• Proceedings of the Korean Aquaculture Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2003

Viable interspecific hybrids between yellowtail flounder (Pleuronectes ferrugineus, Store.) and winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus, Walbaum) were produced by artificial insemination of yellowtail flounder eggs with winter flounder sperm. However, mean fertilization rate, hatching success and early survival up to 3 weeks post hatch were significantly lower than those of parental pure cross controls (P<0.01). Overall, cytogenetic traits (karyological analysis and estimation of cellular DNA contents using flow cytometry) of hybrid flounder were intermediate between the two parental species. Microsatellite assay was used to distinguish the parental genomes in the hybrids; in most cases, one allele was specific to each of the parents. Morphometrics assessed by body proportions indicated that hybrids generally displayed a morphology intermediate between the maternal and paternal species. Interspecific hybrids exhibited abnormal and retarded gonad development in both sexes based on histological analysis of gonads from adult fish. The sterility of the hybrids presents a significant advantage for their use in aquaculture, as potential escapees would not be capable of reproducing in the wild and contaminating natural stocks.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2012

Quercus aliena and Q. serrata are both occur as natural vegetation alongside natural freshwater bodies of the southern Korea Peninsula. Q. serrata dominates over Q. aliena as secondary forest vegetation in the present day. In order to explain these natural distributional traits of the oak species, we conducted some experiments with oak seedlings which treated with major important environmental resources, including light, moisture and nutrients, under controlled conditions. We then measured the ecological niche breadths and overlap from 15 eco-morphological characteristics. The ecological niche breadth of Q. aliena and Q. serrata were higher in terms of the nutrient factor applied, but was lower terms of light. The niche breadth of Q. serrata was wider than that of Q. aliena in light and moisture exposure. On the other hand, the niche breadth of Q. aliena was similar with that of Q. serrata in terms of the nutrient factor applied. These results imply that Q. serrata has a broader ecological distribution in over a wider variety of light and moisture environments than that of Q. alien. Ecological niche overlap between two oak species was the widest in terms of the light treatment factor applied, and narrowest in terms of moisture. This response pattern was also verified by cluster and principle component analysis. These results suggest competitive interactions between Q. serrata and Q. aliena seedlings may be higher for light resources than moisture or nutrient resources, and that Q. serrata is more shade tolerant than Q. aliena.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.563-565
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• 2020

Turbot Scophthalmus maximus can be cultured at a higher density and has a faster growth rate than olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, making it an attractive alternative for flounder farmers in Korea. As it is a relatively new species to Korean farming environments, there is no general farming protocol, which takes multiple generations to develop, for turbot in Korea. Nevertheless, we applied breeding technology to develop a stock, which we considered first-generation turbot. Then we compared its growth rate (an important economic trait) to different populations (the original stock of Korean turbot, French turbot, and Chinese turbot). The four different populations were grown in similar culture conditions. First-generation Korean turbots grew about 28% faster than all others. We will continue to select for important traits such as color, disease resistance, and heat tolerance in this turbot broodstock; we believe that with the appropriate selection process, Korean turbot should become competitive in the markets, and will become a major farming species in the Korean aquaculture industry.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.3-4
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• 2017

Recent advances in genome sequencing technologies have enabled humans to generate and investigate the genomes of wild species. This includes the big cat family, such as tigers, lions, and leopards. Adding the first high quality leopard genome, we have performed an in-depth comparative analysis to identify the genomic signatures in the evolution of felid to become the top predators on land. Our study focused on how the carnivore genomes, as compared to the omnivore or herbivore genomes, shared evolutionary adaptations in genes associated with nutrient metabolism, muscle strength, agility, and other traits responsible for hunting and meat digestion. We found genetic evidence that genomes represent what animals eat through modifying genes. Highly conserved genetically relevant regions were discovered in genomes at the family level. Also, the Felidae family genomes exhibited low levels of genetic diversity associated with decreased population sizes, presumably because of their strict diet, suggesting their vulnerability and critical conservation status. Our findings can be used for human health enhancement, since we share the same genes as cats with some variation. This is an example how wildlife genomes can be a critical resource for human evolution, providing key genetic marker information for disease treatment.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.275-286
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• 2012

Over the last 20 years there have been more than 3000 peer-reviewed papers relating to climate change and biodiversity published, and still the numbers are increasing. However, most studies focused on the impacts of climate change at population or community levels, and the results invariably reveal that there has been, or will be, a negative effect on the structure and pattern of biodiversity. Moreover, the climate change models and statistical analyses used to test the impacts are only newly developed, and the analyses or predictions can often be misled. In this review, I ask why an individual's life history is considered in the study how climate change affects biodiversity, and what ecological factors are impacted by climate change. Using evidence from a range of species, I demonstrate that diverse life history traits, such as early growth rate, migration/foraging behaviour and lifespan, can be shifted by climate change at individual level. Particularly I discuss that the optimal decision under unknown circumstance (climate change) would be the reduction of the ecological fitness at individual level, and hence, a shift in the balance of the ecosystem could be affected without having a critical impact on any one species. To conclude, I summarize the links between climate changes, ecological decision in life history, the revised consequence at individual level, and discuss how the finely-balanced relationship affects biodiversity and population structure.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.150-154
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• 2016

