Department of Information and Computer Science

Fugo Takasu

Research field

Mathematical biology, Evolutionary biology

prof.Takasu

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.

KurojiAndCuckooEgg

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

Dynamics of egg morphs (Mathematical model)

CuckooInChikuma

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

RangeExpansion-beetle

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.

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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 takasu at mark ics. nara-wu. ac. jp
Room G311