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- Akira MORI
Researcher's Profile

- Professor
- Akira MORI
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
- UTokyo LCA Center for Future Strategy, UTLCA
- akkym
g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Biography
April 2003 | Doctoral Research Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science |
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March 2004 | PhD, Agiculture, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University |
April 2004 | Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science |
September 2005 | Postdoctral Fellowship for Research Abroad, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science |
February 2008 | Research Asscoaite, Faculty of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University |
April 2011 | Asscoaite Professor, Faculty of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University |
April 2021 | Professor, Faculty of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University |
April 2022 | Professor, RCAST, The University of Tokyo |
Research Interests
We focus on both fundamental and applied ecology to explore the causes and consequences of biodiversity. Our research activities are based on a variety of approaches, including field observations, manipulative experiments, statistical models, mathematical calculations, and social surveys. In particular, we are conducting basic research on the biota of vascular plants, arthropods, and fungi in terrestrial ecosystems to identify the primary factors that determine local species assemblages by focusing on the roles of stochastic and deterministic processes of biodiversity organization. At the same time, we are conducting applied research to advance our theoretical understanding of the mechanisms of how ecosystem services can be supported by biodiversity. The benefits of nature to people are known as ecosystem services. It is not enough to just have nature, but it is known that various ecosystem services are enhanced in systems with high biodiversity. For example, we have quantitatively shown that forests rich in tree species can increase carbon sequestration through primary production by trees, which in turn leads to climate change mitigation. We are conducting research to unravel the mechanisms behind such phenomena of biodiversity-ecosystem services linkages. By implementing our findings in the real world, we aim to demonstrate the value of biodiversity in solving many social and environmental problems, including climate change.
fig.1. A primary forest in Shiretoko National Park
fig.2. Fieldwork in an alpine tundra
fig.3. A view from a camp in the high arctic tundra, Ellesmere island
Award
- March 2009 Denzaburo Miyadi Award, Ecological Society of Japan
- February 2022 JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) Prize
- April 2022 Distinguished Researcher, The University of Tokyo
Keywords
Basic and applied research to identify the mechanisms of maintenance of biodiversity and its benefits to people
Educational Systems
- Department of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Graduate school of Engineering