Takumi Moriyama | Conservation Biology | Excellence in Research Award

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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.

Luciano Huber | Biodiversity | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Luciano Huber | Biodiversity | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Luciano Huber, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Brazil

Luciano Koche Huber 🇧🇷 is a doctoral student in Bioinformatics at PUCRS and holds a Master’s in Ecology and Evolution of Biodiversity (2024). His research focuses on altitudinal variation and microbial community composition in bromeliad water and neotropical forest soil using metabarcoding techniques. 🧬🌱 He previously earned a bachelor’s in Business Administration with a specialization in Systems Analysis. Luciano is proficient in English 🇬🇧 and Spanish 🇪🇸 and has co-authored a 2025 article in The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. He is a CAPES fellow and actively contributes to scientific development and biodiversity research. 📚🔍

Publication Profile

Orcid

🎓 Academic Background

Luciano Huber 🇧🇷 holds a Master’s degree (2022–2024) in Ecology and Evolution of Biodiversity from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Brazil. His thesis, titled “Altitudinal variations and community composition of eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and the eukaryotic supergroup TSAR in bromeliad water tanks and adjacent soil in a neotropical forest using metabarcoding”, was supervised by Prof. Laura Roberta Pinto Utz and co-supervised by Dr. Joe Taylor. 🧬🌱 He was awarded a CAPES scholarship 💼. Luciano’s research connects agriculture, livestock, and scientific development 🔍. He also holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with emphasis in Systems Analysis from PUCRS (1987–1990) 📊

🔬 Research Focus

Luciano Huber focuses on microbial ecology 🦠, biodiversity 🧬, and bioinformatics 💻. His research investigates the altitudinal variation and community composition of eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and the TSAR supergroup in bromeliad water and adjacent soil using metabarcoding techniques 🧪. His publication in the Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology explores ecological community dynamics in neotropical environments 🌿. Luciano integrates molecular tools and environmental data to understand microbial diversity and ecosystem function 🌎. His work contributes to advancing ecological genomics, highlighting interactions between organisms and their habitats across microhabitats and elevation gradients 📈.

Conclusion

Luciano Koche Huber is a promising early-career researcher whose interdisciplinary expertise, innovative use of bioinformatic tools, and focus on ecosystem-level questions make him a suitable candidate for the “Research for Best Researcher Award”, particularly in categories recognizing emerging talent or impactful master’s/PhD-level research

Publication Top Notes

Luciano Huber co-authored the article titled “Is the Composition of Communities in Bromeliad Water and Adjacent Soil Similar?” published in May 2025 in the Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology (DOI: 10.1111/jeu.70009) 🧬.

 

Zhitao Wang | Conservation Biology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Zhitao Wang | Conservation Biology | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Zhitao Wang at Ningbo University, China

Dr. Zhitao Wang is an associate professor at Ningbo University with a profound commitment to the conservation of aquatic mammals. His work focuses on the vocalizations, biosonar activity, and acoustic ecology of the Yangtze finless porpoise and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. Through passive acoustic monitoring, he explores the impact of human activities, including underwater noise pollution, on marine and freshwater cetaceans. With over 20 first-author or corresponding-author peer-reviewed publications, he contributes significantly to the understanding and protection of threatened aquatic species in China and beyond. Dr. Wang also engages in international collaborations to broaden the scope of his conservation research.

Publication profile

Google Scholar

Academic Background

Dr. Wang received his Doctor of Science in Hydrobiology from the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he conducted extensive research on the sensory and communication systems of freshwater cetaceans. As part of his Ph.D., he was selected for joint supervision programs at the Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology and Duke University, where he gained international exposure and refined his techniques in passive acoustic monitoring and auditory physiology. These experiences shaped his multidisciplinary research approach, combining field ecology, underwater acoustics, and cetacean physiology, laying a strong foundation for his contributions to aquatic biodiversity and conservation science.

Professional Background

Dr. Wang is currently serving as an associate professor at the School of Marine Science, Ningbo University (since 2022), where he continues his research on aquatic acoustics and marine mammal conservation. Prior to this, he was an assistant and later associate professor at the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, from 2016 to 2022. There, he worked in the Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation. His academic journey is marked by a steady progression through prestigious Chinese institutions, where he played vital roles in pioneering research, project coordination, and mentoring young scientists in marine ecology and conservation.

Awards and Honors

Although specific awards are not listed, Dr. Zhitao Wang’s impressive academic contributions and research impact are evident through his numerous high-impact publications and international collaborations. His leadership in pioneering research on underwater acoustics and cetacean conservation has earned him respect within the global marine science community. Participation in joint Ph.D. programs at world-renowned institutions such as the University of Hawaii and Duke University further highlights his recognition as a promising scientist. Additionally, his role as an editor and co-author of a special issue on cetacean hearing in Frontiers in Marine Science demonstrates his leadership in this field.

Research Focus

Dr. Wang’s research is centered on the acoustic ecology, vocal behavior, and auditory physiology of freshwater and marine cetaceans, particularly the Yangtze finless porpoise and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. His studies integrate passive acoustic monitoring with ecological data to assess biosonar patterns, noise exposure, and habitat usage. He investigates how anthropogenic activities, such as shipping and industrial noise, affect the communication and survival of cetaceans. His work aims to inform conservation strategies by providing scientific evidence for managing underwater noise and preserving critical habitats, thereby ensuring the protection of vulnerable aquatic species across Asia’s freshwater and coastal ecosystems.

Publication Top Notes

📄 Passive Acoustic Monitoring the Diel, Lunar, Seasonal and Tidal Patterns in the Biosonar Activity of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis)
Year: 2015 | Cited by: 66 | 🐬📡🌙🌊

📄 Frequent and Prolonged Nocturnal Occupation of Port Areas by Yangtze Finless Porpoises: Forced Choice for Feeding?
Year: 2015 | Cited by: 61 | 🌌🐋⚓🍽️

📄 Assessing the Underwater Acoustics of the World’s Largest Vibration Hammer (OCTA-KONG) and Its Potential Effects on the Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphin
Year: 2014 | Cited by: 61 | 🔨🌊🐬📉

📄 Whistle Characteristics of Free-Ranging Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins in Sanniang Bay, China
Year: 2013 | Cited by: 58 |

Conclusion

Dr. Zhitao Wang is an accomplished marine biologist whose extensive research on the vocalization, biosonar activity, and conservation of aquatic mammals—especially the Yangtze finless porpoise and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin—demonstrates exceptional scientific depth and societal relevance. With 23 peer-reviewed publications as first or corresponding author, collaborations with leading international researchers, and editorial contributions, his work has significantly advanced our understanding of underwater acoustics and anthropogenic noise impacts. Trained at premier institutions including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Duke University, and the University of Hawaii, Dr. Wang’s research directly informs conservation policy and habitat protection. His consistent career progression, high-impact contributions, and global perspective make him a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award.