Introduction
Shimoda Marine Research Center (SMRC), University of Tsukuba, located on the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula, is a facility for research and education on marine biology. The marine environment around here is diverse and rich in littoral fauna and flora, providing excellent resources for marine biology. Marine organisms have been providing unique systems in basic biology and contribute in recent life sciences. Now they are especially focused due to the environmental issues and biodiversity. We are doing research and education on marine organisms from molecular to ecological levels for the comprehensive understanding of life and the benefit of human society and environments. Our marine center was founded in 1933 as a marine station of Tokyo University of Literature and Science. It was renovated in 1968 when it belonged to the Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Education. Since an integrated University of Tsukuba was founded from former Tokyo University of Education, the marine station has become one of the research and education center of University of Tsukuba. Since the foundation, SMRC has been achieving outstanding activities in marine biology, for example, phylogenic studies of horseshoe crabs, allorecognition in colonial ascidians and physiological and ecological studies of marine algae. SMRC has provided opportunities of education for marine biology in University of Tsukuba as well as other universities.
