Akira Armando Wong Sato
@utec.edu.pe
Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental
Universidad de Ingenieria y Tecnologia
I am an Ecologist researcher with extensive experience in research and fieldwork. I have a profound understanding of statistical software and data analysis techniques, which allows me to use various statistical tools to analyze research data accurately. Additionally, I have proven expertise in proposal writing and presenting research results at scientific meetings.
EDUCATION
My academic journey started with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the National Agrarian University La Molina in Lima, Peru. I later completed both my Master and PhD in Human and Environmental Studies at Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan, with a studies on adaptations to increase pollination success.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Insect Science, Plant Science, Forestry
FUTURE PROJECTS
Comprehensive Study on the Diversity of Tardigrates in Peru
This project delves into the fascinating realm of microscopic life by conducting a comprehensive study on the diversity of tardigrates in Peru. Tardigrates, often referred to as water bears, are resilient micro-animals known for their ability to withstand extreme environmental conditions. The research aims to uncover the rich tapestry of tardigrate species within Peru, exploring various ecosystems and regions. Employing state-of-the-art microscopic and molecular techniques, the study seeks to identify and document different species, shedding light on their distribution patterns and potential ecological significance. By unraveling the secrets of these tiny yet remarkable organisms, this project contributes valuable insights to the broader understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics in Peru.
Applications Invited
Collaborators
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Martha Tori, Robin Fernández-Hilario, Mónica Maldonado Fonkén, and Akira A. Wong Sato
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Vicerectorado de Investigacion
La cuarentena fue la medida tomada por el estado peruano para enfrentar a la pandemia causada por el COVID- 19. Esta significó un retraso para casi todos los sectores, incluyendo el sector académico. Este estudio analiza las consecuencias de esta medida en el trabajo de los investigadores científicos del Perú durante el 2020, enfocándose en aquellos que trabajan en biodiversidad y conservación. Se realizó una encuesta durante los meses de julio y agosto de 2020 que fue respondida por 111 investigadores. Los resultados de la encuesta muestran que el área más afectada fue la investigación en campo por las evidentes restricciones, y el grupo más afectado fue el de las investigadoras quienes presentaron los porcentajes más altos de insatisfacción, tanto en su vida laboral como en su estado emocional. Esta investigación da a conocer la realidad del Perú, con una inversión históricamente baja en investigación y donde, con la situación económica y laboral provocada por la pandemia, el trabajo de muchos investigadores se vio restringido. Consideramos que la réplica de esta investigación en otros países de Latinoamérica podría ser de ayuda para futuras políticas a favor del trabajo científico en los países y regionalmente.
Robin Fernandez-Hilario, Rocío del Pilar Rojas Gonzáles, Rosa Villanueva-Espinoza, Leticia Lajo, Akira A. Wong Sato, Diego Paredes-Burneo, Luis Pillaca-Huacre, Fabián A. Michelangeli, and Renato Goldenberg
Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin, Freie Universitaet Berlin
Abstract: Nine new species of Meriania are described and illustrated and M. zunacensis, originally described from Ecuador, is recorded for the first time for Peru from Andean forests in the Amazonas Department. The new species are M. bicentenaria and M. vasquezii from Pasco, M. bongarana, M. callosa and M. juanjil from Amazonas, M. hirsuta from Piura, M. megaphylla from La Libertad, M. sumatika from Cusco and M. escalerensis from the Loreto-San Martín border. Following IUCN criteria, M. megaphylla is categorized as Data Deficient (DD) as it is only known from one collection made in 1914, M. bicentenaria and M. sumatika are categorized as Endangered (EN) and the remaining new species are categorized as Critically Endangered (CR). With these discoveries, N Peru (Departments of Amazonas, Cajamarca and Piura) harbours the highest number of Meriania species in the country. Also, Peru now has a total of 34 species of Meriania and is the country with the second highest diversity for the genus. Citation: Fernandez-Hilario R., Rojas Gonzáles R. del P., Villanueva-Espinoza R., Lajo L., Wong Sato A. A., Paredes-Burneo D., Pillaca-Huacre L., Michelangeli F. A. & Goldenberg R. 2022: Nine new species and a new country record for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from Peru. – Willdenowia 52: 39–74. Version of record first published online on 3 March 2022 ahead of inclusion in April 2022 issue.
