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Affiliation |
Faculty of Agriculture Region of Marine Life Science |
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Assistant Professor |
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Laboratory Address |
Gakuen Kibanadai Nishi 1-1, Miyazakishi 889-2192, Japan |
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Contact information |
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Related SDGs |
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WADA Yoko
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Degree 【 display / non-display 】
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Science ( 2016.3 Nara Women's University )
Research Interests 【 display / non-display 】
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ecology
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intertidal rocky shore
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limpet
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snail
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behavior
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community
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rocky shore
Research Areas 【 display / non-display 】
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Life Science / Ecology and environment
Education 【 display / non-display 】
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Nara Women's University
2013.4 - 2016.3
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Nara Women's University
2011.4 - 2013.3
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Nara Women's University
2007.4 - 2011.3
Qualification acquired 【 display / non-display 】
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High School Teacher Specialization License
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First Kind of High School Teacher License
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Museum Attendant
Papers 【 display / non-display 】
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Wada Y., Noda T., Ida T.Y., Iwatani Y., Sato T.
Journal of Animal Ecology 2026.3
Authorship：Lead author, Corresponding author Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Journal of Animal Ecology
Predator–prey interactions have long been recognized as important selective forces in the evolution and maintenance of multiple traits in both predators and prey. Certain animal species leave information intentionally or unintentionally, in the form of urine, faeces, feeding traces and chemical trails, even after they have moved. This residual information, left behind by animals, has the potential to affect predation efficiency. However, information warfare—the use of information between predator and prey, in which predators exploit prey cues to increase predation efficiency, while prey exploit predator cues to reduce it—remains largely unexplored, especially in the context of residual information. Marine gastropods leave a mucus trail that contains individual information as they crawl. In this study, we investigated the existence of information warfare between the predator snail Reishia clavigera and the prey limpet Siphonaria sirius through mucus trails. We observed the responses of predators and prey to their respective mucus trails under laboratory conditions. The predators followed the prey's mucus trails. In contrast, the prey exhibited movements, such as looping, upon confrontation with the predator's mucus trails. The looping behaviour reduced the probability of the predator reaching the endpoint of the prey's mucus trail. These results suggest a potential strategy whereby predators exploit prey mucus trails for localization, along with a counter-strategy through which prey minimize the risk of detection. Our findings provide novel insights into how information shapes predator–prey interactions, indicating the potential existence of an information-induced arms race.
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Assessing the impact of successive marine heatwaves on the diversity of rocky intertidal communities Reviewed
Ishida K., Kanamori Y., Yao Y., Wada Y., Yamakita T., Noda T.
Journal of Sea Research 210 2026.3
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Journal of Sea Research
In recent years, clarification of the impacts of marine heatwaves (MHWs) on marine ecosystems has become an important topic. However, most previous studies that have assessed impacts of MHWs have not adequately reduced stochasticity, which has led to insufficient assessment of the direct effects of MHWs. There are also few studies that evaluate the accumulative carryover effects; which occur when the effects of successive events accumulatively increase over time. In addition, many studies have examined the effects of MHWs on abundance, but relatively few on diversity. From 2010 to 2016, southeastern Hokkaido in northern Japan experienced successive MHWs. Here, we assessed the accumulative carryover effects and the impact of MHWs on diversity (species richness and abundance-weighted diversity indices) with reduced stochasticity for four major functional groups (macroalgae, sessile invertebrates, herbivorous mollusks, and carnivorous invertebrates) of rocky intertidal communities. Surveys were conducted before (2004–2009), during (2010–2016), and after (2017–2018) MHWs. We found that the accumulative carryover effects were not detected in diversity. The results demonstrate that MHWs are to lead to accumulative carryover effects on abundance than on diversity. We also found that the direct effects of MHWs on diversity (i.e., increase or decrease of diversity indices during and after MHWs) were different among the four functional groups. These results were due to differences in species composition within the functional groups, such as the proportion of warm water species and cold affinity species and the proportion of dominant species. Thus, multiple metrics should be quantified simultaneously when assessing impacts on MHWs.
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Ikemoto Mito, Wada Yoko, Hashimoto Koya, Fujita Hiroaki, Kyogoku Daisuke
Ecological Research 2025.7
Authorship：Lead author, Corresponding author Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Wiley
Community ecologists often consider their research approaches as either process-oriented or pattern-oriented, which has frequently sparked controversy over the superiority or inferiority of each approach. Here, we argue the ambiguity in the distinction between pattern- and process-oriented approaches by reviewing previous studies. We then highlight three factors—interest, methods, and significance—that influence researchers' perceptions and evaluation of research approaches. This examination reveals the subjectivity inherent in classifying studies. Furthermore, we emphasize the complementary nature of pattern- and process-oriented perspectives in understanding ecological communities. We advocate a scientific culture that embraces diverse research approaches and acknowledges the various levels of generality required to address complex ecological issues. Ultimately, fostering an environment where ecologists with diverse approaches and perspectives collaborate constructively, rather than compete antagonistically, is essential for advancing community ecology.
