GO TOP

Field

Ecological Developmental Adaptability Life Sciences :
Ecological Dynamics

Research

Specially Appointed Assistant Professor  YAJIMA Gota
Campus Katahira campus
Laboratory Macroecology
Tel +81-22-217-5054
E-mail gota.yajima.e1@tohoku.ac.jp
I am interested in how the distribution and abundance of wildlife change across space and time. To address these questions, I develop statistical methods and apply them to empirical data. My research integrates both fieldwork and computational analysis — in the field, I have conducted mammal surveys using camera traps. Based on the data collected, I build statistical methods by formulating mathematical models and writing programs.
Career
I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Bioresource Sciences from Nihon University, where I also completed the doctoral program and obtained a Ph.D. in the same field. After holding a JSPS Research Fellowship (DC2) and serving as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo College of Medico-Pharmaco-Nursing Technology, I have held my current position since April 2026.
Selected Publications
  • Yajima, G., & Nakashima, Y. (2025). A hierarchical Bayesian approach for estimating the number of groups and group sizes in group-living animals using passive detectors. Environmental and Ecological Statistics, 1-23.
  • Kasada, M., Nakashima, Y., Fukasawa, K., Yajima, G., Yokomizo, H., & Miyashita, T. (2023). State‐space model combining local camera data and regional administration data reveals population dynamics of wild boar. Population Ecology, 65(1), 80-92.
  • Yajima, G., & Nakashima, Y. (2021). Can video traps reliably detect animals? Implications for the density estimation of animals without individual recognition. Mammal study, 46(3), 189-195.
  • Yokoyama, Y., Nakashima, Y., Yajima, G., & Miyashita, T. (2020). Simultaneous estimation of seasonal population density, habitat preference and catchability of wild boars based on camera data and harvest records. Royal Society open science, 7(8), 200579.
     
Activities in Academic Societies
Ecological Society of Japan, The Mammal Society of Japan

Message to Students

If something catches your interest even a little, don't hesitate to give it a try. Even when things don't go as planned, every experience counts. Whether in research or in everyday life, move forward at your own pace and enjoy the journey.