The University of Nagano’s Institute of Freshwater Biology is located near the Chikuma River in Ueda city, Nagano prefecture. The University of Nagano officially acquired the 24,000-square-meter facility in August 2021 from the Ministry of Finance Japan. The purpose of the institute is to conduct education, research, and industry-academia-government collaborative research projects in the interdisciplinary fields of ecology, genetics, statistics, and mathematics on the natural and biological resources of the region. The Institute of Freshwater Biology has excellent research facilities: two research buildings, an outdoor pond for experiments using water from the Chikuma River, a waterfront environment with rich natural waterways, indoor and outdoor experimental breeding facilities using well water, and a large-scale wet laboratory. The facility is also equipped with advanced research equipment such as a next-generation sequencer (NextSeq 550). The Institute of Freshwater Biology makes full use of its facilities and equipment to undertake three main activities: (1) research on the nature of the Chikuma River basin, (2) the creation of an international and national research and education network, and (3) the promotion of advanced biological research and aquaculture techniques. The organization is led by a director (professor) and consists of 10 other staff members: one assistant professor, one visiting associate professor, four research assistants, two administrative and technical assistants, one office manager, and one clerk.
The Institute of Freshwater Biology makes full use of its facilities and equipment to undertake three main activities: (1) research on the nature of the Chikuma River basin, (2) the creation of an international and national research and education network, and (3) the promotion of advanced biological research and aquaculture techniques. At present, the following, mainly externally funded, activities are being carried out:
- Research on river ecology for the restoration of Chikuma River.
Researchers at the Institute of Freshwater Biology and river administrators will conduct joint research in the Chikuma River basin using an interdisciplinary approach that combines ecology, information science, and river engineering, and will contribute to the advancement and rationalization of river maintenance and management and the improvement of the river environment (funded by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, River Erosion Control Technology Research and Development Area).
- Project for the Promotion of Survey and Evaluation of Fishery Resources (Japanese Eel Unit)
Researchers at the Institute of Freshwater Biology and the Fisheries Agency are undertaking the development and analysis of management methods for understanding trends in eel resources, extinction risk, and pond management using data from catches, population genetics, and satellite tag migration surveys, with a mathematical model at the center of the framework (funded by the Fisheries Agency)
- Joint research with Kinki University on the complete cultivation of Siberian sturgeon and caviar production.
Staff are engaging in research on promoting the maturity of sturgeon in captivity under a rearing environment that is close to nature by using the aquaculture and laboratory facilities at the Institute of Freshwater Biology, Nagano University (internal funds)
- Development of ayu seedling production technology
In collaboration with Kinki University, Kamiko Fishery Cooperative Association, and Nagano Prefectural Fisheries Research Institute, we will work on the development of low-cost ayu seedling production technology based on daylength control (internal funds).
- Research on population dynamics of crucian carp (Carassius auratus).
Motivated by declining resources of crucian carp, a local specialty, we will utilize the laboratory's ponds and laboratory facilities to understand the mechanisms by which crucian carp coexist by studying their population dynamics and gene exchange mechanisms (internal funds).
The institute is also intended to be used by the Science and Engineering Faculty that is planned to be established as part of Nagano University’s reform. At present, the organization consists of a total of 11 staff members:
Hiroshi Hakoyama: Director of Center (Professor)
Sakie Kodama: Associate Professor
Leanne Faulks: Researcher/Guest Associate Professor
Alessandra Cera: Researcher
Hiroka Fujimori: Research assistant
Chiaki Okamoto: Research assistant
Ishmerai Galang: Research assistant
Tomomi Matsui: Research assistant
Masayuki Itoh: Maintenance/Technical staff
Takane Koganezawa: Assistant Section Manager
Previous members:
Jotaro Urabe: Graduate School of Life Science, Tohoku University
Takaaki Abe: Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo
Syoji Taniguchi: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
Angel Faye Manwong: Angeles University Foundation
Ayu Daryani: SEAFDEC/IFRDMD
Michihide Ikegaya: Community Development Center
Yannick Rousseau
- Research on river ecology for the restoration of Chikuma River.
Researchers at the Institute of Freshwater Biology and river administrators will conduct joint research in the Chikuma River basin using an interdisciplinary approach that combines ecology, information science, and river engineering, and will contribute to the advancement and rationalization of river maintenance and management and the improvement of the river environment (funded by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, River Erosion Control Technology Research and Development Area).
- Project for the Promotion of Survey and Evaluation of Fishery Resources (Japanese Eel Unit)
Researchers at the Institute of Freshwater Biology and the Fisheries Agency are undertaking the development and analysis of management methods for understanding trends in eel resources, extinction risk, and pond management using data from catches, population genetics, and satellite tag migration surveys, with a mathematical model at the center of the framework (funded by the Fisheries Agency)
- Joint research with Kinki University on the complete cultivation of Siberian sturgeon and caviar production.
Staff are engaging in research on promoting the maturity of sturgeon in captivity under a rearing environment that is close to nature by using the aquaculture and laboratory facilities at the Institute of Freshwater Biology, Nagano University (internal funds)
- Development of ayu seedling production technology
In collaboration with Kinki University, Kamiko Fishery Cooperative Association, and Nagano Prefectural Fisheries Research Institute, we will work on the development of low-cost ayu seedling production technology based on daylength control (internal funds).
- Research on population dynamics of crucian carp (Carassius auratus).
Motivated by declining resources of crucian carp, a local specialty, we will utilize the laboratory's ponds and laboratory facilities to understand the mechanisms by which crucian carp coexist by studying their population dynamics and gene exchange mechanisms (internal funds).
The institute is also intended to be used by the Science and Engineering Faculty that is planned to be established as part of Nagano University’s reform. At present, the organization consists of a total of 11 staff members:
Hiroshi Hakoyama: Director of Center (Professor)
Sakie Kodama: Associate Professor
Leanne Faulks: Researcher/Guest Associate Professor
Alessandra Cera: Researcher
Hiroka Fujimori: Research assistant
Chiaki Okamoto: Research assistant
Ishmerai Galang: Research assistant
Tomomi Matsui: Research assistant
Masayuki Itoh: Maintenance/Technical staff
Takane Koganezawa: Assistant Section Manager
Previous members:
Jotaro Urabe: Graduate School of Life Science, Tohoku University
Takaaki Abe: Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo
Syoji Taniguchi: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
Angel Faye Manwong: Angeles University Foundation
Ayu Daryani: SEAFDEC/IFRDMD
Michihide Ikegaya: Community Development Center
Yannick Rousseau
