Big data "Anemone Database" that accumulates the survey results of fish living in the water area using environmental DNA collected from the water of the sea or river is open to the public as open data from Tohoku University, NYK Line, Minami Sanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture, etc. Was done.It is the first time in the world to construct big data of environmental DNA and release it as open data.
According to Tohoku University, the Anemone Database is the result of a fish survey using environmental DNA collected by researchers and citizen volunteers from 2017 coastal waters, rivers, and lakes nationwide from 861, at the Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University. Professor Michio Kondo played a central role in making big data.
Environmental DNA is DNA derived from living organisms collected from various environments such as water and soil.It was established in Japan as an innovative biological research method that reveals the types and distribution of living organisms that exist from a bucket of water.Since it was released to the public as open data, it is expected to be used in a wide range of industries as a "weather map of living things".
Since 2021, NYK and Kinkai Yusen of the NYK Group have conducted environmental DNA observations in the open sea for the first time in the world together with Tohoku University and Hokkaido University, confirmed the DNA of 158 fish species, and Earth, a specified non-profit corporation. The circle of research is expanding further, with Watch Japan starting to cooperate with sampling surveys.
In terms of utilization, Minamisanriku Town has announced a policy to proceed with the investigation of Shizugawa Bay, where the migration of fish species is changing due to the effects of global warming.
