year: 2024.04  -  2026.03 

  Direct: 2,500,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 3,250,000 (YEN)  Total: 750,000 (YEN)

• Assessment of the impact of microplastics in the coral reef environment on coral disease

  Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(B)

  Project Year: 2024.04  -  2026.03 

  Direct: 2,500,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 3,250,000 (YEN)  Total: 750,000 (YEN)

• Assessment of the impact of microplastics in the coral reef environment on coral disease

  Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(B)

  Project Year: 2024.04  -  2026.03 

  Direct: 2,500,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 3,250,000 (YEN)  Total: 750,000 (YEN)

• Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(A)

  Project Year: 2019.04  -  2023.03 

  Direct: 34,800,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 45,240,000 (YEN)  Total: 10,440,000 (YEN)

  　View Summary

  In this study, we comprehensively examined whether reef-building corals vulnerable to high temperatures, which are strongly affected by the progression of global warming, can improve their high-temperature tolerance through field surveys, aquarium experiments, and genetic analyses. The results showed that (1) high-temperature tolerance was improved in one year of naturally growing corals, (2) the gene composition related to methylation differed in the same coral species depending on the temperature environment of the reef where they grew, (3) bleaching caused by abnormally high water temperatures in low latitude islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago reduced the abundance ratio of corals in the genus Acropora, (4) temperature and zooxanthellae alter methylation of coral-zooxanthella holobiont, and (5) microorganisms coexisting with corals might affect the high-temperature tolerance of corals.

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Other External funds 【 display / non-display 】

Other External funds 【 display / non-display 】

• Project Name: Research Project

  Project Year: 2019.04  -  2027.03 

  Offer Organization: Research Institute for Humanity and Nature

Joint Research activities 【 display / non-display 】

Joint Research activities 【 display / non-display 】

• Comprehensive studies on improvement of heat tolerance in reef corals.

  Project Year: 2019.04  -  2023.03 

  Investigator(s): SAKAI Kazuhiko  Offer Organization: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

  Direct: 34,800,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 45,240,000 (YEN)  Total: 10,440,000 (YEN)

  　View Summary

  In this study, we comprehensively examined whether reef-building corals vulnerable to high temperatures, which are strongly affected by the progression of global warming, can improve their high-temperature tolerance through field surveys, aquarium experiments, and genetic analyses. The results showed that (1) high-temperature tolerance was improved in one year of naturally growing corals, (2) the gene composition related to methylation differed in the same coral species depending on the temperature environment of the reef where they grew, (3) bleaching caused by abnormally high water temperatures in low latitude islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago reduced the abundance ratio of corals in the genus Acropora, (4) temperature and zooxanthellae alter methylation of coral-zooxanthella holobiont, and (5) microorganisms coexisting with corals might affect the high-temperature tolerance of corals.

• Study on Integrated Coastal Resource Management and Inhabitant Participation Mechanism for Coral Reef Conservation: To Create Management System for Addressing Regional Problem

  Project Year: 2017.04  -  2020.03 

  Investigator(s): Shinbo Teruyuki  Offer Organization: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

  Direct: 13,200,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 17,160,000 (YEN)  Total: 3,960,000 (YEN)

  　View Summary

  About the deterioration of coral reef in Yoron Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, by field survey we clarified the current situation of coral reef and those eutrophication, notably accumulated phosphorus in which phosphate accumulates in the calcareous sand of seabed. Then, we found high phosphate concentrations in seawater from accumulated phosphorus clearly inhibit the skeletal formation of coral juveniles and interrupt the recovery of coral reef. And we elucidated the dynamics of chemical fertilizer, which is one of the major factor of eutrophication, by sulfur/nitrogen stable isotope ratio analysis. About marine protected area by community-based management in the Philippine, which is useful to think coral reef conservation in Japan, we investigated the actual situation of residents' participation in MPA management that influences the conservation performance. We clarified the importance of social capital as the trust in the community through fishery household survey by random sampling.

• Twilight zone- a key for coral reef recovery: vertical connectivity and depth adaptation of corals

  Project Year: 2016.04  -  2020.03 

  Investigator(s): Harii Saki  Offer Organization: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

  Direct: 31,600,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 41,080,000 (YEN)  Total: 9,480,000 (YEN)

  　View Summary

  Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems are considered as refuges for shallow corals from bleaching and expected to act as a larval source for recovery for shallow reefs. In this study, we examined larval recruitment and adaptation from deep to shallow, genetic structures between depths, and deep environments to reveal shallow reef recovery potential from the mesophotic coral, Seriatopora hystrix. We found that reproductive seasons are shorter with increasing depth, suggesting less opportunity for larval recruitment. The species did not recruit nor survive in shallow water conditions. On the other hand, they recruit mid-water, deep depths or shaded condition in shallow, and partially grew. High genetic diversity was observed in this species for all depths with no clear partitioning of haplotypes among depths/locations. Overall, we suggest that mesophotic larvae of this species may not recruit directly to shallow water, but recruit and recover slowly via mid-water depth as stepping stone.