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Effects of adult and egg predators on hatching plasticity of the pulmonate limpet Reviewed
Wada Yoko, Yusa Yoichi, Iwasaki Keiji
Oecologia 207 ( 6 ) 86 2025.6
Authorship：Lead author, Corresponding author Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
In response to predation threats during the embryonic period, prey from diverse taxonomic groups exhibit plasticity in their hatching timing. In theory, predators of adult prey, as well as predators of eggs or embryos, can influence hatching timing. Similarly, not only embryos but also parents of prey can regulate hatching timing. However, research on the influence of adult predators and adult prey on hatching timing in species with separate predators for adults and eggs remains limited. To the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated this phenomenon in marine invertebrates under natural conditions. In this study, we investigated the effects of life-stage-specific predators (i.e., adult and egg predators) on the hatching timing of the pulmonate limpet (Siphonaria sirius), which undergoes planktonic development on an intertidal rocky shore. The presence of adult predators before and after egg-laying did not affect the hatching timing. Furthermore, while the egg predators present before egg-laying did not influence hatching timing, those present after egg-laying accelerated it. The results indicate that embryos, rather than their parents, determine hatching timing in response to their own predation risk. This finding highlights a strategy in which organisms with planktonic development rely on embryonic plasticity to mitigate strong predation risks during the egg stage. To understand how predation risk shapes predator–prey dynamics, it is critical to identify how predators, specific to each life-history stage of prey (such as adult and egg), interact with prey at different life-history stages during key events like reproduction.
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Kyogoku D., Wada Y.
PLoS ONE 18 ( 10 October ) 2023.10
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：PLoS ONE
Scientific grant applications are subjected to scholarly peer review. Studies show that the success rates of grant applications are often higher for male than for female applicants, suggesting that gender bias is common in peer review. However, these findings mostly come from studies in Europe, North America and Australia. Here we report the analyses of gender-specific success rates of applications to the fellowships offered by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). Because we analyze the observational data (i.e., not experimental), our aim here is to describe the possible gender gaps in the success rates, rather than the examination of gender bias per se. Results show that the success rates are consistently higher for male applicants than for female applicants among five different fellowship categories. The gender gaps in the success rates varied significantly between research fields in some Fellowship categories. Furthermore, in some fellowship categories, the gender gaps were significantly associated with the representation of female applicants (both positive and negative correlations were found). Though the causes of the gender gaps are unknown, unintentional gender bias during the review process is suggested. Pre-application gender gaps may also be contributing to the gender gaps in success rates. At least some of the observed gender gaps were relatively small, which may be partly explicable by the designs of the review process. However, gender gaps or biases acting prior to the application, such as self-selection bias, may have reduced the superficial gender gaps in the success rates. Further investigations that control for the effects of covariates (e.g., scientific merits of each applicant, which were not accessible to us) and those of other funding agencies, especially of non-Western countries, are warranted.
Presentations 【 display / non-display 】
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Is it true that hermit crabs don't want to use broken shells? — Shell selection and the degree of damage in hermit crabs
2026.3.14
Event date： 2026.3.11 - 2026.3.15
Presentation type：Poster presentation
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Predator-avoidance Responses of the Sea Urchin Diadema setosum
2026.3.14
Event date： 2026.3.11 - 2026.3.15
Presentation type：Poster presentation
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Are there any effects after crawling?ーWhat snail mucus leaves behind in the ecosystemー
2026.3.14
Event date： 2026.3.11 - 2026.3.15
Presentation type：Poster presentation
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Effects of Sea Cucumber Bioturbation on Intertidal Ecosystems
The 72st Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of Japan
Event date： 2025.3.16 - 2025.3.18
Presentation type：Poster presentation
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Sex ratio bias in a population of Flat Rock Crabs
The 72st Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of Japan
Event date： 2025.3.16 - 2025.3.18
Presentation type：Poster presentation
Awards 【 display / non-display 】
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ポスター優秀賞
2025.3 日本生態学会
岩谷将文，和田葉子
Award type：Award from Japanese society, conference, symposium, etc.
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 【 display / non-display 】
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人新世における生態系変化とその予測可能性の評価：岩礁潮間帯での25年実証研究
Grant number：23K27237 2024.04 - 2028.03
独立行政法人日本学術振興会 科学研究費基金 基盤研究(B)
Authorship：Coinvestigator(s)
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貝類粘液情報から解明する群集構造と動態
Grant number：24K18192 2024.04 - 2027.03
独立行政法人日本学術振興会 科学研究費基金 若手研究
Authorship：Principal investigator
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人新世における生態系変化とその予測可能性の評価：岩礁潮間帯での25年実証研究
Grant number：23H02546 2023.04 - 2028.03
独立行政法人日本学術振興会 科学研究費補助金 基盤研究(B)
Authorship：Coinvestigator(s)
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貝類粘液で解き明かす岩礁潮間帯群集の構造と動態
Grant number：20K15874 2020.04 - 2025.03
独立行政法人日本学術振興会 科学研究費基金 若手研究
Authorship：Principal investigator
Available Technology 【 display / non-display 】
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Home Page： 和田研究室 宮崎大学農学部海洋生物環境学科 行動・生態学
Related fields where technical consultation is available：生物間相互作用の解析（捕食・被食・間接効果）
野外生態調査（分布・群集構造の評価）
行動解析（移動・探索・回避行動の定量化）
生物由来シグナル（化学・物理情報）の評価
生態系影響評価（環境変化・攪乱の影響予測）Message：生物が残す「見えない情報」を活用した新たな生態系評価手法の提案
粘液などの生物由来シグナルを基盤とした行動解析・環境評価への応用
生物間相互作用の可視化による環境変化の新規指標の開発
