I found out how interesting research can be when carrying out work for my undergraduate thesis, and I decided to go on to graduate school. I am investigating the food sources of juvenile bivalve mollusks that belong to the family Unionidae, a type of mussel that inhabits freshwater habitats. During my fourth year at the university, I discovered that Lake Anenuma, where many of these bivalve mollusks live, is rich in biofilms (extracellular polysaccharides produced by bacteria), and I got far enough in my research to hypothesize that it these biofilms are the food source for these creatures. At the graduate school, I am conducting experiments to rear young mollusks in captivity by feeding them these biofilms. Initially, I fed them biofilm from Lake Anenuma based on trial and error, but I hit a wall when they stopped growing after one month.

One possible factor may have been a lack of nutrients, so I am now reassessing the condition of the biofilms and considering the use of other food sources as I proceed with my research. At the same time, I am conducting fieldwork to ascertain the necessary conditions for juvenile mollusks to grow in aquatic habitats. Understanding the conditions needed for them to grow should help with my experiments to rear them in a laboratory environment. Towada Campus is blessed with many rich natural environments nearby, making it the ideal environment to study wildlife.