There is currently a strong scientific consensus that recent global change of climate, including the global warming, seriously damage ecosystems of both lands and oceans. Here, I review recent drastic northern expansion of distribution of tropical land hermit crabs (Coenobita) into temperate Japan. Seto Marine Biological Laboratory of Kyoto University has a long history (97 years) and has been conducting various programs of long-term monitoring survey on coastal biota. A part of the results is also introduced here. Seventeen species of land hermit crabs are known from tropical regions worldwide, and seven species are known in Japan, which are mainly distributed in tropical region of Japan. Recent intensive studies on coastal areas of Japan have shown that many juveniles and small individuals of land hermit crabs are found during warm season in temperate regions. The finding of the species that were identified by DNA analysis as Coenobita rugosus and C. purpureus might be an indication for the global warming effect. Further, I here introduce the model of northern limit of distribution proposed by Gorodkov (1986) which explains change of detailed structure of population toward the limit of distribution. Moreover, I here propose the model of stages of adaptation of tropical species to temperate zone through ecological and evolutional times. These two models are useful and helpful to understand the things happen in populations in the limit of distribution and, therefore, useful for conservation of species and biological communities.

目前，科学界有一个强烈的共识，即最近的全球气候变化，包括全球变暖，严重破坏了陆地和海洋的生态系统。在这里，我回顾了最近热带陆地寄居蟹（Coenobita) 进入温带日本。京都大学濑户海洋生物研究所历史悠久（97年），一直在开展各种沿海生物群长期监测调查项目。这里也介绍了一部分结果。世界热带地区已知陆寄居蟹17种，日本已知7种，主要分布于日本热带地区。最近对日本沿海地区的深入研究表明，在温带地区的温暖季节发现了许多幼年和小型陆寄居蟹。通过 DNA 分析鉴定为Coenobita rugosus和C. purpureus的物种的发现可能是全球变暖效应的一个指标。此外，我在这里介绍了 Gorodkov (1986) 提出的分布北限模型，该模型解释了人口详细结构向分布极限的变化。此外，我在这里提出了热带物种通过生态和进化时期适应温带的阶段模型。这两个模型对于理解在分布极限内种群中发生的事情是有用的和有帮助的，因此对于物种和生物群落的保护很有用。