• Global environmental change reconstruction based on coral skeletal records around Japanese Islands

  Project Year: 2015.04  -  2019.03 

  Investigator(s): Suzuki Atsushi, Okai Takashi, Ishimura Toyoho, Nakamura Takashi, Inoue Mayuri, Yamamoto Yuzo, Watanabe Yusuke, Nagao Masayuki  Offer Organization: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

  Direct: 11,400,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 14,820,000 (YEN)  Total: 3,420,000 (YEN)

  　View Summary

  Global warming causes serious harm to the Earth's environment. A more sophisticated and accurate climate model can be developed by reconstructing climatic change since the Industrial Revolution. Coral skeletons are an important archive of past climate changes, and advances in the ability to read sea surface temperature and salinity in the coral record have been made by applying state-of-the-art technology. Coral skeletal climatology has been successfully applied to characterize both the recent global warming trend in the western Pacific, and it has also been used to investigate biological and environmental issues such as ocean acidification (Kubota et al., 2017). Nevertheless, aspects of coral skeletal climatology still need clarification, including the basic mechanism by which seawater temperature is recorded in coral skeletons, and further research on biomineralization will improve predictions of the future responses of marine calcifying organisms to ocean acidification.

• The Design of Marine Protected Areas for Conserving Coral Reef: Co-management by Local Resident and the Role of Public Sector

  Project Year: 2014.04  -  2017.03 

  Investigator(s): Shinbo Teruyuki, MOROOKA Yoshinori, BALLAD Emma, BRADECINA Raul, NIEVES Plutomeo  Offer Organization: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

  Direct: 12,900,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 16,770,000 (YEN)  Total: 3,870,000 (YEN)

  　View Summary

  Degradation problem of coral reef in Yoron Is.: We found inside reef coral cover is very poor but outside higher. It suggest nutrient from land affect coral community. We found high density nutrient in sump water adsorbed phosphate in sand at sea bottom. We established numerical simulation system of material circulation in the island including coastal water body make it possible to assess the influence of countermeasure in land to sea. Diffusion activities of efficient fertilization method for sugar cane farming to cut down outflow of chemical fertilizer to environment. Philippines: We conducted the case study of 4MPA in Cagayan and clarified current status of MPA management and participation of community residents and evaluate the economic value of MPA management by community by CVM, TCAM and CB. Japan: We analyzed policy instruments to conserve coral and necessary regulations against each deterioration factors, especially overuse, and point necessity of integrated coastal management.

SDGs 【 display / non-display 】

SDGs 【 display / non-display 】

Social Activity 【 display / non-display 】

Social Activity 【 display / non-display 】

• 2026.02

  　

  　

  

• Shihsi Lagoon Nature Restoration Council, Vice-Chairman (Ministry of the Environment).

  Ministry of the Environment 

  2024.11

  　

  　

  

• 2024.04

  　

  　

  

• GCRMN (Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network) Japan Coordinator

  GCRMN (Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network) Japan Coordinator 

  2022.04

  　

  　

  　View Summary

  Conducting survey and analysis as International coral reef as East Asia Regional Member and Country Coordinator.

  

• Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Action Plan Plan revision review committee member

  Ministry of the Environment 

  2021.04

  　

  　

  

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Media Coverage 【 display / non-display 】

Media Coverage 【 display / non-display 】

• 日本国内でのサンゴ白化深刻  TV or radio program

  NHK  NHKワールド  2024.11

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  インタビュー・映像提供

• 「この景色をいつまでも...」“持続可能な観光”実現のカギは?  TV or radio program

  NHK  クローズアップ現代  2024.11

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  インタビュー・映像提供

• 「沖縄のサンゴ白化深刻」  Newspaper, magazine

  毎日新聞社  毎日小学生新聞  2024.11

• 「石西礁湖サンゴ白化、最大の要因は？」  Newspaper, magazine

  琉球新報社  琉球新報  2024.10

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  談話提供

• 恩納村のサンゴが白化  TV or radio program

  琉球放送  「南の島のミスワリン」第156回放送分  2024.10

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Academic Activities 【 display / non-display 】

Academic Activities 【 display / non-display 】

• 2nd UN Ocean Decade regional Chapter 

  2024.4

  　

  　

  種別： Competition, symposium, etc.