• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.338-344
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• 2015

In an effort to restore the amphibians in urban freshwater system the characteristics of feeding activity of Rana rugosa living in Gyeonggi-provinces (Yangpyeong-gun and Namyangju-si) was analyzed from 2013 to 2014. The stomach contents of R. rugosa was analyzed non-invasively and compared to organisms captured by sweeping and trapping in their habitat. As a result, Hymenoptera and Cleoptera were primarily preyed by R. rugosa. Particularly, the proportion of Formicidae was more than 98% among the preyed Hymenoptera. Trapped insects in the habitat of R. rugosa's in Namyangju were Hymenoptera (58%, Formicidae 99%), Collembola (17%), Orthoptera (10%) and Diptera (9%) in order in order. In Yangpyeong, trapped insects were Collembola (49%), Orthoptera (14%), Arachnida (9%), Diptera (9%), Cleoptera (7%) and Hymenoptera (3%). Even though Hemiptera and Diptera species are abundant in the streamside zones, R. rugosa could easily hunt Formicidae or Coleoptera on rocks or grassland at streamside. R. rugosa consume small sized ground-insects that are easily found rather than searching for the specific prey. Prey resource of urban stream may be not a limiting factor of R. rugosa inhabitation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2012

Toxicity of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole were investigated via FETAX (Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus) protocol using domestic frog embryos. Embryos of Black-spotted pond frog, Rana nigromaculata, were incubated and toxic effects of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole were investigated by probit analysis. As a result, mortality and malformation rates were increased and larval body length was decreased in a dose dependant manner of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole. The half maximal effective concentration ($EC_{50}$) of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole were 0.07, $12.7mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively and the half maximal lethal concentration ($LC_{50}$) of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole were 4.2, 39.1, respectively. The teratogenic index (TI) were 61.4 in $Ni^{2+}$ and 3.1 in Tebuconazole, respectively. These results reveals that $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole suppress the development of Black-spotted pond frog embryos at the low concentration as showing teratogenic effects in other assay system. Therefore, teratogen assay system using the Rana nigromaculata embryos could be useful as a tool to evaluate the toxicity of the pollutants in environment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.118-127
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• 2014

The kinetic properties and isozyme expression of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27; LDH) in tissues from Rana catesbeiana I and II collected from February (I) and August (II) were studied. LDH activities, A4 isozyme, and LDH/citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.7; CS) were high in skeletal muscle from R. catesbeiana I, and LDH $B_4$ isozyme increased in several tissues of R. catesbeiana II. In particular, LDH activities were high in heart and brain tissues from R. catesbeiana II. LDH eye-specific C isozyme, detected by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after immunoprecipitation, was expressed in eye tissue and was more similar to the $B_4$ than $A_4$ isozyme. LDH $A_4$ isozyme was purified by oxamate-linked affinity chromatography, and the molecular weight of subunit A was 32.0 kDa. In R. catesbeiana II, levels of $Km^{PYU}$, $Vmax^{LAC}$, and tolerance to lactate of LDH were high in all tissues, and $Vmax^{PYU}$ of LDH in heart and brain tissue was highly detected. Purified $A_4$ isozyme and LDH in eye tissue were highly tolerate compared to others. The $Km^{LAC}$ value was highly measured compared to $Km^{PYU}$. The degree of inhibition by 10 mM of pyruvate on LDH activities in tissues from R. catesbeiana I and II was more pronounced as the ratio of subunit B increased. As a result, characteristic expression of LDH eye-specific C was found in R. catesbeiana. Anaerobic metabolism seemed to predominate as the LDH of skeletal muscle from I showed higher activity. It also appeared that R. catesbeiana II adapted well to incremental increases in LDH B, becoming tolerant to the lactate of LDH in tissues.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.333-339
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• 2004

The Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus(FETAX) protocol was recently adopted as a valuable tool fur evaluating chemical toxicity and the effect of environmental contaminants in frogs. In this study, the teratogenecity of NiCl$_2$, Carbofuran, Diazinon were determined in the Korean frog, Rana dybowskii using the FETAX protocol. The mortality rate and the percentage of malformed larvae were investigated by probit analysis, The teratogenic concentrations(EC$_{50}$) of NiCl$_2$, Carbofuran and Diazinon were 0.4 and 1.6 and 1.9 mg/1. The embryolethal concentrations(LC$_{50}$) of NiCl$_2$, Carbofuran and Diazinon were 17.6 and 41.5 and 20.2mg/1. The teratogenic indices (TI=LC$_{50}$/EC$_{50}$) were 43.8 for NiCl$_2$, 26.0 for Carbofuran and 10.6 for Diazinon. NiCl$_2$, Carbofuran and Diazinon were shown to be potent teratogens for Rana dybowskii embryo, causing concentration related increase of edema, tail and abdomen. The study results reveal that NiCl$_2$, Carbofuran and Diazinon suppress the development of embryos at relatively low concentrations. Therefore, the Rana dybowskii embryo teratogenesis assay system was proven to be a useful tool to evaluate the toxicity of environmental pollutants.lutants.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2009

Population viability analysis of a Gold-spotted pond frog (Rana chosenica) population at Cheongwon-gun, Chungbuk, in South Korea was conducted and we proposed several suggestions for effective conservation and re-introduction of the species. Simulating a developed model over 1,000 times predicted that the population will exist over 30 years with a relatively low growth rate of 0.113, but with a high probability of extinction as 81.1%. Population growth and extinction probability were the most greatly depended on the rate of successful metamorphosis. In the case of outbreak of amphibian diseases such as Chytridiomycosis and Ranavirus, the population will be easily extinct within 4 years with 100% probability. In a habitat of which carrying capacity is 200, to successfully re-introduce an extinct population, it is initially needed to put 100 individuals of which 83% is males and its age structure is normal-distributed. If we additionally conducts artificial supplementation of 10% individuals every 2 years from 4 years to 10 years after initial reintroduction, the population will become a stable with 0.297 growth rate and 0.290 extinction rate. Our results are the first case of amphibian population viability analysis in Korea and could be used to develop effective conservation and re-introduction plans for endangered Gold-spotted pond frog.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2007

To investigate the spatial distribution and daily calling pattern of the Gold-spotted pond frog, Rana chosenica, in Chungju city and Chungwon gun, Chungbuk province, Korea, we divided the study area into 226 plots with a $2{\times}2km^2$ plot on the map, of which we assigned 32 plots for monitoring populations. Call monitoring on whether the species are present or not were conducted for 5 minutes in between sunset and the midnight from at the end of May to July in 2006. Gold-spotted pond frogs were detected at least once four out of 32 plots. Using program Presence, we obtained site occupancy rate as 0.170 which was quite low compared with other species, while detection probability was 0.66 that propose at least three times to visit the monitoring site to confirm the absence of the frogs. The frogs were actively calling from 21:00 to 02:00, and the number of calling male was significantly and highly correlated with water temperature and humidity. This study shows the present status of the Gold-spotted pond frogs in Chungju city and Chungwon gun and we suggests various effective monitoring methods based on the this study.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.706-714
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• 2017

An investigation of the effects of Pb for domestic anuran embryos were evaluated with the Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay; Xenopus (FETAX). Depending on the species, the difference between the embryo size and the embryonic development time was determined. As a result, mortality and malformation rates were increased, malformation patterns were changed and larval body length were decreased in a dose dependent manner of the Pb. The half maximal lethal concentration ($LC_{50}$) of the Bufo gargarizans, Hyla japonica, Rana nigromaculata and Bombina orientalis were 0.58, 0.49, 0.52, $0.54mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The half maximal effective concentration ($EC_{50}$) of the Bufo gargarizans, Hyla japonica, Rana nigromaculata and Bombina orientalis were 0.35, 0.74, 0.30, $0.29mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The teratogenic index (TI) were 1.66 in the Bufo gargarizans, 1.81 in the Hyla japonica, 1.73 in the Rana nigromaculata and 1.86 in the Bombina orientalis, respectively. Therefore, the Pb seems likely to have a teratogenic effect in all four species' embryonic development. The Bombina orientalis was the most sensitive to the Pb. This means that the difference between the different species, even if they have all been exposed to the same concentration of pollutants depending on the species. The result above show that the Pb acts as a teratogenic agent in the development of the four domestic frog species.

• 한국전자현미경학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.05a
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• pp.70-70
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• 1999

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.sup4
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• pp.34.3-34.3
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.142-145
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• 2004