SAITO Hiroaki
(Associate Professor/Division of Biosciences)
Department of Integrated Biosciences/Biological Oceanography, Marine Biogeochemistry
Career Summary
2014-present Associate Professor, The University of Tokyo
2011-2014 Head, Ecosystem Dynamics Group, Tohoku National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency
2001-2011 Chief of Biological Oceanography Section, Tohoku National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency
1997-2001 Senior Scientist of Biological Oceanography Section, Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute
1998-1999 Guest Scientist, Danish Institute for Fisheries Research
1990-1997 Scientist of Biological Oceanography Section, Fisheries Oceanography Division, Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute
1987-1990 Scientist of Fisheries Resources Division, Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute
Educational Activities
Graduate school: Biological Oceanography, Marine Planktology
Research Activities
My scientific interest is on the role of organisms in marine ecosystem dynamics and biogeochemical cycles. I have studied the biology and ecology of the copepod, a beautiful creature in the marine ecosystem, and also work with a variety of marine organisms ranging from viruses to whales. The primary objective of my studies is to understand the processes and mechanisms of marine ecosystem responses to natural and anthropogenic perturbations. Recent research topics include:
Developing new ocean provinces with respect to geochemistry and biogeography
The role of Kuroshio on the structure of marine ecosystems and fisheries production
Mechanism of fish stock fluctuation responding to climate change
The role of zooplankton on biological pump
The role of iron on marine food-web dynamics and biogeochemical cycles
Literature
Nishibe, Y. et al. (2015) Degradation of discarded appendicularian houses by oncaeid copepods, Limnol. Oceanogr., 60, 967-976, doi: 10.1002/lno.10061.
Nishioka, J. et al. (2011) Oceanic iron supply mechanisms that support the spring diatom bloom in the Oyashio region, western subarctic Pacific, J.
Geophys. Res., Oceans. 116, C02021 doi:10.1029/2010J C006321.
Saito, H. et al. (2009) Biogeochemical cycling of N and Si during the mesoscale iron-enrichment experiment in the western subarctic Pacific (SEEDS-II), Deep-Sea Research II, 56 2852-2862 [doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2009.06.010.
Other Activities
2015-present Editorial Board, Frontiers in Chemistry, Earth Science and Marine Science
2015- present Cochairman, PICES FUTURE SSC
2015- present Fellow of the Japanese Society of Fisheries Oceanography
2013- present Vice Chairman, PICES Science Board
2013- present Councilor of the Oceanographic Society of Japan
2011- present Editor, Journal of Oceanography
Future Plan
I'm currently examining earth system dynamics from a microscopic viewpoint on plankton. In order to understand and forecast marine system responses to natural and anthropogenic perturbation, I'm studying plankton biology,ecology, and marine biogeochemical cycles by means of various biological and chemical techniques as well as mathematical modeling.
Messages to Students
Oceans are the final remaining frontier for human beings. There are many opportunities for discovery, especially pertaining to the function of plankton in marine ecology and biogeochemistry. Let's go to the sea for field study that will give you hints, essential for new findings. I'm looking forward to seeing ambitious students who are enthusiastic about making new findings in science.