Takumi Moriyama | Conservation Biology | Excellence in Research Award

Prof. Takumi Moriyama | Conservation Biology | Excellence in Research Award

Utsunomiya University | Japan

Prof. Takumi Moriyama is an accomplished researcher in rural ecological engineering and freshwater biodiversity, with a focus on the ecology and conservation of pond-dwelling amphibians and freshwater fish in Japan. His work spans the study of seasonal and hibernation behaviors of species such as the Tokyo Daruma Pond Frog and Tohoku Salamander, as well as the assessment of aquatic ecological environments in rural landscapes, including paddy fields and irrigation networks. He has contributed significantly to understanding the impacts of agricultural practices on biodiversity, integrating historical data and modern ecological methods such as environmental DNA and SNP analysis. His research also explores the historical and cultural dimensions of fish diversity in rural areas, including dialectal naming patterns and traditional ecological knowledge. Prof. Moriyama has published extensively in journals on irrigation, drainage, rural planning, and conservation, with 4 documents, and his work has been cited 5 times, resulting in an h-index of 2. His contributions have been recognized with awards such as the Best Paper Award from the Rural Planning Society of Japan, and he has led and participated in multiple funded projects aimed at biodiversity conservation, habitat assessment, and sustainable management of rural freshwater ecosystems.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

  • Ogawa, K., Moriyama, T., Nakashima, N., Kato, T., & Fukuda, S. (2025). Historical data to recover the distribution of freshwater fishes across 1950s Japan. Biological Conservation, 313, 111644.

  • Motegi, M., Moriyama, T., & Nakashima, N. (2023). Selectivity of wintering habitat for the Tokyo Daruma Pond Frog. Transactions of The Japanese Society of Irrigation, Drainage and Rural Engineering, 91, I_1–I_10.

  • Aoyama, K., & Moriyama, T. (2023). Exploration of the Tohoku Salamander in non-breeding season using the passive internal transponder tag system. Transactions of The Japanese Society of Irrigation, Drainage and Rural Engineering, 91, IV_5–IV_8.

  • Motegi, M., Moriyama, T., & Nakashima, N. (2021). Impact of paddy field water management practices on the reproduction of Tokyo Daruma Pond Frog. Transactions of The Japanese Society of Irrigation, Drainage and Rural Engineering, 89, I_353–I_362.

  • Moriyama, T., & Moriyama, H. (2021). Clarification of diversification factors and succession of dialectal names of freshwater fish in rural areas in Tochigi Prefecture. Journal of Rural Planning Studies, 1, 48–59.

  • Nakashima, N., Moriyama, T., Motegi, M., Mori, A., & Watabe, K. (2021). Underground behavior of overwintering Tokyo Daruma Pond Frogs in early spring. Paddy and Water Environment, 19, 127–135.

Esther Ontiveros Ortega | Archaeometric research | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Esther Ontiveros Ortega | Archaeometric research | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Esther Ontiveros Ortega, Instituto Andaluz del Patrimonio Histórico, Spain

La Dra. Esther Ontiveros Ortega es una experta en arqueometría, con especialización en geología, piedra ornamental, morteros y conservación de edificios históricos. Obtuvo su doctorado en Ciencias Geológicas en 1995 por la Universidad de Granada y un Máster en Arquitectura y Patrimonio por la Universidad de Sevilla (2001). Desde 2008, es técnica en arqueometría en el Instituto Andaluz del Patrimonio Histórico. Su investigación se centra en materiales de construcción históricos, morteros de cal y mármoles romanos en la Bética. Ha publicado más de 40 artículos en revistas indexadas, 48 capítulos de libros y 51 ponencias en congresos. Con un índice h=14 e i10=22, ha coordinado proyectos de investigación financiados por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Mineco) y participa activamente en comités científicos internacionales. 🚧🏛️

