• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.132-138
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• 1996

To learn how maximal locomotory speed of animals is defined in terms of hindlimb structure and muscle contractile function, take-off speed, hindlimb length, thigh muscle mass, shortening velocity and power of the sastrocnemius muscle were measured with one fast species, Rono nigromaculota and one relatively slowresponding species, Bombina orientalis. Take-off speed (m.sec-1) was greater in R. nigromoculata $(2.4\pm0.2SD, $ n: 14) than in the Bombino $(1.6\pm0.1SD, $ n=8). Stvle of the take-off response was a long-iump type in the Rano and a short-ranged hopping in the Bombing. Faster take-off capacity of the ranid frogs was supported by the longer hindlimb length (relative to body length) and the more massive thigh muscles (relative to body mass), compared to the Bombina. Further, the ranids exhibited faster maximal shortening velocity and Breater maximal power generateion than the Bombina [Vmax $(ML.sec-1)=11.79\pm1.69SD$ for the Runa and $9.74\pm1.27SD$ for the Bombina; Pmax $nW.kg-1)=222.42\pm42.42SD$ for the Rono and $169.03\pm34.52SD$ for the Bombinal. With more massive thigh muscles and greater mechanical power, the ranids would generate greater total power and thus higher energy release per unit time to muscle tissues for the burst take-off. As a consequence, biomechanical properties seen in the ranids seem to be more effective for frost take-off than in the Bombina.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture International Edition
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• no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2001

Residents of urban area like to be near rural animals during their daily life, so it is important conserve the suburban Yato landscape in Japan. This study targets the species of frogs that are commonly found in Yato paddies. It is necessary to various frogs inhabiting in Yato, because frogs are popular among Japanese, who as children enjoy capturing tadpoles and frogs. Its purpose is to clarify how that composition of frog species changes when the functionality of a frog habitat is diminished by urbanization. The survey, conducted in the Eastern Kanagawa area in central Japan, determined the distribution of each species of frog in grid cells measuring 0.5-$\textrm{km}^2$. It hsows wide distributing species (Hyla japonica; they always inhabit in all paddies), the middle range distributing species (Rhacophorus schlegelii and Rana porosa p.), the limited range distributing species (R. rugosa; they are most critical species, sine they are recognized only two cells), and so on. Correspondence analysis based on the frog species composition in each cell was performed to ascertain the adaptability of each species to various paddy field conditions. The results allowed us to classify cells into four groups according to the composition of the inhabiting species. And we recognized that the process by which frogs disappear occurs in reaction to either of two patterns of change. As paddy fields are improved by farmland consolidation, R. rugosa, R. ornativentris, R. japonica, and Bufo. japonica f. decline rapidly. In plateau areas, a smore andmore paddies are converted into strong, well-drained fields, only H. japonica and R. porosa p. remain. But in hilly areasd, the species composition becomes only H. japonica and R. schlegelii. Finally, we discuss the concept of ecological urban design in the context of the conservation of frog species in Yato paddies.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2014

Scientific study has investigated the body condition differences by habitat characteristics in larvae Korea salamander (Hynobius leechii) from March to April in 2012. To examine the sensitivity of external environment (predation risk), we divided two groups according to habitat characteristic; 1) Permanent pond and 2) Temporary pond. Howere, each larva was measured by head width at the level of the eye (HWE), largest head width (LHW) and snout-vent length, and we calculated the ratio of the head size by dividing HWE/LHW. As a result, larvae were larger in permanent pond group, had a faster growth rate than in temporary pond group. When exposed to the predator, larvae in permanent pond were smaller HWE/LHW than larvae in permanent pond. Therefore, these results indicate larvae in temporary pond more sensitive to the external environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.61-79
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• 2009

