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Published Papers 【 display / non-display 】

Published Papers 【 display / non-display 】

• Morpho-anatomical changes of Ixeris japonica and Ixeris ×nakazonei (Asteraceae) in the Ryukyu Islands in response to light intensity

  Mizuno T., Denda T.

  Biological Magazine Okinawa ( Biological Society of Okinawa )  63   29 - 41   2025.03 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

• Pollination system of Mucuna thailandica (Fabaceae), a species endemic to Thailand

  Kobayashi S, Panha S, Nantarat N, Chaiphichet K, Choosa-nga P, Higashi T, Denda T and Izawa M

  Mammal Study ( Mammal Society of Japan )  50 ( 1 ) 83 - 89   2024.11 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

  　View Summary

  The pollination modes of plants vary among regions owing to faunal variations; however, knowledge of pollinators in tropical montane Asia is insufficient. Here, we elucidate the pollination system of Mucuna thailandica (Fabaceae), a plant endemic to the montane forest of Thailand. The genus Mucuna exhibits a distinctive pollination mechanism called “explosive opening″. The stamens and pistils of Mucuna flowers are covered by a pair of keel petals, and pollination is only possible when a flower is opened by a pollinator, which exposes stamens and pistil. In bagging experiments, unopened M. thailandica flowers did not bear fruit, indicating that an explosive opening was necessary for successful pollination. Automatic camera surveys showed that squirrels (Callosciurus finlaysonii/erythraeus complex and Dremomys rufigenis), masked palm civets (Paguma larvata), and northern treeshrews (Tupaia belangeri) opened the flowers explosively. Among them, the C. finlaysonii/erythraeus squirrels opened flowers most frequently, and three flowers bore fruits. Thus, C. finlaysonii/erythraeus squirrels may be effective pollinators of M. thailandica. Opening the flowers grants pollinators access to a large volume of nectar with a high sugar concentration as a reward. Our findings suggest that the role of nonflying mammals as pollinators in tropical Asian montane forests may be greater than previously thought.

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• Division of labour between dimorphic stamens in Melastoma candidum (melastomataceae): role of stamen strength in the biomechanics of pollination

  Hachiman S., Uejo M., Denda T.

  Journal of Pollination Ecology ( The Royal Botanical Society of Belgium )  37 ( 18 ) 284 - 302   2024.11 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

  　View Summary

  The division of labour hypothesis suggests that plants exhibiting heteranthery utilise different stamen types for distinct purposes; feeding stamens provide pollen as a reward for pollinators, whereas pollinating stamens ensure successful reproduction. However, the biomechanical factors that influence pollinator behaviour in relation to different stamen types remain underexplored. In this study, we investigated Melastoma candidum, a species characterised by dimorphic stamens and poricidal anthers, to elucidate how flower morphology, pollen fertility, and biomechanics of pollinator interactions affect pollination efficiency. We observed the behaviour and stamen preference of multiple bee species visiting the flowers, with a particular focus on the frequency of flower visitation and stigma contact. Among the pollinators studied, Xylocopa flavifrons emerged as the primary pollinator on Okinawajima Island, Japan. Our analysis revealed that while both stamen types exhibit comparable pollen fertility, X. flavifrons preferentially buzzed feeding stamens with the mechanical advantage of pollen collection due to their structural integrity. This preference was further corroborated by biomechanical interactions, wherein the weaker pollinating stamens could not bear the weight of the bee, thereby relegating their function in pollen release. These findings elucidate the significant influence of biomechanical factors on pollinator behaviour and stamen function, providing novel insights into the mechanisms underlying division of labour in plant-pollinator interactions.

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• Pollinator of Hibiscus tiliaceus (Malvaceae) in the Ryukyus

  Fukugawa Y., Uehara A., Denda T.

  Biological Magazine Okinawa ( Biological Society of Okinawa )  61   13 - 23   2023.03 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

• Genetic structure of the Liriope muscari polyploid complex and the possibility of human disturbance in Japan

  Watanabe K, Yaneshita M, Denda T, Yokota M, Suyama Y, Tsumura Y

  Plants     2022.11 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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• Nature in the Ryukyu Archipelago: Coral Reefs, Biodiversity, and the Natural Environment

  Fujita,K., Arakaki T., Denda T., Hidaka M., Hirose E. and Rimer J.D. (Eds.) ( Part: Joint Editing and Writing )

  2015.03

• Nature in the Ryukyu Archipelago: Coral Reefs, Biodiversity, and the Natural Environment

  Fujita K, Arakaki T, Denda T, Hidaka M, Hirose E, Rimer JD ( Part: Multiple Authorship ,  Flora of the subtropical Ryukyu Archipelago )

  Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus  2015

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

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

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

  Project Year: 2017.04  -  2020.03 

  Direct: 3,800,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 4,940,000 (YEN)  Total: 1,140,000 (YEN)

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

  Project Year: 2017.04  -  2020.03 

  Direct: 3,800,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 4,940,000 (YEN)  Total: 1,140,000 (YEN)

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

  Project Year: 2017.04  -  2020.03 

  Direct: 3,800,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 1,140,000 (YEN)  Total: 4,940,000 (YEN)

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

  Project Year: 2010.04  -  2015.03 

  Direct: 3,500,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 4,550,000 (YEN)  Total: 1,050,000 (YEN)

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

  Project Year: 2010.04  -  2015.03 

  Direct: 3,500,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 4,550,000 (YEN)  Total: 1,050,000 (YEN)

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