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MISE Lab

@miselab.bsky.social

Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Lab at Univ. of the Ryukyus, led by Prof. J.D. Reimer. We are intrepid marine biologists studying weird and funky invertebrates !
#thisishowMISErolls

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MISE Lab

@miselab.bsky.social

MISE representation at JCRS 28th edition in Nago, Okinawa!!
#jcrs #thisishowMISErolls

November 30, 2025 at 9:59 PM

Reposted by MISE Lab

Deep-Sea Biology Society

@dsbsoc.bsky.social

Another exciting 2025 #DSBSoc support awardee!

Meet Kurt Bacharo (@kurtbb.bsky.social), a grad student in the @miselab.bsky.social at U. of the Ryukyus working with #BlackCorals and currently aboard the #JAMSTEC R/V Kaimei exploring the biodiversity off the Daito Islands.

Read more in alt-text!

I am Kurt Bryant Bacharo, currently a graduate student in the Molecular Invertebrate and Systematics Laboratory @miselab.bsky.social at the University of the Ryukyus. Prior to relocating to Japan, I finished my BS and MS degrees in Marine Biology at the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Philippines where I had the privilege to study the readily accessible shallow-water reefs in my country.

Image: Kurt Bacharo smiling and wearing glasses, a white hard hat, flotation device and a DSBS17 shirt on the deck of the R/V Kaimei.

Coming from the developing world, the concept of deep-sea exploration has always been out of sight, out of mind. The opportunity only opened to me when I was selected as an OceanCensus participant to board JAMSTEC R/V Kaimei for the KM 24-03 (Leg 2) research cruise last year to explore the Kyushu-Palau Ridge and the Daito Islands. The latter is part of the Deep-Sea Archaic Refugia in Karst (D-ARK) project, whose main objective has been on the documentation of the deep-sea biodiversity found inside limestone caves.

Now in its second year, I am lucky to be part of the project again to further explore the hidden biodiversity of the Daito Islands. This year's participation for the KM 25-06C research cruise was made possible by a Research Support Award granted by @DSBSoc.

Image: Kurt gesturing towards the docked R/V Kaimei from the adjacent pier.

As my current project focuses on the taxonomy of black corals in southern Japan, the deep-sea offers significant research opportunities related to biodiversity, biogeography, and species discovery. Few of the specimens collected both in KM 24-03 (Leg 2) and KM 25-06C research cruises highlighted new records of black corals in the NW Pacific, and perhaps some are likely new to science.

Image: Two pictures of Kurt smiling towards the camera on deck of the R/V Kaimei. He is wearing a dark blue JAMSTEC shirt.

July 27, 2025 at 3:12 PM

MISE Lab

@miselab.bsky.social

New paper by MISE octocoral crazy collectors and friends!! @lauramacrina.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Biodiversity and biogeography of zooxanthellate soft corals across the Indo-Pacific - Scientific Reports

Scientific Reports - Biodiversity and biogeography of zooxanthellate soft corals across the Indo-Pacific

www.nature.com

May 3, 2025 at 7:27 AM

MISE Lab

@miselab.bsky.social

We are super happy and proud to celebrate our MISE graduates! Congratulations to Dr. Iori @mizukaming.bsky.social, Dr. Ifenna, Dr. Jue for their PhD, Ayaka and Kairi for their MSc, and Yuka, Nanami and Shion for their bachelor degree!🎉🎉🎉

March 25, 2025 at 9:51 AM

MISE Lab

@miselab.bsky.social

In the next round of thesis season, super MISE master students were defending today! Ayaka Umeda on acidified bay community in Palau and Kairi Takahashi on the diet of zoantharians with different symbiotic regimes! Both of them rocked!!! #thisishowMISErolls

February 14, 2025 at 12:07 PM

MISE Lab

@miselab.bsky.social

It’s International day of Women in Science! Showcasing the incredible lineup of women in MISE, all doing as much incrediblly cool research!

February 11, 2025 at 3:35 AM

Reposted by MISE Lab

Claudia Campanini (aka Balt)

@claubaltcampanini.bsky.social

Hello 🦋 world!

I am a #marine #biologist & scientific tech #diver, enrolled as a #PhDstudent in the #Marine #Zoology lab at Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM)

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