This study discusses developing ecological trails and route alignment in mountainous rural area. Through a process of ecological resources survey, ecological trails and route alignment has been established. Mainly, by focusing on ecological resources in rural areas, it was indifferent to their own ecological resource and charm to make it unique strengths. Based on survey the results, Natural ecology resources, there were the climate factor, surface, geological, terrain analysis. Furthermore, ecological resources were researched and analyzed the elements of it, distribution of resources, types, location, semantic analysis. The results are expressed on the map and recorded by taking pictures. Plant ecosystem, there were actual vegetation, land use, flora analysis. Wild animal ecosystem, it was checked and recorded on 1/1,000 map partition the emergence of wild birds, the number of species distributed by foraging guild, the emergence of amphibians, reptile, mammals and insect species. The site is chosen as rural theme village in 2007, base on their own rich ecological and landscape resources. Therefore, we carried out ecological trails and route alignment plan in accordance with analyzed the natural ecological resource and after setting up the basic goal, ecological trail has been composed and planting has done and direction.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 2021

Pacific herring, Clupea pallasii, a keystone species with significant ecological and commercial importance, is declining globally throughout much of its range. While traditional fishing equipment methods remain limited, new sensitive and rapid detection methods should be developed to monitor fisheries resources. To monitor the presence and quantity of C. pallasii from environmental DNA (eDNA) extracted from seawater samples, a pair of primers and a TaqMan^® probe specific to this fish based on mitochondrial cytochrome b (COB) sequences were designed for the real-time PCR (qPCR) assay. The combination of our molecular markers showed high specificity in the qPCR assay, which affirmed the success of presenting a positive signal only in the C. pallasii specimens. The markers also showed a high sensitivity for detecting C. pallasii genomic DNA in the range of 1 pg~100 ng rxn^-1 and its DNA plasmid containing COB amplicon in the range of 1~100,000copies rxn^-1, which produced linear standard calibration curves (r²=0.99). We performed a qPCR assay for environmental water samples obtained from 29 sampling stations in the southeastern coastal regions of South Korea using molecular markers. The assay successfully detected the C. pallasii eDNA from 14 stations (48.2%), with the highest mean concentration in Jinhae Bay with a value of 76.09±18.39 pg L^-1 (246.20±58.58 copies L^-1). Our preliminary application of molecular monitoring of C. pallasii will provide essential information for efficient ecological control and management of this valuable fisheries resource.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.49-58
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• 2021

Rural and agricultural landscapes are important forms of land use in maintaining biodiversity. In addition humans are provided with various public functions from ecosystems and agricultural ecosystems. But the creation of a facility horticultural complex can be a space that can undermine the public interest function of the agricultural ecosystem. Therefore, this study aims to quantify the function of ecosystem services that land use changes affect biodiversity in Korea's rice paddy fields. The area subject to the study was selected as the largest agricultural complex in Korea due to rice paddy fields and land use changes, and field agriculture was also carried out simultaneously. The survey was conducted only in the fields of vegetation, insects, amphibians, and birds, four areas of biodiversity that are believed to have a high impact on changes in land use in agricultural landscapes. The valuation of ecosystem services in four areas of biodiversity derived from this study was evaluated as non-market value. As a result of quantitative evaluation, about 25 species of vegetation were reduced due to changes in land use. The diversity of about 40 species of aquatic insects that inhabit rice paddies among insects has disappeared due to the creation of a horticultural complex. Birds and amphibian reptiles were also found to have decreased diversity and populations. This research is expected to be used in various ways to develop policies to enhance ecosystem service functions.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.267-268
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• 2002

A vertebrate retina is an organ belonging to the central nerve system (CNS), and is usually difficult to regenerate except at an embryonic stage in life. However, certain species of urodele amphibians, such as newts and salamanders, possess the ability to regenerate a functional retina from retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells even as adults. After surgical removal of neural retinas from adult newt eyes, the remaining RPE cells lose their pigment granules, transdifferentiate into retinal progenitor cells, which further differentiate into various retinal neurons, and then finally reform a functional neural network. To understand the molecular mechanisms of CNS regeneration, we attempted to investigate the genes expressing in regenerating newt retina. mRNAs were isolated from regenerating retinas at 18-19 days after the surgical removal of the normal retina, and a cDNA library (regenerating retinal cDNA library) were constructed. Our EST analysis of 112 clones in the regenerating cDNA library revealed that about 70% clones are closely related to the genes previously identified. About 40% clones are housekeeping genes, and about 15% clones encode proteins related to the regulation of gene expression and to the proliferation of the cells. Sequences similar to neural retina- and RPE-specific genes were not detected at all. These results led us to suppose that the regenerating retinal cells are in a state considerably different from those of neither neural retina nor RPE cells.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2001