Akira Armando Wong Sato and Makoto Kato
Wiley
AbstractFramed inflorescences are unique arrangements in which a cluster of small fertile flowers is surrounded by several larger, decorative sterile flowers. Viburnum (Adoxaceae) species vary in their inflorescence arrangements; some species exhibit framed inflorescences, whereas others do not. We hypothesize that the decorative flowers increase the pollinator‐attracting functions of the inflorescences; as proved by previous studies, they additionally function as landing‐sites for pollinators. To test our hypotheses, field manipulation experiments were carried out for nine Viburnum species, three with inherently framed inflorescences and six without them: sterile flowers were removed and mounted on species with and without framed inflorescences, respectively. Results show that inflorescences with decorative flowers had higher visit rates than inflorescences without them, and that insect flower visitors did not show landing preference for either flower type. These results suggest that decorative flowers appeared only in a subset of Viburnum species to increase their pollination chances by, mainly, enhancing the attractiveness of the inflorescence. It is likely that species without framed inflorescences use other attraction‐enhancing mechanisms, such as a high flowering synchrony within a single cluster of fertile flowers, a trait found in most studied species without decorative flowers.
Akira A. Wong Sato, Rosa Villanueva-Espinoza, Italo Revilla, and Robin Fernandez-Hilario
Canadian Science Publishing
Nasa is the most diverse genus among the family Loasaceae and it is mainly distributed in Peru. Most species of this genus are microendemics, with distributions restricted to very specific locations; such is the case of Nasa colanii Dostert & Weigend. This species — previously only known from the type collected in 1978 from the Amazonas region of Peru — lacks information about its biology and ecology. To improve our understanding of the reproductive biology and pollination ecology of N. colanii, we observed flower development and insect floral visits in a cloud forest in the Amazonas region. The flowers of N. colanii are nectariferous and protandrous. The typical stamen movement to the flower center of the subfamily Loasoideae appears to be autonomous. Only well-developed (elongated) pistils showed positive stigmatic receptivity to 3% hydrogen peroxide. Syrphid flies (Baccha sp.) and small beetles (Baridinae spp. and Alticini sp.) were the only observed flower visitors. The syrphid flies visited the flower and foraged for pollen, whereas the small beetles were found already in the flowers and seemingly used it as a shelter. Results suggest that N. colanii might be adapted to fly pollination.
Akira A. Wong Sato and Makoto Kato
Canadian Science Publishing
Most species of Hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae) have a flower arrangement in which several large sterile decorative flowers surround a dense cluster of small fertile flowers. These decorative flowers have been hypothesized to attract pollinators, but this has yet to be tested for this genus. To identify whether the decorative flowers have functions related to pollination success, we carried out field manipulation experiments in which we clipped or mounted decorative flowers of nine Hydrangea species, eight with and one without inherent decorative flowers, and recorded insect visits to the intact and treated inflorescences. The results showed that for most of the studied species, the presence of decorative flowers increased the frequency of visits and weakly increased the frequency of visits per unit area to inflorescences. Decorative flowers appeared to act as landing-sites for three species for which flowers represented a high proportion of the inflorescence surface area (i.e., H. scandens, H. luteovenosa, and H. macrophylla). The results suggest that the main function of decorative flowers of the studied Hydrangea species is to boost attractiveness to pollinators by increasing the inflorescence surface area, whereas the landing-site function was evident only in certain species.
