• Title/Summary/Keyword: ECOLOGICAL RESPONSES

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Effectiveness and Ecological Implications of Anuran Defenses against Snake Predators

  • In-Ho Choi;Sung Ho Lee;Robert E. Ricklefs
    • Animal cells and systems
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    • v.3 no.3
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    • pp.247-252
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    • 1999
  • The aim of this study was to characterize antipredator tactics of anurans and to evaluate the effectiveness of these tactics for predator avoidance in real confrontations. Two types of experiments were conducted. In one experiment, one predator and one prey were placed together for one hour in a small confined space (one-to-one interaction). In another experiment, one predator and several prey were placed together for one day in a large enclosure in a field (field-based interaction). The prey consisted of three anuran species, Rana nigromaculata, R. rugosa, and Bombina orientalls: a snake species, Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus, was used as a predator. Results of both experiments demonstrated a range in antipredator responses of the frogs, from toxicity and warning coloration, coupled with slow responses in Bombina to little (or only slight) toxicity, crypsis, and fast take-off responses to the predator in the ranids. oth ranid species exhibited lower survival(57%) than Bombina (95%) in the field-based interaction, suggesting that motor responses of the palatable prey due to attacks of the predator ultimately limited their survival. The jumping of the ranids increased the activity of the predator, which became more likely to strike. Simple crouching(seen in R. rugosa and B. orientalis) and chemical defense (in Bombina) reduced predatory attacks.

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Ovulated female salamander (Hynobius leechii) respond to water currents

  • Kim, Seok-Bum;Lee, Jung-Hyun;Ra, Nam-Yong;Park, Dae-Sik
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.33 no.3
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    • pp.217-222
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    • 2010
  • To determine whether or not the female Korean salamander, Hynobius leechii, responds to water currents and, if so, whether those responses depend on their reproductive conditions, we evaluated the responses of ovulated and oviposited females to 1-Hz water currents generated by a model salamander with and without the placement of a transparent water current blocker between the model and the test females. The ovulated females responded to water currents by turning their heads toward, approaching, and/or making physical contact with the model. When the water current blocker was in place, the number of salamanders that approached the model was reduced significantly. The approaching and touching responses of ovulated females were greater than those of oviposited females, whereas the other measurements evidenced no differences. None of the responses of the oviposited females to water currents was affected by the presence of the blocker. Our results indicate that female H. leechii responds to water currents via a mechanosensory system.

Molecular Characterization of FprB (Ferredoxin-$NADP^+$ Reductase) in Pseudomonas putida KT2440

  • Lee, Yun-Ho;Yeom, Jin-Ki;Kang, Yoon-Suk;Kim, Ju-Hyun;Sung, Jung-Suk;Jeon, Che-Ok;Park, Woo-Jun
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.17 no.9
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    • pp.1504-1512
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    • 2007
  • The fpr gene, which encodes a ferredoxin-$NADP^+$ reductase, is known to participate in the reversible redox reactions between $NADP^+$/NADPH and electron carriers, such as ferredoxin or flavodoxin. The role of Fpr and its regulatory protein, FinR, in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 on the oxidative and osmotic stress responses has already been characterized [Lee at al. (2006). Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 339, 1246-1254]. In the genome of P. putida KT2440, another Fpr homolog (FprB) has a 35.3% amino acid identity with Fpr. The fprB gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The diaphorase activity assay was conducted using purified FprB to identify the function of FprB. In contrast to the fpr gene, the induction of fprB was not affected by oxidative stress agents, such as paraquat, menadione, $H_2O_2$, and t-butyl hydroperoxide. However, a higher level of fprB induction was observed under osmotic stress. Targeted disruption of fprB by homologous recombination resulted in a growth defect under high osmotic conditions. Recovery of oxidatively damaged aconitase activity was faster for the fprB mutant than for the fpr mutant, yet still slower than that for the wild type. Therefore, these data suggest that the catalytic function of FprB may have evolved to augment the function of Fpr in P. putida KT2440.

