• Animal cells and systems
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2007

Recently, we have shown that some endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, organotins and azoles suppressed steroidogenic enzymes such as P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) and aromatase in bullfrog ovarian follicles. In the present study, by using an amphibian ovarian follicle culture system, we examined the effects of these endocrine disruptors on maturation and ovulation of oocytes from Rana dybowskii in vitro. Ovarian fragments or isolated follicles were cultured for 24 h in a medium containing frog pituitary homogenate (FPH) or progesterone ($P_{4}$) with or without endocrine disruptors, and oocyte maturation (germinal vesicle breakdown, GVBD) and ovulation were examined. Among the organotins, tributyltin (TBT) strongly inhibited both FPH-and $P_{4}-induced$ oocyte maturation ($ED_{50}$:0.6 and 0.7 ${\mu}M$, respectively); however, tetrabutyltin (TTBT) and dibutyltin (DBT) showed only partial suppression, while monobutyltin (MBT) showed no inhibitory effect. All of the organotins suppressed $P_{4}-induced$ oocyte ovulation very effectively at a low concentration, and TBT and DBT exerted an inhibitory effect on FPH-induced ovulation. Among the heavy metals, mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and cobalt (Co) were very effective in inhibiting FPH-induced oocyte maturation and ovulation, while lead (Pb), arsenite (As) and zinc (Zn) were less effective. However, all of the heavy metals suppressed FPH-induced oocyte ovulation at a high dose ($100{\mu}M$). Among the azoles, itraconazole (ICZ), ketoconazole (KCZ) and clotrimazole (CTZ) effectively inhibited FPH-induced oocyte maturation and ovulation, while econazole (ECZ), miconazole (MCZ) and fluconazole (FCZ) were considerably less effective. These results demonstrated that the abovementioned endocrine disruptors exhibited differential effects on oocyte maturation and ovulation in amphibian follicles and that the frog ovarian culture system could be used as an effective experimental tool to screen and evaluate the toxicity of various endocrine disruptors in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 2016

The distribution of fish (Cobitidae and Cyprinidae) and amphibians together with related environmental factors were surveyed at 30 randomly selected rice-fields (15 flooded unmanaged rice fields (FUR) and 15 unflooded managed rice fields (UMR)) near the Yedang reservoir in Korea, eight times from May to August in 2012. The total number of species captured from the entire survey area was 13 species with 8 families of fish and 5 species of amphibians. The number of species of Cyprinidae fish captured in FUR was higher than that in UMR. Upon the comparative analysis on the distribution of fish and amphibians in FUR and UMR, it was found that the number of Cyprinidae fish captured in FUR was significantly higher than that in UMR while the number of Cobitidae fish captured in UMR was higher than that in FUR. According to the analysis on the environmental factors that affect the distribution of fish, Cyprinidae fish tend to appear in rice-fields, that were flooded in winter, near the Yedang reservoir while Cobitidae fish tend to appear in rice fields that draws its water supply from forest reservoir and have a good water drainage system. In case of amphibians, the number of tadpoles captured in UMR was higher than that in FUR. Rana catesbeiana was dominant in FUR and Rana nigromaculata was dominant in UMR. Upon the analysis on the environmental factors that affect the distribution of tadpoles, it was found that Rana catesbeiana tadpoles tend to appear in rice fields, that were flooded in winter, near Yedang reservoir while Rana nigromaculata tadpoles tend to appear near mountains and far from the Yedang reservoir.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.601-613
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to provide an protected wildlife species and potential habitats in Seoul through the overall present status of the species which live in Seoul. This study was performed in Seoul, the entire area of which is 605.52 $km^2$. We analyzed a total of 57 studies, including academic papers and research reports, for the natural ecology in Seoul. As for the results from the study, it was found that a total 1,907 species from 5 taxa were inhabiting and growing within the area. Among the total, plants of 1,656 species accounted for 86.7%, 197 species of wild birds made up 10.3%, 29 species of amphibians and reptiles consisted of 1.5%, and 27 species of mammalia totaled 1.4%. A total of 440 species except foreign species and species legally preserved by the Ministry of Environment, common species and uncertain species were selected as primary candidates. By taxon, it shows 212 species of plants, 180 species of wild birds, 24 species of mammalia, and 24 species of amphibians and reptiles. For extensive research subjects and research data limited in certain insect family, analysis by literature for discovered insects was excluded. The selection criteria for the second candidate species was based on extinction crisis, rarity, historicity and locality, academic value, habitat specificity, etc. The second candidate species from the primary species were selected through taxon experts' evaluations. As for the results of the selection of the second candidates, a total 77 species were selected through the experts' evaluations. Each species by taxon was 25 species for plants, 21 species for wild birds, 5 for mammalia, 10 for amphibians and reptiles and 16 species for insects. A site investigation for the second candidates was conducted to select the final candidate species. For the target areas, the habitats of the second candidates given by the literature and 46 potential areas in Seoul, which show good natural resistance, were finally selected. From the result of the site investigation, it was found that 14 species of plants, 19 species of wild birds, 2 species of mammalia, 4 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 16 species of insects were actually inhabiting Seoul; thus, the final 55 protected species were selected.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.24 no.2 s.62
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• pp.160-165
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the prey composition and utilization of the Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra, in the ecosystem conservation region of the Seomjin River. The study was conducted for a 12-month period from March 2003 to February 2004 by spraints analysis and an investigation using artificial holts. We found seasonal variation in the number of spraints and composition of prey items. Fish were the main prey items throughout the period (82%), and other prey items included birds (14%), amphibians (2%) and arthropods (1%). In addition to prey identification, we investigated habitat utilization by otters through spraints distribution. The traces of otters were discovered in five of the six total artificial holts. However, the utilization of the artificial holts in the study area seemed to be limited as evidenced by the low frequency of traces in the holts.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.128-129
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• 2003

