Global Warming: Risk Perception and Risk-Mitigating Behavior in Japan

Global warming is a major concern for the Japanese public. However, because the influence of global environmental risks, particularly global warming, is long-term and widespread, it seems difficult for the public to recognize it as a familiar and important problem that necessitates firm action. This study attempts to determine the causal structure promoting risk-mitigating behavior with regard to global warming, using Covariance Structure Analysis (CSA) with data from a survey of a subset of the Japanese population. We model the causal structure promoting risk-mitigating behavior population. There are four main stages in the process of decision-making for and values, risk perception, mitigating behavior intention, and personal environmental policies has three stages: concerns and values, risk perceptions, ectively accelerate the public’s participation in policy decisions, by translating their risk-mitigating into practical actions. Increased knowledge through improved access should improve the interaction between the public and environmental policy-makers with regard to global warming, using CSA with data from a survey of a subset of the Japanese personal actions: concerns actions. Support for andmitigating behavior intentions. Our results suggest that improved access to information concerning the risks associated with global warming in particular, and environmental issues in general, will be sufficient to effintentions for to information in Japan.     

Studies on sharks. I. Reproduction in the female sumitsuki shark Carcharhinus dussumieri

During the last 5 years, the T.S. Nagasaki Maru, Nagasaki University, Japan, carried out trawling operations in the waters off Kuching, northwest Borneo, for 1 week in July of each year. During this period, 119 specimens of the sumitsuki shark Carcharhinus dussumieri Valenciennes (Müller et Henle, 1841) were caught and their reproductive system investigated. In these waters, C. dussumieri has no definite reproductive seasons; it was, therefore, possible to obtain sufficient suitable material to examine all stages of the sexual cycle. The left ovary is rudimentary throughout the life cycle, and only the right ovary is functional. The ova in the ovary are already developing for the succeeding ovulation while the embryo already present in the uterus is growing; the 2 mature eggs from the right ovary are ovulated in the peritoneal cavity soon after parturition. The developing ova which remain in the ovary after ovulation are reabsorbed. The 2 mature eggs ovulated enter a common ostium and each oviduct receives one egg. In the nidamental gland, the fertilized egg is enclosed by an embryonic membrane and descends into the uterus where it grows into an embryo (simple pregnancy: 1 embryo in each uterus). During earlier embryonic development, nourishment is obtained from the yolk stored in the yolk sac. The placenta is established when the embryo attains a total length of about 150 mm; the embryo is thenceforth nourished by the placenta through the umbilical stalk until birth.