This book summarizes the status quo of the knowledge about the biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine animals that live in Japan. Consisting of some 6,800 islands that are arrayed for approximately 3,500 km from north to south, the Japanese archipelago has a complex history in a paleogeographic formation process over time and harbors rich flora and fauna. This work will contribute to establishing a general biogeographic theory in archipelagoes around continental shelves.Facing the ongoing extinction crisis, one of the most important tasks for our generation is to bequeath this precious natural heritage to future generations. As the first step toward this goal, a species list has been compiled through solid, steady alpha-taxonomic work in each taxon. Furthermore, the phylogeography and population genetic structure for each species is elucidated for deeper understanding of the local fauna, the scientific results of which should be the basis for establishing conservation policies and strategies. Also the problem of alien or introduced species is investigated as another threat to the native fauna.Each of the 27 chapters is written by the most active specialist leading the field, thus readers can acquire up-to-date knowledge of the animal species diversity and their formation process of Japanese animals in the most comprehensive form available. This book is recommended for researchers and students who are interested in species diversity, biogeography, and phylogeography.

Autorentext

Editors:

Masaharu Motokawa

The Kyoto University Museum

Kyoto University

Kyoto

Japan

Hiroshi Kajihara

Faculty of Science <hokkaido university Hokkaido University

Sapporo

Japan

Inhalt
Preface.- Part 1 Introduction.- 1 Land Emergence and Elevation Shift Affect Diversification: A New Perspective Towards Understanding the High Species Diversity of Terrestrial Animals in Japan.- 2 An Overview of Recent Marine Biodiversity Research in Japan.- Part 2 Terrestrial Animals.- 3 A Review of the Processes of Mammalian Faunal Assembly in Japan: Insights from Molecular Phylogenetics.- 4 Biogeographic Pattern of Japanese Birds: A Cluster Analysis of Faunal Similarity and a Review of Phylogenetic Evidence.- 5 Historical Biogeography of the Terrestrial Reptiles of Japan: A Comparative Analysis of Geographic Ranges and Molecular Phylogenies.- 6 Species Diversity of Japanese Amphibians: Recent Progress and Future Prospects of Systematic Studies.- 7 Japanese Freshwater Fishes: Biogeography and Cryptic Diversity.- 8 The Species and Genetic Diversities of Insects in Japan, with Special Reference to the Aquatic Insects.- 9 Species Diversity and Phylogeny of Freshwater and TerrestrialGammaridean Amphipods (Crustacea) in Japan.- 10 Tardigrade Research in Japan.- 11 Current Status of Entomophilic Nematode Survey in Japan.- 12 Diversity of Leeches from Japan: Recent Progress in Macrophagous and Blood-Feeding Taxa.- Part 3 Marine Invertebrates.- 13 Taxonomic Review of Japanese Sponges (Porifera).- 14 Zoantharia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) Diversity Research in Japan: Current State and Future Trends.- 15 Diversity and Morphological Adaptation of Dicyemids in Japan.- 16 Species Diversity of Japanese Ribbon Worms (Nemertea).- 17 Review of the Studies of Japanese Entoprocts (Entoprocta).- 18 Some Comments on the Taxonomy of the Peanut Worms (Annelida: Sipuncula) in Japanese Waters Towards a Future Revision.- 19 Nereididae (Annelida) in Japan, with Special Reference to Life-History Differentiation Among  Estuarine Species.- 20 The Echiura of Japan: Diversity, Classification, Phylogeny, and Their Associated Fauna.- 21 Diversity of Kinorhyncha in Japan and Phylogenetic Relationships of the Phylum.- 22 Copepod Biodiversity in Japan: Recent Advances in Japanese Copepodology.- 23 Review of the Taxonomy, Diversity, Ecology, and Other Biological Aspects of Order Tanaidacea from Japan and Surrounding Waters.- 24 Diversity of Freshwater and Marine Bryozoans in Japan.- 25 Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata): Systematics and Japanese Fauna.- 26 Taxonomy of Ascidians (Urochordata: Ascidiacea) in Japan: Past, Present, and Future.- 27 A Taxonomic Review of Lancelets (Cephalochordata) in Japanese Waters.- BM Index.