• Title/Summary/Keyword: MAMMAL

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Exploring small mammal monitoring in South Korea: The debut of the Mostela

  • Hee-Bok Park;Anya Lim
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.47 no.4
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    • pp.211-218
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    • 2023
  • Background: Traditional wildlife monitoring has often relied on invasive techniques posing risks to species and demanding substantial resources. To address this, camera traps emerged as non-invasive alternatives, albeit primarily tailored for larger mammals, posing limitations for small mammal research. Thus, the Mostela, an innovative tool designed to overcome these challenges, was introduced to monitor small mammals in South Korea. Results: The Mostela was deployed at two study sites in South Korea, yielding compelling evidence of its efficiency in capturing small mammal species. By analyzing the collected data, we calculated the relative abundance of each species and elucidated their activity patterns. Conclusions: In summary, the Mostela system demonstrates substantial potential for advancing small mammal monitoring, offering valuable insights into diversity, community dynamics, activity patterns, and habitat preferences. Its application extends to the detection of endangered and rare species, further contributing to wildlife conservation efforts in South Korea. Consequently, the Mostela system stands as a valuable addition to the toolkit of conservationists and researchers, fostering ethical and non-invasive research practices while advancing our understanding of small mammal populations and ecosystems.

Molecular Characterization and Tissue-specific Expression of a Novel FKBP38 Gene in the Cashmere Goat (Capra hircus)

  • Zheng, X.;Hao, X.Y.;Chen, Y.H.;Zhang, X.;Yang, J.F.;Wang, Z.G.;Liu, D.J.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.25 no.6
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    • pp.758-763
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    • 2012
  • As a member of a subclass of immunophilins, it is controversial that FKBP38 acts an upstream regulator of mTOR signaling pathway, which control the process of cell-growth, proliferation and differentiation. In order to explore the relationship between FKBP38 and mTOR in the Cashmere goat (Capra hircus) cells, a full-length cDNA was cloned (GenBank accession number JF714970) and expression pattern was analyzed. The cloned FKBP38 gene is 1,248 bp in length, containing an open reading frame (ORF) from nucleotide 13 to 1,248 which encodes 411 amino acids, and 12 nucleotides in front of the initiation codon. The full cDNA sequence shares 98% identity with cattle, 94% with horse and 90% with human. The putative amino acid sequence shows the higher homology which is 98%, 97% and 94%, correspondingly. The bioinformatics analysis showed that FKBP38 contained a FKBP_C domain, two TPR domains and a TM domain. Psite analysis suggested that the ORF encoding protein contained a leucine-zipper pattern and a Prenyl group binding site (CAAX box). Tissue-specific expression analysis was performed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and showed that the FKBP38 expression was detected in all the tested tissues and the highest level of mRNA accumulation was detected in testis, suggesting that FKBP38 plays an important role in goat cells.

Targeted Suppression of Connexin 43 in Ovine Preimplantation Embryos by RNA Interference Using Long Double-stranded RNA

  • Yan, Zhen;Ma, Yu Zhen;Liu, Dong jun;Cang, Ming;Wang, Rui;Bao, Shorgan
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.456-464
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    • 2010
  • RNA interference (RNAi) is an acknowledged useful and effective tool to study gene function in various cells. Here, we suppressed the Connexin 43 (Cx 43) gene expression during in vitro development of ovine pre-implantation embryos using the RNAi method. The 353 bp Cx 43 double-stranded RNA was microinjected into in vitro fertilized ovine zygotes, and the levels of target mRNA and protein were investigated. Control groups included uninjected zygotes or those injected with RNase-free water. The dsRNA injection resulted in the specific reduction of Cx 43 transcripts as analyzed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and decreased protein levels as shown by Western blot analysis at the blastocyst stage. Microinjection of Cx 43 dsRNA led to 20.3%, 21.7% and 34.5% blastocyst rates and 19.2%, 37.5% and 41.3% hatched blastocyst rates in Cx 43 dsRNA-injected, water-injected and uninjected groups, respectively. Then the RNAi could not significantly affect cell number and cell death rates of blastocysts. Therefore, suppression of Cx 43 dsRNA and proteins did not apparently affect the development potential of ovine pre-implantation embryos but may play a role in embryo quality. RNAi technology is a promising approach to study gene function in early ovine embryogenesis.

Differences in Field Sign Abundance of Mammal Species Around the Roads in Baekdudaegan Mountains

  • Hur, Wee-Haeng;Lee, Woo-Shin;Choi, Chang-Yong;Park, Young-Su;Lee, Chang-Bae;Rhim, Shin-Jae
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.94 no.2 s.159
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    • pp.112-116
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    • 2005
  • This study was conducted to obtain the information of distribution, protection and management for mammal species in fragmented forest areas around the road from June 2002 to May 2003 in 9 study sites of Baekdugdaegan mountains, Korea. Field signs of twelve mammals, moles Molera robusta, Korean hares Lepus coreanus, Manchurian chipmunk Tamias sibiricus, red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris, Korean racoon dogs Nyctereutes procyonoides, Siberian weasels Mustela sibirica, badgers Meles meles, otters Lutra lutra, Bengal cats Felis bengalensis, wild boars Sus scrofa, water deer Hydropotes inermis and roe deer Capreolus pygargus were recorded in this study. There were no differences in total number of species between 50 m areas and 50-100 m areas from road in snow and non-snow season. Number of mammals' field signs were different in non-snow season between both areas. Red squirrels and Siberian weasels were more abundant in 50 m areas, and Korean hares and Manchurian chipmunks were in 50-100 m areas. Habitat using pattern of mammal species may be affected by the road. Reasonable road construction and maintenance would be needed for protection and management of wildlife and their habitats.