Ecological Niche Overlap and Competition between Quercus mongolica and Quercus dentata Under Soil Water Gradient

  • Yeon-ok, Seo;Se-Hee, Kim;Eui-Joo, Kim;Yoon-Seo, Kim;Kyeong-Mi, Cho;Jae-Hoon, Park;Ji-Won, Park;JungMin, Lee;Jin Hee, Park;Byoung-Ki, Choi;Young-Han, You
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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    • v.38 no.4
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    • pp.229-238
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    • 2022
  • Q. mongolica and Q. dentata are representative species of deciduous forest communities in Korea and are known to be relatively resistant to soil drying condition among Korean oaks. This study attempted to elucidate the degree of competition and ecological niche characteristics of the two species by comparing the ecological responses of the two species according to soil moisture. Competition between Q. mongolica and Q. dentata was shown to be more intense under the conditions where moisture content was low than under the conditions where moisture content was high. As for the ecological niche overlaps of the two species for soil moisture, the structural traits of plant such as stem diameter overlapped the most, the traits of biomass such as petiole weight overlapped the least, and photosynthetic organ-related traits such as leaf width and length overlapped intermediately. When looking at the competition for soil moisture between the two species, it can be seen that Q. mongolica won in nine traits (leaf width length, leaf lamina length, leaf lamina weight, leaf petiole weight, leaf area, leaves weight, shoot weight, root weight, and plant weight) and Q. dentata won in the remaining seven traits (leaf petiole length, leaves number, stem length, stem diameter, stem weight, shoot length, and root length). Competition between the two species for the moisture environment of the soil was shown to be intense under the conditions where moisture content was low. The degree of competition between Q. dentata and Q. mongolica for soil moisture is high under the conditions where soil moisture content is low, and it is judged that Q. mongolica is more competitive for soil moisture than Q. dentata.

On the Distribution of Beech(Fagus, Fagaceae) and Beech-Dominated Forests in the Northern Hemisphere (북반구의 너도밤나무와 너도밤나무림의 분포에 관하여)

  • Yim, Yang-Jai
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.6 no.3
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    • pp.153-166
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    • 1983
  • The distribution of beech species (Fagus) and beech-dominated forests along climatic gradients in the Northern Hemisphere was studied by use of taxonomic and ecological literature. The genus Fagus as a whole occurs over the range of 4.5 to 20.0。C mean annual temperature and 600 to 1000 mm in lower limit, mean annual precipitation. At the higher end of the temperature range, beech occurs in zones with relatively high growing-season precipitation. Edaphically, beech species and beech-dominated forests tend to occur on mesic, moderately fertile sites. Beech-dominated forests occur in a limited portion of the climatic range of the genus with sensitive responses to other environmental factors. The distributional range of beech-dominated forests on a global scale depends more on climatic factors and geological events than on soil conditions or other factors, summarizing the facts obtained by many researchers on beech dominated forests.

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Photochemical Response Analysis on Drought Stress for Red Pepper (Capsiumannuum L.)

  • Yoo, Sung-Yung;Lee, Yong-Ho;Park, So-Hyun;Choi, Kyong-Mi;Park, June-Young;Kim, A-Ram;Hwang, Su-Min;Lee, Min-Ju;Ko, Tae-Seok;Kim, Tae-Wan
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.46 no.6
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    • pp.659-664
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    • 2013
  • The aim of this study is to determine the drought stress index through photochemical analysis in red pepper (Capsiumannuum L.). The photochemical interpretation was performed in the basis of the relation between Kautsky effect and Photosystem II (PSII) following the measurement of chlorophyll, pheophytin contents, and $CO_2$ assimilation in drought stressed 5-week-old red pepper plants. The $CO_2$ assimilation rate was severely lowered with almost 77% reduction of chlorophyll and pheophytin contents at four days after non-irrigation. It was clearly observed that the chlorophyll fluorescence intensity rose from a minimum level (the O level), in less than one second, to a maximum level (the P-level) via two intermediate steps labeled J and I (OJIP process). Drought factor index (DFI) was also calculated using measured OJIP parameters. The DFI was -0.22, meaning not only the initial inhibition of PSII but also sequential inhibition of PSI. In real, most of all photochemical parameters such as quantum yield of the electron transport flux from Quinone A ($Q_A$) to Quinone B ($Q_B$), quantum yield of the electron transport flux until the PSI electron acceptors, quantum yield of the electron transport flux until the PSI electron acceptors, average absorbed photon flux per PSII reaction center, and electron transport flux until PSI acceptors per cross section were profoundly reduced except number of QA reducing reaction centers (RCs) per PSII antenna chlorophyll (RC/ABS). It was illuminated that at least 6 parameters related with quantum yield/efficiency and specific energy fluxes (per active PSII RC) could be applied to be used as the drought stress index. Furthermore, in the combination of parameters, driving forces (DF) for photochemical activity could be deduced from the performance index (PI) for energy conservation from photons absorbed by PSII antenna until the reduction of PSI acceptors. In conclusion, photochemical responses and their related parameters can be used as physiological DFI.