Cricket (Gyilus bimacutus) is mass-bred in 6 time cycles per one year in insect farms. They are used as dry or live foods for animals, tropical fish, reptile and amphibians. Therefore, it is necessary to study the genotoxicity of whole bodies of G. bimaculatus. The aim of this present study was to evaluate the genotoxicity of the G bimaculatus extract with three methods, Ames test, chromosome aberration test in Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro and micronucleus (MN) test in vivo which involve the different test systems (bacteria, mammalian cells and mice nuclei). (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.26-38
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• 1979

In recent years some very substantial advances have been made in our understanding of oogenesis as a result of studies on a relatively few, very diverse species of animals. In this lecture I will (1) outline normal oogenesis using an advanced insect, Drosophila melanogaster, as an example, (2) show how oogenesis can be dissected genetically by studying the ovarian pathologies of flies homozygous for various recessive, female sterile genes, and (3) discuss how estimates can be made of the fraction of the Drosophila genome devoted to oogenesis. Then I will describe studies on mutations that block vitello-genesis in Drosophila and indicate what they tell us about inter actions between the ovary, the fat body and the endocrine system. I will next discuss the evolutionary mechanisms that have been adopted in higher insects and amphibians to produce the prodigious quantities of ribosomes stored in oocytes. I will end with an account of the results of recent stuides on amphibian lampbrush chromosomes which show how messenger RNAs are transcribed during oogenesis.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.287-292
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• 2002

Functional characterization of sex pheromones in olfactory responses is essential for the study of chemical communications in amphibians. Using Y-maze olfactory preference tests, we have investigated the olfactory res-ponses of male and female red-spotted newts, Notophthalmus viridescens, to the crude extracts of the opposite sex's genial and cloacal pheromones. Both male and female cloacal pheromone extracts caused the opposite sex to initiate olfactory responses by leaving the starting area in the Y-maze, but only subject males exposed to female cloacal pheromone extracts completed olfactory choice by entering the side arm of the Y-maze which received the pheromones. For genial pheromone extracts, only female genial pheromone extracts induced initial olfactory responses from test males. Neither male nor female genial pheromone extracts made the oppo-site sex complete olfactory choice. Pre-exposure of test females to male pheromone extracts increased the likelihood of initial olfactory responses. The latency for initial olfactory responses of test females that were previously exposed to male genial extracts was significantly shorter than that of control females.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-63
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• 2017

Rice Fields have provided large areas of open water for centuries in regions with a variety of rice-growing cultures, and, in addition to producing rice also provide other animal and/or plant food sources and medicinal plants, thus acting as wetland systems and helping to sustain livelihoods and human well-being in these regions. Also rice fields in many parts of the world support important wetland biodiversity, such as reptiles, amphibians, fish, crustacean, insects and mollusca, and play a significant ole in water-bird flyways and the conservation of water-bird populations. The purpose of this study is to find a way conservation of rice fields in connection with paddies's laws, for example, amend the Conservation of Wetlands Law or legislate for the conservation of paddies.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 2018

Diet composition of amphibians usually reflects the distribution of potential prey within habitats, as well as their diet preference. We identified the diet items of Japanese tree frog (Hyla japonica) using a stomach flushing method in a rice paddy for the establishment of bio-monitoring systems of landscape changes. During the reproductive period, 71% of calling males had empty stomachs. All prey items in the stomachs belonged to the phylum Arthropoda, from eight orders of Insecta and one order of Arachnida. Among insect prey, the most common items in the stomachs were adults of beetles, flies and bugs, and larvae of butterflies and moths. There was a significant positive correlation between the body mass of Japanese tree frogs and the volume of prey items. Our results can provide a basic framework to guide the monitoring systems using prey identification of Japanese tree frogs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.177-194
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• 2011

In order to assess ecologically for the restored detention basin in Joogyo creek, this study carried out a monitoring on the ecosystem of the detention basin. The study site was a small detention basin with an area $6,350m^2$, which had been established in March, 2004. The monitoring started in August and November, 2007. Terrestrial, riparian, and aquatic plants species have increased about 2 times at detention basin compared to that of streamside. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, aquatic insects and crustaceans were found more in species at detention basin, and especially there were a lot of more fish species. From the results, it seemed that various terrestrial, riparian, and aquatic ecosystem were made in the small detention basin.