Publication Profile

Orcid

Academic Background 🎓

Dr. Esther Ontiveros Ortega holds a degree in Geology from the University of Granada (1992) and earned her Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the same institution in 1995. Her doctoral research focused on the study of materials in historical architecture. She later expanded her expertise by completing a Master’s in Architecture and Heritage at the University of Seville in 2001. With a strong academic foundation in geology, conservation, and heritage studies, she has dedicated her career to the preservation and analysis of historical materials. 🏛️📜

Expert in Archaeometry 🏛️🔬

Dr. Esther Ontiveros Ortega is a Technical Specialist in Archaeometry at the Instituto Andaluz del Patrimonio Histórico (IAPH), Junta de Andalucía, Spain, since June 2008. She specializes in geology, ornamental stone, mortars, and the conservation of historic buildings. Her career began as a Research Fellow (1993-1996) at the University of Granada and IAPH. She later worked as an independent consultant (1999-2002) and held various roles at the Agencia Andaluza de Instituciones Culturales (2002-2008). Her expertise lies in classical architecture and material analysis, contributing to heritage preservation. 📜🏗️

Research Focus 🏛️🔬

Dr. Esther Ontiveros Ortega specializes in archaeometry, geological analysis, and cultural heritage conservation. Her research focuses on the characterization of ancient construction materials, including marbles, mortars, and lime-based materials used in historical structures. She applies mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical techniques to study Roman quarries, monumental substructures, and architectural elements from sites like Italica and Medina Sidonia. Additionally, her work explores thermal decomposition, mechanical properties of lime mortars, and conservation of historical buildings. Through interdisciplinary studies in geoarchaeology and material science, she contributes to the preservation of architectural heritage worldwide. 🏺🪨

Publication Top Notes

  • “Thermal decomposition of the CaO in traditional lime kilns. Applications in cultural heritage conservation” (2018)

  • “Mineralogical and physical-chemical characterisation of Roman mortars used for monumental substructures on the Hill of San Antonio, in the Roman city of Italica (prov. Baetica, Santiponce, Seville, Spain)” (2016)

  • “Estudio volumétrico de las canteras romanas de Rodadero de los Lobos – cortijo Piquín (sierra de Córdoba) mediante UAV LiDAR” (2025)

  • “Marmora de la Casa de la Cañada Honda de Itálica (Santiponce, Sevilla)” (2024)

  • “Analytical study of the marble support of a Livia sculpture found in the roman city of Asido (Medina Sidonia, Cádiz)” (2020)

 

Chaeho Byun | Plant Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Prof.Chaeho Byun | Plant Ecology | Best Researcher Award

PhD at Andong National University, South Korea

Dr. Chaeho Byun 🌿 earned his Ph.D. in Plant Ecology from McGill University, specializing in invasive alien ecology. With expertise honed under Prof. Sylvie de Blois and Prof. Jacques Brisson, he also holds a Master’s in Environmental Planning from Seoul National University. As an Assistant Professor at Andong National University, he passionately imparts knowledge in courses like Basic Biology and Wetland Ecology. Dr. Byun’s dedication extends to guest lectures at Yonsei University and a teaching stint at Dankook University. 🎓 His commitment to ecological education is underscored by a dynamic approach that includes fostering a deep understanding of plant ecology and environmental planning. 🌱✨

Publication Profile :

Scopus 

Orcid

Google Scholar

🎓Education :

Dr. Chaeho Byun 🌿 is a distinguished scholar, holding a Ph.D. in Plant Ecology from McGill University (2009-2015). Under the guidance of Prof. Sylvie de Blois and Prof. Jacques Brisson, he delved into intricate aspects of plant ecology. Earlier, he pursued a Master’s in Environmental Planning (2005-2007) at Seoul National University, mentored by Prof. Dowon Lee and Prof. Jae Geun Kim. Dr. Byun’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s in Biological Science (1998-2005) from Seoul National University, guided by Prof. Eun Ju Lee. His extensive education forms the bedrock of his expertise in ecological research and academia. 🎓🌱