Study on Operation Method of Wcological Learning Facility for Wetland (대구광역시 달성습지 생태학습관 운영방안 연구)

  • Kim, Kwon;Eum, Jeong-Hee;Rho, Paikho
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.332-341
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    • 2018
  • This study aims to establish operating methods for value-oriented and competitive operation of Dalseong Wetland Ecological Learning Center in Daegu, Korea, which will open in 2018. For this purpose, we surveyed 77 Ecological learning facility managers nationwide using 22 questions on the subjects such as the operating method, volunteer, budget, and profit. The managers of 50 ecological learning facilities (Type A) responded, and we extracted the responses by the managers of 12 ecological learning facilities (Type B) that had the similar size as the Dalseong Wetland Ecological Learning Center and conducted an additional analysis. The results of the survey indicated that it was advisable for Daegu Metropolitan City to operate the Dalseong Wetland Ecological Learning Center and that the staff at least 3-5 managers were necessary while the number of volunteers to regularly work at the center was estimated to be 25-30. Excluding labor costs, the annual operating budget was estimated to be between 150 million won and 200 million won if Daegu Metropolitan City operates the facility directly. This study is meaningful in that it provides reference data to establish realistic and detailed management plan of the Dalseong Wetland Ecological Learning Center based on the opinions of the surveyed managers of ecological learning facilities in Korea.

A Study on the Visual Satisfaction of a Panel-type Facade Planting (패널형 입면녹화의 시각적 만족도에 관한 연구)

  • Han, Seung-Ho;Kim, Sun-Hae;Song, Kyu-Seong
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.36 no.2
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    • pp.53-59
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    • 2008
  • As cities become more industrial and modern, they become overcrowded and the construction zones increase accordingly. In particular, the demand for panel-type planting methods has gradually increased due to early planting and easy installation. However, studies on panel-type planting have strictly concentrated on the vegetation sub system or irrigation system without any interest in landscape-centered system. Factors of preference will be made through landscape evaluation on the panel-type facade planting. A questionnaire survey was conducted in a location where panel-type facade planting was available. In terms of responses to the facade planting, 'natural (3.80)' was the highest, followed by 'friendly (3.70),' 'comfortable (3.65),' 'beautiful (3.65),' and 'peaceful (3.50).' On the contrary, negative responses such as 'too quiet,' 'simple,' 'heavy,' 'gloomy,' 'dark,' and 'dirty' were also received. It is thought that these responses refer to the poor management of the area. The results of this study will be useful as basic data for the development and distribution of panel-type facade planting.

Ecophysiological Responses of Northern Birch Forests to the Changing Atmospheric CO2 and O3 Concentrations

  • Kawaguchi, Korin;Hoshika, Yasutomo;Watanabe, Makoto;Koike, Takayoshi
    • Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.6 no.3
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    • pp.192-205
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    • 2012
  • The effects on birch (Betula spp.) of elevated carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) and ozone ($O_3$), which are both increasing in the troposphere, are surveyed in detail based on the literature. Birches establish themselves in the open field after disturbances, and then become dominant trees in temperate or boreal forests. Ecophysiological approaches include the measurement of photosynthesis, biomass, growth, and survival of seedlings and trees. Elevated $CO_2$ levels give rise to a net enhancement of the growth of birch trees, whereas high $O_3$ generally reduces growth. Although the effects of the two are opposed, there is also an interactive effect. Basic physiological responses of the single genus Betula to $CO_2$ and $O_3$ are set out, and some data are summarized regarding ecological interactions between trees, or between trees and other organisms.

Perceived Sick Building Syndrome of Residents and their Responses in Newly Built Apartments (새집증후군에 대한 아파트 거주자의 자각증상 및 반응 연구)

  • Chang, Jee-hae;Lee, Yeunsook
    • KIEAE Journal
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    • v.4 no.4
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    • pp.27-34
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    • 2004
  • As number of new housing construction has been growing, the increasing number of people experiencing from Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is distinct. The purpose of this study is to examine the symptoms reported by residents responses to cope with the syndrome and to investigate their environmental characteristics considered relevant to the syndrome. Respondents were housewives living in apartments and were more likely to stay at home. 170 data were collected by both web-based internet survey and conventional questionnaire survey. The findings revealed that the symptom appeared very diverse and composite. The most common symptom was eye irritation. Among diverse coping behaviors, ventilation was most popular.