• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 2022

We analyzed the hair microstructure of Korean small terrestrial mammals, such as Rodentia and Lagomorpha, to classify the characteristics of hair morphology. Micromys minutus showed a unicellular irregular type of medulla structures; on the other hand, the other mammals showed multicellular structures. Regarding the cuticular scale structures, the Rodentia species exhibited a narrow and broad diamond petal type, while the Lagomorpha species exhibited an elongated petal type. Interestingly, the hair cross-sections showed quite unique characteristics. We constructed hair identification keys to distinguish species with a single hair. The dichotomous key of Rodentia and Lagomorpha can be used for their behavioral ecology and dietary analysis of upper predators to serve as the basis for ecological research.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.88 no.2
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• pp.179-184
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• 1999

This study was conducted to clarify the differences in small mammal populations due to habitat structure caused by different forest practices within natural deciduous forests at National Forest, Pyoungchang, Kangwon Province, Korea from May to November, 1996. Three sites, 1ha each, were selected as cutting, thinning, and control for live trapping of small mammals. Total captures of small mammals in all sites were combined Apodemus peninsulae(45.1%, n=64) and Eothenomys regulus(54.9%, n=78). A. peninsulae was captured in the cutting and the control site. And E. regulus was captured in the thinning and the control site. The number of captured small mammals in a month were the highest in the control site and the lowest in the cutting site. A. peninsulae's mean body weight of adult individuals was more higher in the control site than in the cutting site. And E. regulus's mean body weight of adult individuals was more higher in the control site than in the thinning site. Habitat structure seems to be an important factor in abundance and species composition of small mammals.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• no.spc9
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• pp.73-79
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• 2016

In the present study, to explore the current status of mammals that inhabit Jindo Island, Jeollanam-do, South Korea, a survey was conducted from July 6 to July 9, 2016. Using several survey methods, such as Sherman's live trap, footprint, caves, excretions, and road-kill investigations, the mammals observed on Jindo Island were found to be from 5 orders and 9 families, including 12 species in total. Among them, three species of small mammals were Mogera wogura, Crocidura shantungensis, and Apodemus agrarius. Additionally, two legally protected species were found through excretion observations. Lutra lutra and Prionailurus bengalensis, which were designated to endangered wild animal classes I and II, respectively. The survey results can be used as a valuable resource for identifying the distribution and habitat status of mammals in the Jindo-gun area, as well as for building a database for ecosystem preservation.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.15-32
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• 1992

This study was an attempt to investigate and compare the fine structure of small cells in the space of Disse of various animal livers. All animal livers contained small cells with or without lipid droplets and the one with lipid droplet seemed to be more developed and show an abundance of activity in function. The fine structure of the small cells observed in the nonmammals was similar to that of Ito cell in the mammal. The electron density of the small cells was similar to that of other cell types in the same animal liver. The cisternal dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus was more predominant in the mammalian Ito cells. In the nonmammalian, aquatic vertebrates, however, lysosomes and filaments are much more abundant in the Ito cell and its abundant cytoplasmic processes rich in filaments were usually extended between the parenchymal cells. The disparity in size of organelles and numbers of lipid droplets in the small cells showed a tendency similar to those of other cell types in the same animal. From these results, it is considered that the small cells in the space of Disse is a Ito cell and the Ito cell without lipid droplets differentiates into the one containing lipid droplets according to the characteristics of the different animals respectively, and that the Ito cells in the mammals are more active in metabolic function, while those in the nonmammalian aquatic vertebrates are abundant in support of parenchyme.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.319-324
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• 2021

Incidence of tsutsugamushi disease (scrub typhus) caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is steadily increasing. It is a mite-borne disease transmitted by chigger mites. In this study, the chigger mites were collected from field small mammals in Hwaseong-si (city), Gyeonggi-do (province), Korea, 2019 and 2020. The field small mammals captured were 56 Apodemus agrarius (94.9%) and 3 Crocidura lasiura (5.1%). A total of 7,531 chigger mites were collected from the captured small mammals. Using PCR test, 153 chigger mite pools were examined and 17 pools were reported positive for O. tsutsugamushi. The O. tsutsugamushi were identified to 5 strains; Jecheon strain was most prevalent, followed by Boryong strain. The other strains were OI011, Taguchi, and Shimokoshi. Collectively, these results provide essential regional information on mite-borne tsutsugamushi disease in the Hwaseong-si, and further contribute to bring awareness and rapid diagnosis for the tsutsugamushi disease.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.512-523
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• 1995

The central theme of Habital heterogeneity is to provide animals with habital complexity or structural diversity and to allow resource partitioning among individuals. In turn, the leads to population stability because prey can escape more easily with more hiding places causing less population fluctuation. Species diversity is characterized due to more potential niches both horizontally and verticall. Empirically, in homogeneous habitats population was less abundant, reproduction and survival were lower, spacing behavior, competition and dispersal were higher than in heterogeneous habitats. The results imply that diversity and conservation of species can be maintained through providing heterogeneous habitats.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2004

This study was conducted to clarify the preference and habitat condition of small mammals at the Hyeongsan river in Ulsan, Gyeongju, and Pohang from January 2003 to July 2003. In the study sites, total 111 individuals of Apodemus agrarius, Rattus norvegicus, and Micromys minutus were captured in study sites. The most abundant species were Apodemus agrarius, 79.2 percent, among the captured small mammals. Density of habitation was significantly higher in agricultural land than in either private house or woods. However, they were more abundant in paddy Weld area than in agricultural land. A number of captured small mammals were higher in herbaceous rather than three other vegetation types. Existent of river embankment and its type were important factors affecting the spatial distribution of the individuals. Preference of small mammals were significantly lower in revetment block area rather than in none or nature-stone mat area. There was significantly correlationship between the depth of water and the number of captured small mammals. A number of captured small mammals were clearly increased in reference to decreasing depth of water in study site, in conclusion, the following factors such as the vegetation structure, depth of water, types of land use and types of river dike could be affected the spatial distribution of small mammals in the study sites.