AKI KATO

Last Updated :2025/07/09

Affiliations, Positions
Seto Inland Sea Carbon-neutral Research Center, Associate Professor
Web Site
https://youtu.be/3DRLabudl7c?si=1FmJC7TziZGyIygo
https://researchmap.jp/katoa/?lang=en
https://gsbstop.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/interview/en/kato_aki.html
http://fishlab.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/kenkyu-shokai/kato-ken/kato-ken.html
E-mail
katoahiroshima-u.ac.jp
Self-introduction
Seaweeds account for about one-quarter of the world's aquaculture production and directly support human life as food and industrial raw material. On the other hand, seaweeds form seaweed beds that are essential for maintaining biodiversity in coastal ecosystems, and play important roles as nurseries for a variety of fish and shellfish. Focusing on the recent effects of climate change on seaweed aquaculture and seaweed beds, I have been conducting basic research on molecular phylogeny and ecology of key species at seaweed beds, and even empirical research on the aquaculture.

Basic Information

Major Professional Backgrounds

  • 2023/04/01, Hiroshima University, Seto Inland Sea Carbon-neutral Research Center, Associate Professor
  • 2019/04/01, 2023/03/31, Hiroshima Umiversity, Takehara Fisheries Research Station, Setouchi Field Science Center, Graduate School of Integrated Science for Life, Associate Professor
  • 2017/01/01, 2019/03/31, Hiroshima University, Takehara Marine Science Station, Setouchi Field Science Center, Graduate School of Biosphere Science,, Associate Professor
  • 2011/02/01, 2016/12/31, Hiroshima University, Takehara Marine Science Station, Setouchi Field Science Center, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Assistant Professor

Educational Backgrounds

  • HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY, Graduate School, Division of Natural Science, Biological Science, Japan, 2000/04, 2003/03
  • HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY, Graduate School, Division of Natural Science, Biological Science, Japan, 1998/04, 2000/03
  • HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY, Faculty of Science, Division of Biological Science, Japan, 1994/04, 1998/03

Academic Degrees

  • Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY
  • MSc in Biological Sciences, HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY
  • BSc in Biological Sciences, HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY

Educational Activity

  • [Bachelor Degree Program] School of Applied Biological Science : Department of Applied Biological Science : Integrative Hydrospheric Science Program
  • [Master's Program] Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life : Division of Integrated Sciences for Life : Program of Bioresource Science
  • [Doctoral Program] Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life : Division of Integrated Sciences for Life : Program of Bioresource Science

In Charge of Primary Major Programs

  • Integrative Hydrospheric Science Program

Research Fields

  • Biology;Basic biology;Biodiversity / Systematics
  • Agricultural sciences;Applied aquatic science;Aquatic bioproduction science
  • Biological Sciences;Conservation of biological resources;Conservation of biological resources

Research Keywords

  • Marine macroalgae, seaweed
  • Coralline algae
  • Taxonomy and molecular phylogeny
  • Seaweed aquaculture
  • Ecophysiology of marine macroalgae
  • Calcareous algae
  • Rhodophyta
  • Climate Change
  • Coral reefs
  • Biomineralization

Affiliated Academic Societies

  • Japanese Society of Phycology, 1999
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  • International Phycological Society, 2002
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  • The Phycological Society of America, 2005
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  • British Phycological Society
  • The Japanese Society of Applied Phycology, 2011
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  • The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science, 2019
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Educational Activity

Course in Charge

  1. 2025, Liberal Arts Education Program1, 2Term, Introduction to Field Sciences
  2. 2025, Undergraduate Education, 3Term, Seminar in Field Science
  3. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Intensive, Laboratory Work in Hydrospheric BiologyIII
  4. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Intensive, Practical Work in Hydrospheric Field ScienceII
  5. 2025, Undergraduate Education, 1Term, Exercises in Integrative Hydrospheric ScienceI
  6. 2025, Undergraduate Education, 4Term, Hydrospheric Primary ProductionI
  7. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Second Semester, Graduation Thesis I
  8. 2025, Undergraduate Education, First Semester, Graduation Thesis II
  9. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Second Semester, Graduation Thesis III
  10. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Intensive, Seminar in Fildwork on Community Coasts
  11. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Intensive, Practice on economic marine invertebrates and seaweeds in the Seto Inland Sea
  12. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Intensive, Practice and Field Work in Fisheries Science
  13. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Second Semester, Practice on Primary Production (Plankton and Benthos) in the Marine Ecosystem
  14. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Intensive, (AIMS)Plankton Biology
  15. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Intensive, Plankton Biology
  16. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 1Term, Exercises in Bioresource Science A
  17. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 2Term, Exercises in Bioresource Science A
  18. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 3Term, Exercises in Bioresource ScienceB
  19. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 4Term, Exercises in Bioresource ScienceB
  20. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Year, Research for Academic Degree Dissertation in Bioresource Science
  21. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 2Term, Fisheries Oceanography I
  22. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 4Term, Fisheries Oceanography II