 

 📚 Teaching Experience and Skills :

Dr. Chaeho Byun 📚 brings a wealth of teaching experience and skills to his academic portfolio. Serving as Assistant Professor at Andong National University (2020-2022), he passionately delivered courses ranging from Basic Biology to Invasive Alien Ecology. As a Lecturer at Dankook University in 2015, he enriched minds in General Ecology. Notably, he contributed as a Teaching Assistant at McGill University (2010-2013), leading plant ecology sessions. Dr. Byun’s commitment extends beyond roles; he was an invited speaker at Yonsei University and McGill University, showcasing his expertise. 🌱 His dedication is underscored by ongoing professional development, including the Learning to Teach Workshop (2010-2013) at McGill University. 🏫✨

🏆Awards and Scholarships :

Dr. Chaeho Byun 🏆 boasts a stellar track record with numerous awards and scholarships, showcasing his outstanding contributions to ecological research. Currently, he secures a substantial five-year grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea for native plant restoration. His impactful work on invasive alien species receives funding from the Ministry of Environment. Recognition includes the 2017 Best Oral Presentation at the Korean Ecology Environmental Science Congress. Dr. Byun’s journey includes prestigious awards like the Student Excellence Award and the GREAT Award during his tenure in Canada. These accolades attest to his commitment to advancing biodiversity conservation and ecological understanding. 🌿✨

Certificates :

Dr. Chaeho Byun 🌐 is not only a distinguished scholar in Plant Ecology but also holds a diverse set of certificates. In 2002, he acquired skills as an Internet Information Searcher and Computer Graphics Utilizer. His proficiency expanded with a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) User Certificate in 2003, covering Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Demonstrating commitment beyond academia, he completed his Korean Army service in 2003. Dr. Byun’s versatile skill set, ranging from information retrieval to graphic design and office applications, reflects a holistic approach to both academic and practical aspects of his professional journey. 🏆💻🌿

Research Focus :

Dr. Chaeho Byun 🌿 is a prominent researcher in plant ecology, with a diverse research focus encompassing multiple dimensions of biodiversity, invasive species management, and global vegetation analyses. His work spans from the intricate relationships between plant functional groups and biotic resistance to exploring the factors driving the diversity–stability relationship. Dr. Byun’s contributions extend to the development of tools like sPlot for global vegetation analysis and methodologies for deriving global maps of leaf traits. 🌍 His research on ecological resistance, carbon storage in coastal wetlands, and the restoration of functionally diverse communities showcases a commitment to understanding and conserving ecosystems. 🏞️🔍

📚 Publication Top Notes :

  1. TRY plant trait database–enhanced coverage and open access
    • 📖 Cited by 1124 (2020) 🌐
  2. Multiple facets of biodiversity drive the diversity–stability relationship
    • 📖 Cited by 332 (2018) 🌐
  3. Plant functional group identity and diversity determine biotic resistance to invasion by an exotic grass
    • 📖 Cited by 241 (2013) 🌐
  4. sPlot–A new tool for global vegetation analyses
    • 📖 Cited by 220 (2019) 🌐
  5. Mapping local and global variability in plant trait distributions
    • 📖 Cited by 177 (2017) 🌐
  6. A methodology to derive global maps of leaf traits using remote sensing and climate data
    • 📖 Cited by 111 (2018) 🌐
  7. Climatic and soil factors explain the two-dimensional spectrum of global plant trait variation
    • 📖 Cited by 100 (2022) 🌐
  8. Interactions between abiotic constraint, propagule pressure, and biotic resistance regulate plant invasion
    • 📖 Cited by 86 (2015) 🌐
  9. Management of invasive plants through ecological resistance
    • 📖 Cited by 79 (2018) 🌐
  10. Root traits explain plant species distributions along climatic gradients yet challenge the nature of ecological trade-offs
    • 📖 Cited by 70 (2021) 🌐