Atsushi Kawakita, Akira A. Wong Sato, Juana R. Llacsahuanga Salazar, and Makoto Kato
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
In the Old World tropics, several hundred species of leafflowers (Phyllanthus sensu lato; Phyllanthaceae) are engaged in obligate mutualisms with species-specific leafflower moths (Epicephala; Gracillariidae) whose adults actively pollinate flowers and larvae consume the resulting seeds. Considerable diversity of Phyllanthus also exists in the New World, but whether any New World Phyllanthus is pollinated by Epicephala is unknown. We studied the pollination biology of four woody Phyllanthus species occurring in Peru over a period of four years, and found that each species is associated with a species-specific, seed-eating Epicephala moth, here described as new species. Another Epicephala species found associated with herbaceous Phyllanthus is also described. This is the first description of Epicephala from the New World. Field-collected female moths of the four Epicephala species associated with woody Phyllanthus all carried pollen on the proboscises, and active pollination behavior was observed in at least two species. Thus, Epicephala moths also pollinate New World Phyllanthus. However, not all of these Epicephala species may be mutualistic with their hosts, because we occasionally observed females laying eggs in developing fruits without pollinating. Also, the flowers of some Phyllanthus species were visited by pollen-bearing thrips or gall midges, which potentially acted as co-pollinators or primary pollinators. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the New World Epicephala associated with woody Phyllanthus are nested within lineages of Old World active pollinators. Thus, actively-pollinating Epicephala moths, which originated in the Old World, successfully colonized the New World probably across the Pacific and established mutualisms with resident Phyllanthus species, although whether any of the relationships are obligate requires further study. There is likely a major radiation of Epicephala still to be found in the New World.
A. A. Wong Sato and M. Kato
Wiley
Abstract Explosive pollen release is a mechanism used by some angiosperms that serves to attach pollen to a pollinator's body. It is usually adopted by species with zygomorphic tubular flowers and pollinated by birds and bees. The tree genus Meliosma (Sabiaceae, Proteales) has unique disc‐like flowers that are externally actinomorphic, but internally zygomorphic, and release pollen explosively. To elucidate the adaptive significance of explosive pollen release, we observed flowering behaviour, the breeding system and pollinator visits to flowers of the Japanese species Meliosma tenuis in a temperate forest. Flowers bloomed in June and were nectariferous and protandrous. Explosive pollen release was triggered by slight tactile stimuli to anther filaments or staminodes in male‐stage flowers. Because pollen cannot come into contact with the pistils enclosed by staminodes, M. tenuis is functionally protandrous. Artificial pollination treatments revealed that M. tenuis is allogamous. The dominant flower visitors were nectar‐seeking drones of the bumblebee species Bombus ardens (Apidae). The drones’ behaviour, pollen attachment on their bodies and fruit set of visit‐restricted flowers suggest that they are the only agent triggering the explosive pollen release mechanism, and are the main pollinator of M. tenuis. The finding that bumblebee workers rarely visit these flowers suggests that the explosive pollen release has another function, namely to discourage pollen‐harvesting bumblebee workers.
Akira A. Wong Sato and Makoto Kato
Wiley
AbstractThe order Plecoptera is primarily known for its aquatic nymphs and their importance in many stream ecosystems. However, the biology and life history of Plecopteran terrestrial adults is mostly unknown, and hence interactions with plants have rarely been documented. Here, we report on insect visitation to flowers of Corylopsis gotoana (Hamamelidaceae) in a temperate forest of Japan, with emphasis on the behavior and pollination role of adults of a stonefly species, Strophopteryx nohirae (Taeniopterygidae), which were frequently observed in the flowers. The most frequent insect visitors to Corylopsis flowers were Bombylius major (Bombyliidae), Apis cerana (Apidae) and Bombus ardens (Apidae), all of which were considered main pollinators because of high rates of visitation and pollen attachment. Strophopteryx nohirae frequently visited Corylopsis trees, on which they foraged for pollen and mated. A field experiment on the pollination success of Corylopsis flowers visited by S. nohirae verified that this stonefly contributed to pollination.