Research Activities

Academic Papers

  1. Chemical Compositions of the Marine Red Alga Laurencia composita Collected in Japan, Chemistry&Biodiversity, e202403326, 202506
  2. Rhodogorgon truncata sp. nov. (Rhodogorgonales, Rhodophyta), a new red alga from the west coast of Thailand, PHYCOLOGIA, 64(2), 99-107, 20250304
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  3. ★, Coralline red algal species diversity at a shallow rhodolith bed in warm- temperate Japan, including two new species of Roseolithon (Hapalidiales, Corallinophycidae), Phycologia, 20241125
  4. New record of Gracilaria phuquocensis (Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta) in the Philippines, PhytoKeys, 20240429
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  5. Lithophyllum nagaokaense sp. nov. (Corallinales, Corallinophycidae, Rhodophyta): A new rhodolith-forming non-geniculate coralline alga from Japan, Phycological Research, 20240409
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  6. Taxonomic study of the polyphyletic Dudresnaya (Dumontiaceae, Florideophyceae) with descriptions of Dudresnaya ryukyuensis sp. nov. and two new genera, Himehibirhodia and Nudresdaya, PHYCOLOGICAL RESEARCH, 72(2), 133-148, 20240401
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  7. Effects of seawater temperature and irradiance on the growth of sporelings of Amphiroa cf. zonata and Corallina berteroi (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) in Japan, Phycologia, 20230616
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  8. Confirmation of Lithophyllum trincomaliense comb. & stat. nov. and of L. validum (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) as distinct species based on genetic and morpho-anatomical analyses of type material, PHYCOLOGIA, 61(6), 669-678, 20221102
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  9. ★, Taxonomic and distributional accounts on the non-geniculate coralline algae in Japan, Report of Marine Ecology Research Institute, 28, 1-252, 202301
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  10. ★, Morphological and molecular assessment of Lithophyllum okamurae with the description of L. neo-okamurae sp. nov. (Corallinales, Rhodophyta), Phycologia, 61(2), 117-131, 2022
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  11. Chemical composition of Laurencia spp. collected from the Seto Inland Sea of Japan, Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 96, 104259, 202106
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  12. Global Diversity and Geographic Distributions of Padina Species (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae): New Insights Based on Molecular and Morphological Analyses, Journal of Phycology, 57(2), 454-472, 20210401
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  13. ★, Effects of water temperature, light and nitrate on the growth of sporelings of the non-geniculate coralline alga Lithophyllum okamurae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta), Journal of Applied Phycology, 32(3), 1923-1931, 20200323
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  14. Floristic Account of Non-geniculate Coralline Algae (Rhodophyta) at the Coast of Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, Report of Marine Ecology Research Institute, 25, 1-40, 20200301
  15. Ecological characteristics of Ecklonia kurome (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) in the western Seto Inland Sea II. Re-establishment process of the stand on experimentally denuded substrata, Algal Resources, 13(2), 151-162, 20201201
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  16. Ecological characteristics of Ecklonia cava ssp. kurome (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) in the western Seto Inland Sea I. biomass, production rates and morphological diversity, Bulletin of the Hiroshima University Museum, 12, 87-99, 20201225
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  17. ★, Distribution of Lithophyllum kuroshioense sp. nov., Lithophyllum subtile and L. kaiseri (Corallinales, Rhodophyta), but not L. kotschyanum, in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, Phycologia, 58(6), 648-660, 201911
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  18. Seaweed community structures in the temperate zooxanthellate scleractinian coral Alveopora japonica bed in the western Seto Inland Sea, Japan, Algal Resources, 11(1), 11-23, 2018
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  19. Prediction of changing seawater temperature and transition of seaweed bed distribution in the next 100 years, Aquabiology, 40(3), 233-242, 201806
  20. Two new species of Padina (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) from southern Japan, P. ogasawaraensis sp. nov. and P. reniformis sp. nov., based on morphology and molecular markers, Phycologia, 57(1), 20-31, 2018
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  21. Experimental studies of ocean acidification impact on marine calcifiers, Kaiyo Monthly, 50(6), 237-246, 2018
  22. ★, Biodiversity of coralline algae - taxonomy and ecology of 'living stone', Kaiyo Monthly/Special, 60, 125-132, 2017
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  23. ★, Floristic and phenological study of marine macroalgae in the vicinity of Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture on the western central coasts of the Seto Inland Sea of Japan, Japanese Journal of Phycology (Sorui), 64(1), 1-9, 2016
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOIRepository URL
  24. Seaweeds as living stones-survival strategy of coralline algae and ocean environment, milsil, 9(3), 14-16, 201605