Study for the standardization of Os Draconis and comparison composition before and after using processed method on Os Draconis (용골(龍骨)(부용치)(附龍齒)의 품질표준(品質標準) 및 포제전후의 성분비교(成分比較))

  • Lee Jang-Cheon
    • Herbal Formula Science
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.171-195
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    • 2003
  • Objectives: This experimental study has been done to compare the Os Draconis composition before and after using processing method. Os Draconis has a quality for calming the liver meridian function and relaxation the mind. Methods: I studied the Os Draconis and processed Os Draconis by vinegar to compare the compositions and its' character. Results: Os Draconis is not a dinosaur's bone fossil but a mammal's bone fossil which has a Calcite mineral, an Apatite mineral, $SiO_2\;Al_2$ O, etc. Os Draconis contains a main ingredients CaO>50.00%. Processed Os Draconis which is heated and soaked in vinegar changes to weak condition Conclusion: Os Draconis is supposed to be a mammal's bone fossil. Some Os Draconis has a radioactive substance like a U, Th so we pay heed to deal with it in a medical clinic.

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The Effects of Land Use on the Frequency of Mammal Roadkills in Korea (토지이용 유형에 따른 포유류 로드킬 발생 특성)

  • Choi, Tae-Young;Park, Chong-Hwa
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.34 no.5 s.118
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    • pp.52-58
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    • 2006
  • Wildlife roadkill is a serious problem for road planners and biologists concerned with traffic safety, species conservation, and animal welfare. The objective of this paper was to analyze the effect of land use on the frequency of mammal roadkills. This study took part in three steps. First, data for 1,279 road kills of nine species were collected by survey over 26 months on 107km of roads near the Mt. Jirisan area. Second, the type of land use near the roadkill points was analyzed, and the area of each land use within loom of the road was calculated using GIS. Finally, the question of whether the land use affects the Sequency of mammal roadkills was analyzed by determining the density of roadkill occurrences for each land-use type. The results of the study were as follows. First, the roadkill density of all species was highest near grasslands, especially natural grasslands. Second, when comparing forests and rice fields, roadkill densities of the Eurasian red squirrel, Siberian chipmunk and Korean hare were higher near the forests, while the densities of the raccoon dog, water deer and leopard cat were higher near rice fields. The results of this study could be an essential information source for mitigating the roadkill problem in Korea.

Mammal Fauna in Mt. Unmun, South Korea (운문산의 포유류상)

  • Kim, Tae-Wook;Kim, Byoung-Su;Chang, Min-Ho;Park, Su-Gon;Han, Sang-Hyun;Oh, Hong-Shik
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.53-59
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    • 2013
  • This study investigated mammal fauna in the sabbatical area of Mt. Unmun, Kyungsangbuk-do from December, 2007 to September, 2009. A total of 24 species belonging to 11 Families, 6 Orders, were identified in the survey area. Dominant species were as follows: Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis), Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus), Korean mole (Mogera wogura), and East Asian field mouse (Apodemus peninsulae). Especially, four Legal Protection Species specified as National Monument (NM) and Endangered Species (ES) found in this survey were as follows: Flying squirrel (Petromys volans; NM #328 and ES level II), Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra; NM #330 and ES level I), Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis; ES level II) and Marten (Martes flavigula; ES level II). These results on the geographical distribution of various mammal species and Legal Protection Species indicate that this area is a valuable ecosystem for native mammal species. On the other hand, many feral cats were also found and specified as a management species. The results of this study show that further long-term investigation and management plan are needed to protect against harmful species and maintain the native ecosystem of Mt. Unmun.

Conserved Regions in Mitochondrial Genome Sequences of Small Mammals in Korea

  • Kim, Hye Ri;Park, Yung Chul
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.278-281
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    • 2012
  • Comparative sequence analyses were conducted on complete mtDNA sequences from four small mammal species in Korea and revealed the presence of 30 well conserved sequences in various regions of the complete mtDNA sequences. The conserved sequences were found in 9 regions in protein coding genes, 10 regions in tRNA genes, 10 in rRNA genes, one region in replication origin and 2 regions in D loop. They could be used to design primers for amplifying complete mtDNA sequences of small mammals.

Relationships between Small Mammal Community and Coarse Woody Debris in Forest Ecosystem (산림 생태계에서 소척추동물 군집과 잔목의 관계)

  • Lee, Sang-Don
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.251-258
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    • 1997
  • Few attempts have been made to discover the ecological function of coarse woody debris (CWD) despite its importance to small mammal population. Twenty-five pitfall traps and a hundred live traps were placed in three sites with high amounts of CWD and three sites with low amounts of CWD. Eleven species were caught, and Peromyscus maniculatus was the most abundant (45.6%, n=605). Among 11 speices, abundance of Tamias townsendii and Clethronomys gapperi were higher in sites with high amounts of CWD than in sites with low amounts of CWD. Home range size was larger in breeding season than in non-breeding season indicating mating search. Resident time of Peromyscus maniculatus was longer in sites with high amounts of CWD implying better stability in population. The increasing amount of coarse woody debris (CWD) enhanced the habitat use by small mammals, and animals in high amounts of CWD were more abundant and stable in population fluctuation. This study, therefore, concludes that CWD is a critical habitat element for small mammals in forest ecosystem.

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