Primate Research Institute > Population Genetics Section
Japanese

Kawamoto Yoshi

Primate Research Institute
Kyoto University
Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506
Japan

TEL +81-0568-63-0527
FAX +81-0568-62-9554

E-mail


Research Progress1 Population genetic study of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)
Research Progress2 Phylogenetic study of Asian macaques
Research Progress3 Study on hybridization of macaques
Research Progress4 Genetic study on lemurs of Madagascar
Research Progress5 Domestication and phylogeny of domesticated animals
Research Progress6 Animal lore of primates
Papers
Reports
Books
Presentation

　

　

Research Progress1

Population genetic study of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

Co-investigators
Hisaaki Akaza,Yoshiki Morimitsu, Shuhei Hayaishi, Shizuka Kawai, Azusa Saito, Sakie Kawamoto

We conduct evolutionary studies of Japanese macaques by testing genetic variations of microsatellite markers on autosomes and Y chromosome among local populations. Recently, we investigated contrast between those markers and mitochondrial DNA variations in Tohoku region. An isolated population in Shimokita Peninsula indicated a sign of ancient population bottleneck. We reported this finding recently (Kawamoto et al., Primates 49: 32-40, 2008).

Under Cooperative Research Programs at KUPRI, we conducted field studies in Yamagata, Toyama, Nagano, Hyogo prefectures in 2007. We compared mtDNA diversity between hypervariable regions 1 and 2 and found a number of molecular variants specifically occurred in the study sites. Those new variants are informative in the phylogeographic assessment of Japanese macaques.


Analysis of microsatellite DNAs in Tohoku region
(left: map showing study sites, right: population differentiation in autosomal DNA (a) and Y chromosome DNA (b) )

Research Progress 2

Phylogenetic study of Asian macaques

Co-investigators
Yuzuru Hamada, Mohammed Mostafa Feeroz, Kamrul Mohammed Hasan, Tashi Wangchuk

We held an international symposium entitled "Evolution and Diversity of Macaques: Research Progress and Prospects" in February 2008 in Inuyama, Japan. More than 50 researchers and students shared discussion about recent studies on macaques as well as conservation issues.

A short-term field survey was conducted in September 2007 in Bhutan to do an extension survey of comparative studies on Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis) and Arunachal macaques (Macaca munzala), a newly reported from India.


An Assamese macaque in Bhutan (Photo by Y Kawamoto)

A filed survey was conducted in November-December 2007 in Bangladesh to do observation and characterization of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). We published the results of population genetic study in 2005 (Feeroz et al., Primates 49: 69-72, 2008).


A rhesus group in a farm area of Bangladesh (Photo by Y Kawamoto)

An introduced population of longtail macaques (Macaca fascicularis) on Mauritius are broadly used in recent biomedical researches. We reported their genetic characteristics based on filed sampling on the island (Kawamoto et al., J. Med. Primatol. 37: 45-54, 2008).
 

Research Progress 3

Study on hybridization of macaques

Co-investigators
Azusa Saito, Kei Shirai

We succeeded in Y chromosome typing with microsatellite markers in order to conduct genetic monitoring of hybridization and male dispersal for introduced populations of foreign macaques in Japan.

We published the results of genetic monitoring for an introduced rhesus population in Chiba prefecture (Kawamoto et al., Primate Research 23: 81-89, 2007, in Japanese).

We presented a review of current status of hybridizing populations of macaques in Japan both at PSJ (Primate Society Japan) meeting in July 2007 and an international symposium in February 2008.


A hybrid group in Wakayama prefecture（Photo by Y Kawamoto）


A hybrid male between Taiwanese and Japanese macaques
 in Wakayama prefecture (Photo by Y Kawamoto)

Research Progress　4

Genetic study on lemurs of Madagascar

Co-investigators
Shinichiro Ichino

We have analyzed microsatellite DNA variations in six social groups of ring-tailed lemurs at Berenty Private Reserve in Madagascar. Reproductive success of group members are evaluated based on long-term observations and genotyping.





