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Diversity Biology Ia Lab
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The lab studies taxonomy by collecting marine invertebrates, describing new species, and tracing their phylogeny.
AboutAbout the lab
Naming creatures that have no name yet
The Diversity Biology Ia Lab studies taxonomy, phylogenetics, and biogeography, mainly of marine invertebrates.
About 1.5 million species on Earth are known, but the actual number is said to be 10 to 100 times higher.
Through field surveys, collection, and experiments, together with rearing experiments, observation, and analysis in the laboratory, the lab seeks to understand the diverse and complex world of living things.
The main work now underway is descriptive taxonomy and molecular phylogenetic analysis of invertebrates.
Key terms
- Descriptive taxonomy
- The taxonomic work of closely observing and recording the characteristics of organisms, distinguishing species, and assigning scientific names
- Molecular phylogenetic analysis
- A method that compares DNA sequences to estimate how closely organisms are related and the course of their evolution
- Undescribed species
- An organism that has not yet been given a scientific name. It receives a name only once it is described as a new species
NewsLab news
Professor Kajihara served as chief editor of the textbook Dobutsu Keito Bunruigaku (Animal Systematics and Taxonomy), which has now been published
The research group reported two new species of small deep-sea crustaceans and their habitat segregation by depth
A researcher received an Oral Presentation Award at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the Carcinological Society of Japan
Two new species described by a student were selected among the Top 10 New Marine Species of 2024
ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies taxonomy, phylogenetics, and biogeography, mainly of marine invertebrates. By combining field surveys and collection with rearing, observation, and analysis in the laboratory, it seeks to understand the diverse and complex world of living things.
*Illustrative imageFinding and describing new species
Describing new species, that is, giving names to animals that have not yet been named (undescribed species), is one of the main research activities of this lab. Even under rocks in the nearby sea, unnamed animals are still hiding.
*Illustrative imageTracing phylogeny with DNA
The lab determines the DNA sequences of collected animals to clarify the relationships among species (phylogenetic relationships). Some studies have used DNA to check whether cryptic species, which cannot be distinguished by morphology, are included.
*Illustrative imageUntangling confusion in scientific names
To keep scientific names stable and usable, the lab replaces names when the same scientific name has been used for different organisms, redescribes species that were described long ago, and redesignates type specimens.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Diversity Biology Ia Lab consist of faculty, researchers, a JSPS Special Assistant Professor, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorHiroshi Kajihara
- LecturerKeiichi Kakui
- Project Assistant ProfessorMizuho Munakata
- Ambitious Specially Appointed Assistant ProfessorShoki Shiraki
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RelatedLabs similar to Diversity Biology Ia Lab
Diversity Biology and Evolution LabFaculty of Science, Department of Biological SciencesTaxonomy of marine algae
Chiba LabFaculty of Science, Department of Biological SciencesPlant molecular biology
Diversity Biology II Lab: Algae and Extant Organism Diversity ResearchFaculty of Science, Department of Biological SciencesPhylogeny, evolution, and taxonomy of algae
Kitada LabFaculty of Science, Department of Biological SciencesGenetics, laboratory animal scienceThe information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Micrura verrilli” Marlin Harms / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Finding and describing new species: “Tanaissus lilljeborgi” Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Tracing phylogeny with DNA: “Gel electrophoresis 2” Mnolf / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Untangling confusion in scientific names: “Hesionidae” Philippe Bourjon / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (多様性生物学・進化学系
（阿部剛史） ): “Laminaria kelp on top of the pinnacle at 13th Apostle PA031640” Peter Southwood / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped) - Related lab (CHIBA LAB
（千葉研究室） ): “A thaliana” Safflle / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped) - Related lab (多様性生物学講座II 藻類と
現生生物の 多様性研究): “Volvox Aureus 400x” Massimo brizzi / CC BY 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (KITADALAB
（北田研究室） ): “Rat eating or praying?” Jean-Etienne Poirrier / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
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