Ueno Zoo, Tama Zoo Tokyo Sea Life Park, and Inokashira Park Zoo annually solicit research reports on the animals and creatures they house and exhibit. Zoos and aquariums, which house and display a diverse range of animals, are ideal places to observe animals firsthand and explore their mysteries. This year, we received many submissions from junior high and high school students.

We are pleased to announce that two research reports from the junior high school division have been selected as the annual best works, and four works from the junior high school division have been selected as annual encouragement award winners, as detailed below. There were no winning entries in the high school division this year.

Two works selected as the best works of the year (titles omitted).

"Differences in swimming styles between Common Murre, Tufted Puffin, and penguins"
Tomoka Okazaki (1st year junior high school student, Tokyo Jogakkan Junior High School)
　The contents of the research report are available here (PDF).


Common Murre
[Selector's Comments]
This study addressed a question about the differences in swimming styles between seabirds (Common Murre and Tufted Puffin) and penguins observed at Tokyo Sea Life Park following the researcher's process: ① closely observing the swimming behavior of the two bird species, ② predicting the reasons for the differences, and ③ reviewing previous research to verify and consider the hypothesis. During the aquarium observations, the characteristics of the swimming behavior were scientifically reported using images, and missing morphological information was supplemented with literature. In addition to wing shape, body density related to buoyancy, which is closely related to swimming behavior, was also investigated and considered. Many questions remain that could be further developed from this report, so we hope that the student will continue observations at aquariums and also attempt field research.

---

"Unraveling the mystery of how Scalloped Hammerhead swims"
Hamada Koto Nozomi (2nd year junior high school student, Toyotama Junior High School, Nerima Ward)
　The contents of the research report are available here (PDF).


Scalloped Hammerhead
[Selector's Comments]
This year, Tokyo Sea Life Park received many submissions for its report on the swimming styles of fish, including Pacific Bluefin Tuna. Among them, this particular report concisely summarized the characteristics of Scalloped Hammerhead Scalloped Hammerhead swimming style by comparing its form and function to that of an airplane flying through the air. While it attempted to find the functions of an airplane (a human invention) in Scalloped Hammerhead, conversely, many forms and functions created by nature have been adapted and put into practical use by humans. Perhaps in the future, an airplane with a shape even closer to that Scalloped Hammerhead will be developed. Exploring the various ingenious innovations created by nature that benefit our lives at zoos and aquariums is an interesting observation topic.

Encouragement Award: 4 entries (titles omitted)

"Why are your eyes square?"
Konoha Yamashita (1st year junior high school student, Aoyama Gakuin Junior High School)

"Behavioral observation of Sumatran Tiger at Ueno Zoo "
　Nana Shiro (1st year junior high school student, Tokyo Jogakkan Junior High School)

"Observing the Red Poppo"
Airi Takahashi (2nd year junior high school student, Shotoku Gakuen Junior High School)

"Cuttlefish - Underwater Fashion Model - The Secret to Changing Body Color"
Muneyoshi Tamura (1st year junior high school student, Aoyama Gakuin Junior High School)



(March 26, 2024)