Division of Environmental Conservation

Professor / YAMANAKA Norikazu

google scholar

Field of specialization

Revegetation Science Subdivision: Plant ecology and ecosystem restoration in arid lands

Research Activities

1. Ecological studies of plant communities in arid areas
2. Ecophysiological studies on drought and salt tolerance of woody plants
3. Studies on the ecosystem restoration in arid lands

Fig 1. Afforestation in Kubuqi of Inner Mongolia, China

Fig 2. Vegetation Survey Rangeland of Mongolia

Associate Professor / TANIGUCHI Takeshi

google scholar

Field of specialization

Microbial　Ecology Subdivision: Ecology and use of plant symbiotic microorganisms in drylands

Research Activities

1. Search for effective platns symbiotic microorganisms(mycorrhizal fungi, endophytic fungi, and rhizosphere bacteria) to enhance plant drought salinity stress tolerances
2. Ecology and function of plant symbiotic microorganisms
3. Use of plant symbiotic microorganisms for ecosystem restoration and agricultural production in drylands

Fig 1. .Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Tamarisk root

Fig.2 Pine seedlings without (left) and with (right) inoculation of ectomycorrhizal fungi (Kubuqi deresrt, Inner Mongolia, China)

Associate Professor / KIMURA Reiji

google scholar Detailed Information

Field of specialization

Meteorology Subdivision: Observation and physical understanding on the meteorological phenomena in the atmospheric boundary layer

Research Activities

1. Quantitative analysis of heat and water balances in arid land
   
2. Development of monitoring method to detect the land surface conditions by combining the meteorological and remote-sensing data
   
3. Observation and physical understanding on sand movement in arid region and Tottori sand dune

Fig.1 Hazard map of Asian dust through the web. (Kimura, 2016)

Fig.2 Global monitoring of degraded land (c) by combining the information of vegetation (a) and aridity (b). (Kimura, 2017)

Assistant Professor / TERAMOTO Munemasa

google scholar

Field of specialization

Terrestrial Carbon Cucle Subdivision: Study for biogeochemical cycles mainly focusing on soil carbon fluxes

Research Activities

1. Evaluation for the effect of land use on carbon budget in dry lands
   
2. Spaciotemporal analysis for soil respiration in the Tottori Sand Dunes
   
3. Analysis for the influence of global warming on soil organic carbon dynamics

Fig.1 Measurement of soil respiration in the Tottori Sand Dunes. CO2 efflux can be measured by covering sand surface with sealed container (chamber).

Fig.2 Change of CO2 concentration inside a chamber. The increase was due to CO2 efflux from sand surface during 3 minitues.

Visiting Professor / DU Mingyuan (NARO)

Field of specialization

Climatology Subdivision: Observation, data analysis and numerical simulation of wind erosion and climate change and their relations with plants in arid and semiarid areas.

Associate Professor / Toshihiko KINUGASA (Faculty of Agriculture)

Field of specialization

Grassland Ecophysiology Subdivision: Environmental response of plants in arid and semi-arid grasslands