Located in the Akkeshi-Do Nature Park, the Akkeshi Coastal Research Station conducts research and education in marine ecology, making the most of its natural surroundings. In addition to the sea trial for students of the Faculty of Science, open sea trial for university students from all over Japan and other universities are held every year, and researchers in various fields from Japan and abroad use the laboratory for their research. Two faculty members and two technical staff members are stationed here to conduct research on biodiversity and ecosystem changes in Akkeshi Bay and Lake Akkeshi, interactions between plant and animal species over seagrass and seaweed, and interactions between terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. In addition, they are working on the prediction and assessment of changes in marine ecosystems associated with global warming, which is feared to be progressing in recent years, through wide-area and long-term observations that make integrated use of field surveys and remote sensing.