A ring-tailed lemur at Berenty（Photo by Kawamoto）



　

Research Progress 5

Domestication and phylogeny of domesticated animals

Co-investigators
Tetsuya Inamura, Tashi Dorji, Yoshio Yamamoto

We visited the ruins of 'la Shicra', newly found in central Peru, in August 2007 and inspected animal bones excavated from the ruins for the study of domestication of camelids. We orally reported recent progress of research in academic meetings in Japan.

We visited Bhutan in November 2007 to discuss research plan for Mithun, a form of domesticated bovine, and to learn the progress of its genetic study in Bhutan.


Alpacas in Peruvian Andes at 4800 m (Photo by Kawamoto)

　

Research Progress 6

Animal lore of primates

Co-investigators
Yukihisa Mito, Tamihiko Nakamura, Hiroaki Yamamoto

Under financial support from the Toyota Foundation, we conducted a questionnaire investigation for UMAYAZARU (stable monkeys), the custom of enshrining monkey remains for the purpose of praying for good harvest and the good health of cattle and horses. People have associated this custom, thought to have originated on the Asian continent, to Japanese macaques. This custom may have nurtured a unique view of nature and an outlook on life through its establishment in the daily life of people.

We could get answers from a total of 1320 sites in 18 prefectures to the questionnaires. Skulls or hand bones of UMAYAZARU seem to be disappearing quickly now in Japan and the investigation revealed difference in the remaining condition of substance (bone) and belief in Japan. We began on-the-spot investigation to do interviewing to the owners of UMAYAZARU in northern Tohoku, Kii Peninsula and Chugoku Region.


A skull of UMAYAZARU found in Morioka city in Touhoku region
(Photo by T.Nakamura)




Papers

Kawamoto Y, Kawamoto S, Matsubayashi K, Nozawa K, Watanabe T, Stanley MA, Perwitasari-Farajallah D
Genetic diversity of longtail macaques (Macaca fascicularis) on the island of Mauritius: an assessment of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms.
J Med Primatol 37(1): 45-54 (2008)

Kawamoto Y, Tomari K, Kawai S, Kawamoto S
Genetics of the Shimokita macaque population suggest an ancient bottleneck.
Primates 49(1): 32-40 (2008)

Feeroz MM, Hasan K, Hamada Y, Kawamoto Y
STR polymorphism of mtDNA D-loop in rhesus macaques of Bangladesh.
Primates 49(1): 69-72 (2008)

Kurachi M, Kawamoto Y, Tsubota Y, Chau BL, Dang VB, Dorji T, Yamamoto Y, Nyunt MM, Maeda Y, Chhum-Phith L, Namikawa T, Yamagata T
Phylogeography of wild musk shrew (Suncus murinus) populations in Asia based on blood protein/enzyme variation.
Biochem Genet 45(7-8): 543-63 (2007)

Koyama N, Aimi M, Kawamoto Y, Hirai H, Go Y, Ichino S, Takahata Y
Body mass of wild ring-tailed lemurs in Berenty Reserve, Madagascar, with reference to tick infestation: a preliminary analysis.
Primates 49(1): 9-15 (2008)

Reports

Kurachi M, Yamagata T, Namikawa T, Kawamoto Y, Tanaka K, Mannen H, Takahashi Y, Nomura K, Kinoshita K, Tsunoda K, Nishibori M, Yamamoto Y, Samdrep C, Sherpa D, Tsering G, Dorji T
Morphological, mitochondrial DNA and blood protein/enzyme variations of wild musk shrews (Suncus murinus) in Bhutan.
Rep Soc Res Native Livestock 24: 195-205 (2007)

Kawamoto Y, Kawamoto S, Kawai S, Shirai K, Yoshida A, Hagihara K, Shiratori D, Naoi Y
Status report of hybridization in an introduced population of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with native Japanese macaques (M. fuscata) in the Bousou Peninsula, Chiba, Japan.
Primate Research 23(2): 81-89 (2007) (in Japanese)

