Fugo Takasu

• Research field
• Research field
• Research Interests
• Selected papers
• Related Links
• Contact

Research interests

My interests cover general ecological and evolutionary biology. Main topics I am working now are 1) coevolution in avian brood parasitism, 2) mechanisms of range expansion of biological species, and 3) modeling of animal behavior using individual based model. All of these are of theoreitcal ones, studied by constructing and analyzing mathematical models.

Cuckoo egg in a host nest. Photo taken in Kayano-Daira in Nagano in June 1993.

Avian brood parasitism

Brood parasitism reduces reproductive success of host and it is expected to select for host defense against parasitism, such as an ability to recognize and reject parasitic egg that looks unlike host eggs. I study, from theoretical viewpoint, evolution of host defense and egg mimicry by parasite to counter such host defense using mathematical models. Currently I focus on coevolution of egg morphs (color, spottness, etc.) as a quantitative character.

Dynamics of egg morphs (Mathematical model)

Tagged cuckoo. Photo taken in Chikuma river, Nagago in 1994.

Dynamics of the range expansion of beetle, vectof of the nematode (Model)

Range expansion of biological species

Our research group is working on the range expansion of pine wilt disease, one of the most serious tree disease in Japan. This disease is caused by a nematode that is vectored by a sawyer beetle. We model and analyze how the beetle dispersion affects the rate of the range expansion of the disease, together with field researchers.

Individual based model

Individual based model is very flexible, able to set up a virtual system in computer to simulate individual behaviors (moving, interaction between individuals, etc.). I am now working on the territory formation by game fish using individual based model.

Through these studies of mathematical modeling, I encourage students to think new ideas and get new insights & skills to tackle with many problems in general biology.

Selected publications

1. Bán M., Z. Barta, A. R. Muñoz, F. Takasu, H. Nakamura & C. Moskát (2011) The analysis of common cuckoo's egg shape in relation to its hosts' in two geographically distant areas. J. Zool. 284:77-83.
2. Kobori K., T. Nakata, Y. Ohto, F. Takasu (2011) Dispersal of adult Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Homoptera: Psyllidae), the vector of citrus greening disease, in artificial release experiments. Applied Entomology and Zoology 46:27-30.
3. Møller A.P., A. Antonov , B. G. Stokke, F. Fossøy, A. Moksnes, E. Røskaft, F. Takasu (2011) Isolation by time and habitat and coexistence of distinct host races of the common cuckoo. J. Evol. Biol. 24:676-684.
4. Takasu F., C. Moskát (2011) Modeling the consequence of increased host tolerance toward avian brood parasitism. Population Ecology 53:187-193. DOI 10.1007/s10144-010-0221-x.
5. Yang C., W. Liang, Y. Cai, S. Shi, F. Takasu, A.P. Møller, A. Antonov, F. Fossøy, A. Moksnes, E. Røskaft, B.G. Stokke (2010) Coevolution in Action: Disruptive Selection on Egg Colour in an Avian Brood Parasite and Its Host. PLoS ONE 5(5): e10816. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010816.

Related Links

Contact

Address	Department of Information and Computer Sciences Nara Women's University Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan
TEL	0742-20-3983
FAX	0742-20-3983
E-mail
Room	G311