ECOLOGY PARK : AN OPEN-AIR MUSEUM

'Ecology Park is an observation field, located right adjacent to the main building. Within approximately 6.6 ha (16.3 acres) of the ground, natural woodlands are preserved around Funada-ike Pond. Different types of forest and grassland vegetation found on the Boso Peninsula have been reconstructed starting from bare ground. In the park, you can have a close look at the life of plants and animals and their seasonal changes'.

Spring daybreak sounds are dominated by the vocalisations of American Bullfrogs (Rana catesbiana), introduced from the United States as a food species after 1918, together with the exotic crayfish Procambarus clarkia, intended as food for the frogs. The same species can be heard on the stream from Jasper Ridge in California. Listeners at night in London were unaware of this, wondering what animals these could be.

One of several live monitoring points with audio, meteorological data, webcams and time lapse video, maintained by the University of Tokyo under the Cyberforest programme.