Books

Kawamoto Y
Local differentiation of Japanese macaques in view of genetics. In: "Science of Primate Evolution" (Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University ed.), pp. 440-450, Kyoto University Press, Kyoto, 2007. (in Japanese)

Kawamoto Y
Genetic diversity and geographical differentiation in Japanese macaques. In: "Mammalogy in Japan vol. 2: Middle- and Large-size Mammals and Primates" (Takatsuki S and Yamagiwa J eds.), pp. 223-251, University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo, 2008. (in Japanese)


Presentation
Kawamoto Y
Genetic characteristics and domestication of camelids in highlands of Andes.
The 47th Meeting of Ethnic and Natural History Studies, April 21, 2007, Kyoto.

Kawamoto Y, Kawai S, Saito A, Kawamoto S
Application of Y chromosomal microsatellite polymorphism to the study of Japanese macaques.
The 8th Seminar for Japanese Macaque Study, May 19-20, 2007, Inuyama.

Kawamoto Y, Kawamoto S, Kawai S, Saito A, Hamada Y, Mouri T, Kunimatsu Y, Ohsawa H, Goto S, Nigi H, Muroyama Y, Morimitsu Y, Shirai K, Suzuki K
Population genetic study on the hybridization between Taiwanese and Japanese macaques in Wakayama, Japan.
The 23th Annual Meeting of Primate Society of Japan, July 16, 2007, Hikone.

Hamaka Y, Mouri T, Kunimatsu Y, Chatani K, Ohsawa H, Goto S, Nigi H, Shirai K, Morimitsu Y, Kawamoto Y
Morphological examination on the Taiwanese-Japanese macaque hybrids in Wakayama prefecture.
The 23th Annual Meeting of Primate Society of Japan, July 16, 2007, Hikone.

Kawai S, Kawamoto Y
The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of Macaca fuscata and comparison with other macaques.
The 23th Annual Meeting of Primate Society of Japan, July 16, 2007, Hikone.

Morimitsu Y, Kawamoto Y
Examination of genetic monitoring method for the conservation of the local populations of the Japanese macaque in Kanagawa prefecture.
The 23th Annual Meeting of Primate Society of Japan, July 16, 2007, Hikone.

Kawamoto Y
Genetic monitoring of local populations of monkeys for conservation and management.
Public Symposium "Mammal studies linking outcomes from captive animal observation and experimental analysis to fieldwork", The Annual Meeting of the Mammalogical Society Japan (2007), September 16, 2007, Tokyo.

Hamada Y, Son VD, Vu TH, Hoandg LV, Hung NV, The NV, Malaivijitnond S, Goto S, Kawamoto Y
Comparison of hybridization of rhesus and longtail macaques between Thailand and Vietnam.
The Annual Meeting of the Mammalogical Society Japan (2007), September 15-17, 2007, Tokyo.

Chida H, Higashi H, Kawamoto Y, Tamate H
Genetic population structure of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) in Yamagata and its surrounding areas.
The Annual Meeting of the Mammalogical Society Japan (2007), September 15-17, 2007, Tokyo.

Kawamoto Y, Feeroz MM, Hasan MK
Mitochondrial DNA diversity in rhesus macaques of Bangladesh
International Symposium "Evolution and Diversity of Macaques: Research Progress and Prospects", February 15-16, 2008, Inuyama.

Kawamoto Y
Genetic monitoring for preventing hybridization between native and exotic macaque species in Japan
International Symposium "Evolution and Diversity of Macaques: Research Progress and Prospects", February 15-16, 2008, Inuyama.

Kawamoto Y
Genetic studies on camelids in Andes.
Mini-symposium "Synthetic Study of Camelids and Their Utilization in Andes", The 186th Meeting of Chubu Anthropology Society, March 29, 2008, Nagoya.


International Symposium "Evolution and Diversity of Macaques: Research Progress and Prospects",
February 15-16, 2008, Inuyama


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