The ultrastructure of fertilized egg envelope from Pseudobagrus fulvidraco belongs to Bagridae was investigated using light and electron microscopes. The fertilized egg was compressed spherical, light-yellowish, demersal, and adhesive. The size of fertilized egg is about $1.85{\pm}0.13mm$, perivitelline space is not well developed, and there were no appendicular structures on the outer surface of egg envelope and oil droplets in vitelline membrane under light microscope. The micropyle was located in the animal pole of fertilized egg. Adhesive reticular fiber was covered fertilized egg envelope. The thickness of egg envelope was about $3.7{\sim}4.2{\mu}m$, and the egg envelope consisted of two layers: an outer, electron-dense adhesive fibers layer and an simple inner layer with pore. Therefore, the ultrastructure of cross section of the fertilized egg envelope showed species specificity, but studies on the other species belongs to Bagridae were need to get correct information about common traits in family.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.150-159
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• 2017

This study analyzed the distribution of endophytic fungi in 3 coastal environments with different climatic, geographical, and geological characteristics: the volcanic islands of Dokdo, the East Sea, and the West Sea of Korea. The isolated fungal endophytes were characterized and analyzed with respect to the characteristics of their host environments. For this purpose, we selected common native coastal halophyte communities from three regions. Molecular identification of the fungal endophytes showed clear differences among the sampling sites and halophyte host species. Isolates were also characterized by growth at specific salinities or pH gradients, with reference to previous geographical, geological, and climate studies. Unlike the East Sea or West Sea isolates, some Dokdo Islands isolates showed endurable traits with growth in high salinity, and many showed growth under extremely alkaline conditions. A smaller proportion of West Sea coast isolates tolerate compared to the East Sea or Dokdo Islands isolates. These results suggest that these unique fungal biota developed through a close interaction between the host halophyte and their environment, even within the same halophyte species. Therefore, this study proposes the application of specific fungal resources for restoring sand dunes and salt-damaged agricultural lands and industrialization of halophytic plants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.208-217
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• 2010

Crossosomatales is a recently recognized order in the rosid II clade with about 64 species in eight morphologically distinct families that have been previously classified in as many as 15 other orders. Phylogenetic relationships among the families and genera within Crossosomatales were investigated using chloroplast atpB, matK, and rbcL sequences employing maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. The phylogenetic framework was used to examine the patterns of morphological evolution and synapomorphies for subclades within Crossosomatales. The combined data with representative species from all genera in the order strongly supported monophyly of Crossosomatales. Strong support was found for the families in the Southern Hemisphere, in which Aphloiaceae is sister to the clade of (Geissolomataceae, (Ixerbaceae + Strasburgeriaceae)). The sister relationship between the Southern Hemisphere clade and families distributed primarily in the Northern Hemisphere was also supported. As in the previous studies, following relationships were found within the Northern Hemisphere clade: Staphyleaceae is sister to a clade of (Guamatelaceae, (Stachyuraceae + Crossosomataceae)). The pattern analysis indicates that evolutionary pattern of morphological characters is complex, requiring multiple changes within Crossosomatales. Several reproductive traits, such as inflorescence, aril, stigma, and conspicuous protrusion from pollen aperture, corroborate the molecular phylogeny.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.270-280
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• 2017

Selection of superior phenotypes of fruit trees and products based on established criteria by local people is a prerequisite for future species domestication and conservation. Thus the study objective was to identify the local people's perceptions and preferences on baobab trees and products. A sample of 142 respondents was randomly selected using structured interviews in Blue Nile and North Kordofan, Sudan in 2013. Descriptive analysis was employed using SPSS and Excel programs. The study results indicated that local people use the morphological characteristics of the tree (leaves, fruits, seeds, kernels and bark) to differentiate individual trees. Based on the perceptions, local people recorded trees with delicious leaves, white pulp color, big fruit size and mature capsule size, and high pulp yield as criteria for differentiating between baobab trees in the study areas. In contrast, the undesirable traits were connected to trees with acidic pulp, slimy pulp, bitter leaves, and low pulp yield. The study concluded that the ethnobotanical knowledge of the baobab tree and its products may play an important role in tree domestication and improvement in Sudan. However, further research on tree genetics is needed to complement the ethnobotanical knowledge for baobab resources domestication and conservation.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.239-244
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• 2020

The morphological characteristics of a larval fish (7.8 mm in body length) collected off Chuuk, Micronesia were highly similar to those of larval Omosudis sp., except fin development and body length. It was identified as Omosudis lowii by partial mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene analysis. The morphological traits of the larval fish validated by the molecular genetic marker will be informative for species-level identification of larval Omosudis lowii.