Forest Ecology

We conduct research at various scales, from genes to entire ecosystems, with the aim of understanding the structure, function, and dynamics of forest ecosystems that provide a variety of ecosystem services to human society. Special attention is paid to the mechanisms of elemental cycles and the role of organisms in elemental cycles.

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	Prof. Dr. HIROBE Muneto E-mail: mhirobe [at] cc.okayama-u.ac.jp Eemental cycles, Structure, function, and dynamics of forest ecosystems Directory of Researchers

To understand the structure and function of forest ecosystems, we conduct research to clarify the mechanisms of elemental cycles, which is the fundamental processes of ecosystems. Since elemental cycles vary widely over a wide range of spatio-temporal scales, we pay particular attention to the spatial heterogeneity of elemental cycles at small spatial scales below the landscape scale, and we are trying to understand their patterns of variation and analyze the factors that cause such variation.

	Prof. Dr. HYODO Fujio E-mail: fhyodo [at] okayama-u.ac.jp Food web, isotopes, feeding habit, soil ecology Directory of Researchers

I am interested in functions of consumer organisms (e.g, termites and ants), in biogeochemical cycles of ecosystems. More recently, I am also interested in how their functions are affected by human activities, such as land use change. To examine this, I have been using isotope techniques (e.g., 13C, 15N, and 14C). My current field sites are temperate forests in Japan. (F. Hyodo)