NHK – Coverage – Tohoku University research group names new species after Date Masamune
NHK broadcast the findings of our laboratory. We are exceptionally proud of our team’s achievement and delighted by the public interest generated by our research.
The broadcast provided a concise overview of the discovery and the underlying shift in marine currents that led the specimens to be washed ashore in Sendai Bay.
As Professor Ames stated:
“The discovery of this new species was incredibly exciting and a fortunate find, but it also serves as an indicator that the species is migrating north due to climate change.”
You can access the full NHK coverage and video on their website by clicking the icon below:
And you can find the complete scientific paper here:
A new species of Portuguese man-of-war discoverd for the first time in the tohoku region – Named “Mikazuki no Eboshi” after Date Masamune
2025 | Press Releases and Research Results
Tohoku University just released a press release show casing the most recent lab discovery at Sendai Bay. The before-mentioned “Mikazuki no Eboshi”
The emergence of this species may be related to changes in the marine environment caused by climate change, such as the northward shift of the Kuroshio Current and rising sea temperatures. The northward movement of poisonous species not only changes the ecosystem, but also requires caution when swimming in the sea.
This is the first record of the Portuguese man-of-war genus in the Tohoku region. Furthermore, particle tracking simulations revealed that the northward shift of the Kuroshio Current and rising sea temperatures may be related to the emergence of this species. The observation of the Mikazuki no Eboshi provides important evidence that climate change is affecting the distribution of marine life.
You can find the Scientific paper here:
You can find the full press relese here:
Unlocking the Mysteries of the Wild Ocean
Dr. Cheryl Ames is pioneering accessible and rapid methods for tracking marine biodiversity, with a special focus on box jellyfish and shifting octopus populations.
She uses Environmental DNA (eDNA), a technique that involves analyzing trace amounts of DNA left behind by species in the ocean water. By employing a field-ready eDNA pipeline that includes portable equipment like the Bento Lab, Dr. Ames and her students can conduct on-site PCR and quickly assess species presence, making data generation reliable even in remote areas.
This method allows researchers to generate data for critical issues, such as predicting the presence of highly venomous jellyfish for public safety, and providing sustainable fishing advice to local communities facing dramatic shifts in octopus populations following the 2011 tsunami.
Dr. Ames is committed to making advanced DNA analysis affordable and accessible, ensuring the next generation of scientists can apply these crucial techniques in any environment, regardless of laboratory resources.
This post is based on the article published by Bento Lab.
Find the full content at theyr web site
Find eDNA related work done by the lab here
Creating Sustainable Coastal Ecosystems and Fisheries in Northeast Japan
Our team at Tohoku University, led by Associate Professor Alyne Delaney, just launched SEAQUEST – a vital research project tackling the complex challenges facing fisheries in Japan’s Tohoku region since the 2011 earthquake.
We’re blending cutting-edge science, like eDNA and AI for species distribution modeling, with traditional socio-ecological concepts like satoumi and umigyo. This holistic approach helps us understand why some fisheries have declined while others increased, especially with changing ocean conditions and parasitic outbreaks.
SEAQUEST emphasizes community-based citizen science, collecting crucial data from simple water samples. We’re working closely with diverse local and international stakeholders, including fishing communities (even women fishers!), tourism, and industry partners.
Our goal? To combine local ecological knowledge with scientific methods to foster true social and environmental sustainability. Co-Principal Investigators Professor Cheryl Ames and Associate Professor Toyonobu Fujii are key to this interdisciplinary effort.
National Science Foundation Funds Tohoku University-led Seafood Traceability Network
With octopus, squid, and cuttlefish catches soaring but misidentification and inaccurate reporting raising overfishing fears, our international, multidisciplinary team is stepping in. Led by Tohoku University’s own Cheryl Ames (Co-Principal Investigator and Smithsonian Research Collaborator) and Demian Willette from Loyola Marymount University, our 15-member team spans 7 countries and diverse fields, including fisheries management, marine biology, and AI. Associate Professor Alyne Delaney (Tohoku University) is also on board!
Funded by the National Science Foundation, we’re building an application to track and identify octopus from ocean to table. This project uniquely combines traditional methods with cutting-edge tech: genomics, molecular metabarcoding, eDNA, and AI. Fishers in Mexico, California, and Alaska will be key citizen scientists, using eDNA kits to help us map octopus distribution and seasonality.
“Reliable knowledge will point us to where edible octopuses are found, and policymakers can use this information to make octopus fishing sustainable,” says Ames. We’re confident this network will pave the way for ecosystem-based fisheries and contribute to a thriving blue economy.
Jellyfish Expert: Biodiversity & Genomics