We have previously shown that oocyte maturation is induced by an immobilized progesterone, progesterone-3-carboxymethyloxime - bovine serum albumin conjugate (P-BSA) in Rana dybowskii. In this study, we confirmed the maturation inducing activity of P-BSA on Xenopus oocyte and examined the binding character of the immobilized progesterone on the surface of Xenopus oocytes after removal of the vitelline layer. P-BSA induced maturation of Xenopus oocytes but E-BSA failed to do so as observed in Rana. Binding of the immobilized progesterone, fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled progesterone-3-0-carboxymethyloxime-BSA (P-BSA-FITC) on the devitellined oocytes surface was examined by fluorescence confocal microscopy. The binding affinity of P-BSA-FITC to the devitellined oocyte was higher than that of estrogen-BSA-FITC (E-BSA-FITC) or testosterone-BSA-FITC (T-BSA-FITC). The binding disappeared in the presence of excess free progesterone but not in the presence of free estrogen. Maximum binding occurred after two-hours of incubation with P-BSA-FITC at pH 7.5. Stronger binding occurred in oocytes at stage Vl than stage IV, and in vitro treatment of hCG enhanced the binding. Taken together, these results suggest that a specific receptor for progesterone exists on the plasma membrane of Xenopus oocytes and that progesterone acts initially on this putative receptors and triggers generation of membrane-mediated second messengers during the early stage of oocyte maturation In amphibians.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.65-77
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• 2014

The ecosystem of Jaemin stream, flowing into the center of Gongju-si, had been damaged by low water quality and lack of water quantity of the steam. However, after applying the SSB (Sustainable Structured wetland Biotop) system to the flood plain and the upstream of Jaemin stream, the efficiency of ecological water purification and ecological restoration are as follows. Through the constant maintenance and monitoring from year 2009 to year 2013 after restorative design and construction the average influent concentration of BOD5 was 4.2 mg/L, and the average effluent concentration was 1.8 mg/L, reaching ecological water purification rate of 57%. As for the T-N, the average influent concentration was 9.983 mg/L, and the average effluent concentration was 6.303 mg/L, showing the rate of 37%. For the T-P, the average influent concentration was 0.198 mg/L, and the average effluent concentration was 0.098 mg/L, being the rate of 51%. The vegetation of Jaemin stream monitored for 2 years after the restoration was composed of 51 species in 28 families which show high ratio of planted native species. As for the animals in the site, 5 species in 3 families of reptiles and amphibians, 34 species of 23 families of birds, and 3 species in 2 families of mammals were monitored, indicating that the bio-diversity of the site has improved, as well.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.997-1007
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• 2012

This study was performed to assess functions of 10 man-made wetlands in Gunsan City, Jeollabuk Province by means of RAM (Rapid Assessment Method), a technique recommended by Ramsar Convention to appraise wetlands. The assessment of the wetlands value found Gunsan reservoir to have the highest function points while Bukchosan reservoir was estimated to have the lowest function among the wetlands surveyed. By detailed factors of valued 10 man-made wetland, the wetlands were found to function most favorably in terms of vegetational variety and as habitat for wild animals. They need to have more improved functions as habitats for fish and amphibians reptiles, for preservation and betterment of water quality as well as for supplement of underground water, though. From the assessment of vegetational naturalness of the surveyed reservoirs, Gunsan reservoir turned out to be the most favorable wetland from the viewpoint of vegetation science whereas, however, Anjeong wetland was rated as the lowest in the assessment of vegetational value due to simplicity in its vegetation and lots of dangers in its neighborhood threatening its vegetation and ecology. The assessment of vegetational values for Gunsan, Gongchang, Daewi, Bukchosan, Anjeong, Geumgul, Changan and Chuksan reservoirs showed the same orextremely similar results as RAM function assessment. Geumsan reservoir only, however, featured the opposite result.