  25. Potential suitability of coenocytic green algae as an indicator of the coastal environment in the Kuroshio region, Kuroshio Science, 8(2), 148-159, 201505
  26. ★, Calcifying macroalgae as indicators for ocean acidification, The Japanese Journal of Phycology (Sorui) (in Japanease), 63(1), 15-18, 2015
  27. ★, Negative effects of ocean acidification on two crustose coralline species using genetically homogeneous samples, MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, 94, 1-6, 2014
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  28. Molecular evidence confirms the parasite Congracilaria babae (Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta) from Malaysia, JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY, 26(2), 1287-1300, 2014
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  29. Characteristics of macroalgal vegetation along the coasts of Yashiro and Heigun islands, western Seto Inland Sea, Japan. - especially, on the vertical distribution patterns of species of Sargassum and Ecklonia, Biosphere Science, 53(0), 1-22, 2014
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  30. ★, Taxonomic circumscription of heterogeneous species Neogoniolithon brassica-florida (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) in Japan, PHYCOLOGICAL RESEARCH, 61(1), 15-26, 2013
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  31. Calcification responses of symbiotic and aposymbiotic corals to near-future levels of ocean acidification, Biogeosciences, 10(11), 6807-6814, 201304
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  32. Dolomite-rich coralline algae in reefs resist dissolution in acidified conditions, NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE, 3(3), 268-272, 2013
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  33. Samples of calcareous coralline algae collected by the GK12 cruise, Marine Geological and Geophysical Studies around Okinawa Islands -around Okinoerabu-jima Island- Preliminary research on Researches in the 2012 Fiscal Year., 61(0), 136-137, 2013
  34. Nephroselmis excentrica sp. nov. (Nephroselmidophyceae, Chlorophyta) from Okinawa-jima, Japan, Phycologia, 51(3), 271-282, 2012
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  35. Estimate of calcification responses to thermal and freshening stresses based on culture experiments with symbiotic and aposymbiotic primary polyps of a coral, Acropora digitifera, Global and Planetary Change, 92(0), 1-7, 2012
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  36. ★, REVISION OF THE MASTOPHOROIDEAE (CORALLINALES, RHODOPHYTA) AND POLYPHYLY IN NONGENICULATE SPECIES WIDELY DISTRIBUTED ON PACIFIC CORAL REEFS, JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, 47(3), 662-672, 2011
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  37. TAXONOMY AND PHYLOGENY OF NEPHROSELMIS CLAVISTELLA SP NOV (NEPHROSELMIDOPHYCEAE, CHLOROPHYTA), JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, 47(6), 1388-1396, 2011
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  38. A review of influense of ocean acidification on marine organisms in coral reefs, Oceanography in Japan, 19(1), 21-40, 2010
  39. ★, Recent introduction of a freshwater red alga Chantransia macrospora to Okinawa, Japan, Aquatic Invasions, 4(4), 567-574, 2009
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  40. Genetic diversity and introgression in two cultivated species (Porphyra yezoensis and P. tenera) and closely related wild species of Porphyra (Bangiales, Rhodophyta), Journal of Phycology, 45(2), 493-502, 2009
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  41. ★, Characterization of the crustose red alga Peyssonnelia japonica (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) and its taxonomic relationship with P. boudouresquei based on morphological and molecular data, Phycological Research, 57(1), 74-86, 2009
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  42. Comparative study of wild and cultivated Porphyra yezoensis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) based on molecular and morphological data., Journal of Applied Phycology, 20(3), 261-270, 2008
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  43. ★, Reassessment of the little known crustose red algal genus Polystrata (Gigartinales), based on morphology and SSU rDNA sequences., Journal of Phycology, 42(4) 922-933(4), 922-933, 2006
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  44. ★, New records of Peyssonnelia armorica and P. harveyana (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) from Japan, Phycological Research, 53(4) 266-274(4), 266-274, 2005
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  45. A new crustose red alga Peyssonnelia rumoiana (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) from Japan, Phycological Research, 51(1), 21-28, 2003
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  46. A morphological study of Peyssonnelia meridionalis (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta), with discussion of spermatangial types within the genus, Phycologia, 41(2), 191-198, 2002
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  47. Taxonomic notes on marine algae from Malaysia. VII. Five species of Rhodophyceae, with the description of Lomentaria gracillima sp. nov, Botanica Marina, 45(6), 536-547, 2002
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  48. Sexually reproducing populations of Peyssonnelia rosenvingii (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) in the North Pacific, European Journal of Phycology, 35(1), 93-96, 2000
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  49. Taxonomic notes on marine algae from Malaysia. II. Seven species of Rhodophyceae, Botanica Marina, 43(2), 181-190, 2000
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI

Publications such as books

  1. 2022/03/31, Threatened Wildlife in Hiroshima Prefecture (4th Edition) Red Data Book Hiroshima 2021, Marine macroalgae, Hiroshima Prefectural Natural Environment Division, 2022, 3, Others, Joint work, Japanese, Aki Kato, Yukimasa Yamagishi, Hiromori Shimabukuro, 761, 739-745
  2. 2016/10, Rhodolith/Maërl Beds: A Global Perspective. Riosmena-Rodriguez, R., Kendrick, G. & Aguirre, J. (eds.), Chapter 14. Western Pacific, Springer International Publishing, 2016, 10, Scholarly Book, Joint work, E, Kato, A., Baba, M., Matsuda, S. & Iryu, Y., 978-3-319-29313-4, 368, 334-347
  3. 2012, Hawaiian Crustose Coralline Algae - A survey of common species. Hawai‘i Botanical Science Paper Number 47, Hawaiian Crustose Coralline Algae - A survey of common species. Hawai‘i Botanical Science Paper Number 47, Department of Botany, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, 2012, Scholarly Book, Joint work, E, Abbott, I. A., Riosmena-Rodriguez, R., Kato, A., Squair, C. A. B., Michael, T. S. and Smith, C. M.

Invited Lecture, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation

  1. Current status of the diversity of non-geniculate coralline algae in Japan, Kato, A., Baba, M.; Min-Khant-Kyaw, The 9th Asian Pacific Phycological Forum, 2024/04/14, With Invitation, English, Asian Pacific Phycological Association, Hokkaido University Conference Hall, Sapporo, Japan
    Related URL
  2. Two new genera of non-geniculate coralline algae (Corallinophycidae, Rhodophyta) from the North Pacific Ocean based on molecular and morphological evidence, Min-Khant-Kyaw, Aki Kato, Masasuke Baba, 13th International Phycological Congress, 2025/06, Without Invitation, English, International Phycological Society, Panglao, Bohol, Philippines
    Related URL
  3. A preliminary molecular-phylogenetic study of subarctic non-geniculate coralline algae in Japan, Aki Kato, Min-Khant-Kyaw, Masasuke Baba, 2025/06, Without Invitation, English, International Phycological Society, Panglao, Bohol, Philippines
    Related URL
  4. Assessing the rhodolith diversity in Shirasu from the southern Shimabara Peninsula including a new record of Roseolithon (Hapalidiales, Rhodophyta) from Japan, Min-Khant-Kyaw, Kato, A.; Adachi, K.; Iryu, Y.; Baba, M., The 9th Asian Pacific Phycological Forum, 2024/04/14, Without Invitation, English, The Asian Pacific Phycological Association, Hokkaido University Conference Hall, Sapporo, Japan
    Related URL

Awards

  1. 2007/03, Award for Young Scientist, Japanese Society of Phycology, A systematic study of the Peyssonneliaceae (Rhodophyta) in Japan
  2. 2018/06/01, 2nd Place in the Poster Competition of the 36th Symposium and Annual Meeting of the Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines, The Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines, Effects of Irradiance and Water Temperature on the Growth of Sporelings of the Nongeniculate Coralline Alga Lithophyllum okamurae Foslie (Corallinales, Rhodophyceae)

External Funds

Acceptance Results of Competitive Funds

  1. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research KAKENHI (C), Unveiling species diversity in subarctic non-geniculate coralline algae through molecular phylogeny and nanoscale ultrastructure, 2024, 2026
  2. Research Support Fund for Solving Regional Problems, Development of seedling production of an edible seaweed Tinocladia crassa (Japanese name: Futo-mozuku), 2021/08/01, 2022/03/31
  3. KAKENHI(Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)), 2017, 2019
  4. 2014, 2014
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  5. KAKENHI, 2014, 2016
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  6. 2011, 2013
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  7. Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows, A systematic study of the Peyssonneliaceae (Rhodophyta) in Japan, 2004/04/00, 2007/03/00

Social Activities

History as Committee Members

  1. Member of the Board, 2022/01/01, 2024/12/31, International Phycological Society

Other Social Contributions

  1. "Mystery of Shirasu (rhodolith bed) off Harajiro Castle", Media coverage cooperation (Supervised about broadcast contents), NHK Nagasaki broadcast station, TV program "Evening Nagasaki", 2021/06/24, 2021/06/24, Media coverage cooperation, TV or radio program, General
  2. Hiroshima University Radio Campus, Vol. 43, FM Hiroshima, Radio program, 2020/02/17, 2020/02/17, Interviewee, TV or radio program, High school students