OIST Contribution to Okinawa Database

Researchers successfully assembled the genome and transcriptome of the kuruma shrimp, providing a genetic resource that can support disease-related research, breeding programs, and fisheries management.

OIST researchers developed an automated aquaculture platform that uses light, water flow, and environmental monitoring to automate hatching and animal transfer processes, improving survival and reducing labor requirements.

Kwahuu Ocean was established as an OIST startup to commercialize sustainable squid aquaculture technologies developed through OIST research. The company aims to build distributed aquaculture systems that support sustainable marine resource use and food production.

OIST hosted a symposium to share the outcomes of demonstration projects conducted through the OIST Testbed in the areas of energy, mobility, and drone logistics, while exploring future collaboration and pathways toward social implementation.

Researchers investigated how mangrove forests are connected across the Ryukyu Islands by combining genetic analysis and oceanographic methods. The study found that mangrove populations on different islands have limited connectivity, highlighting the importance of local conservation efforts.

OIST is working with government agencies, local authorities, and research partners to monitor, identify, and control invasive ant species in Okinawa. The initiative includes surveys, training programs, public outreach, and eradication efforts targeting invasive ants.

Researchers at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) examined gene expression in sea grapes and found differences in gene expression between the fronds and stolons, despite both structures being part of a single giant cell.

Researchers at OIST successfully decoded the entire genome of sea grapes, a popular Okinawan seaweed and a giant single-celled organism. The findings provide a foundation for understanding how sea grapes grow and may support future improvements in cultivation and environmental management.

NTT, Inc., OIST, and the Meteorological Research Institute are expanding their joint weather observation research from typhoons to linear rainbands. By monitoring water vapor over the East China Sea, the project aims to improve understanding and prediction of extreme weather events.

OIST, NTT, and the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI) have launched a new research collaboration to better understand the atmospheric and oceanic processes behind typhoons and linear precipitation zones. The project aims to improve forecasting accuracy through direct observations over the ocean.

OIST and the Okinawa Environmental Science Center have launched the Ryukyu Islands Coral eDNA Atlas, an online resource that visualizes coral distribution using environmental DNA collected from seawater samples across the Ryukyu Islands.

Researchers from OIST and NTT Communications successfully used environmental DNA collected by underwater drones to identify mesophotic corals. The approach offers a new way to study and monitor coral reefs at depths that are difficult to access through conventional surveys.