Venomous Box Jellyfish Research
Have you ever encountered a jellyfish while walking along the beach, been captivated by their translucent beauty at an aquarium or maybe felt the stinging sensation of their venom while swimming or snorkeling in the sea?
I was fascinated by jellyfish during my first visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium (California USA), which has led to a life-long pursuit of studying these amazingly diverse and complex aquatic organisms. My travels have taken me around the globe, introduced me to the world’s leading researchers and further developed my passion for jellyfish research. Now as a Professor of Applied Marine Biology at Tohoku University (Sendai, Japan), I have the privilege of training the next generation of leaders who will carry this scientific field into new frontiers.
For those of you interested in learning more about jellyfish and my research collaborations, I hope you will find the information here both interesting and useful. If you are a student please consider studying Applied Marine Biology in my International Marine Sciences Laboratory at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. The ocean awaits, Meet the Lab!
Check out the latest lab updates.
- From Brasil to Japan
Cheryl Ames presented the ship to the Japanese public. It was an online tour during which Professor Ames presented the living areas and kitchen, commenting on everything from food options to the work schedule. Then, she showed the lab where her teammates and other international scientists were performing extractions on previously collected samples. The tour was especially interesting because it showcased the entire ROV support and command structure while the ROV was active at a depth of over 500m. This made it possible to see the “behind-the-scenes” of the live ROV dive happening simultaneously on YouTube. The tour helped convey the scale of the endeavor and the massive infrastructure required to collect data from the mid-water—from the initial dives to the final extractions. Stay tuned for more mission updates - Meet our lab team aboard Falkor (too)
Falkor has embarked on the “Designing the Future 3” cruise featuring a diverse team of scientists and specialists dedicated to exploring the midwater column along the Brazilian coast. Among the crew are prominent lab members Cheryl L. Ames, Chanikarn Yongstar, and Kei Chloe Tan. Their collaborative efforts aim to enhance understanding of this crucial marine environment. For more insights on the ongoing research and crew profiles, visit the dedicated page on the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s website. - OceanShot: The Cruise – the Lab Team Embarks on the RV Falkor (too)
We’re officially off! The Lab team — Prof. Cheryl Ames, Chanikarn Yongstar (Nune) and Kei CHloe Tan — is already on board in Salvador, Brazil, prepping for the ambitious OceanShot cruise aboard the RV Falkor (too). While the team is currently settling in and getting the gear ready, the ship is set to depart on 15/04, navigating the coastline toward Fortaleza until May 1st. Throughout the journey, the team will be focusing their research on the mid-water column, utilizing a diverse range of scientific methods to analyze this deep-sea “twilight zone.” The best part? You can join the expedition from …Continue reading “OceanShot: The Cruise – the Lab Team Embarks on the RV Falkor (too)”
- From the beginning of February to the end of April, the IMS Lab has the pleasure of being joined by Mr. Nicolo Ferraris from Wageningen University. During his 3-month exchange program, Nicolo will be assisting on the HABs research project.
Statement from Nicolo: Hi! I’m Nicolo, an Italian MSc Biology student from Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, where I specialized in Molecular Ecology. I just finished my thesis on investigating sex determination in invasive lionfish (Pterois miles), which got me hooked on combining lab work with bioinformatics. I’ve always been really interested in applied molecular biology, especially next-generation sequencing technologies like Nanopore for biodiversity monitoring. I arrived in Sendai on February 1st and have been loving the experience so far. The people in the lab are great and made me feel right at home since day one. I’ve … - New Research: A comparative molecular study of rhizostome jellyfishes from Japan reveals variability in Symbiodiniaceae taxon associations and cassiosome production.
Led by Kei Chloe Tan , this study dives deep into the complex world of Rhizostomeae that play massive roles in Asian ecology and industry. What makes these jellies unique? Rhizostome jellyfishes are unlike your average medusa. They don’t have long, trailing tentacles neither other structures at the eadg of theyr bell; they have eight highly branched oral arms, along which there are suctorial minimouth orifices. Our study focused on three main goals: Key Discoveries “This research provides a baseline for understanding how jellyfish and algae co-evolve, helping us manage coastal ecosystems and the jellyfish fisheries that are so vital …