• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.97 no.3
• /
• pp.291-295
• /
• 2008

We investigated the differences in characteristics of rodent populations among unburned and two burned forest areas which were fire damaged in 2000 and 1980, Samcheok and Yangyang, Gangwon province, Korea. Apodemus peninsulae, Myodes regulus and Tamias sibiricus were captured in three study areas. Total density of rodents was the least at burned area which was damaged in 2000. Trappabilities of Apodemus peninsulae and Myodes regulus were higher in burned areas than in unburned area. However, trappability of Tamias sibiricus was the highest in unburned area. Changes in forest type and habitat structure due to time elapsed after forest fire might affect density and species composition of rodents. Mean body weight of rodents were the highest in burned area which was damaged in 2000 while the lowest in unburned area. Differences in body weight of rodents would be related with the coverage of understory. Detailed long-term ecological monitoring is needed to elucidate changes in characteristics of rodent populations after forest fire.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.21-27
• /
• 1972

A simple and effective procedure is described for semi-purification of viable Myco. leprae from biopsied lepromatous nodules by trypsinization and high-speed centrifugation. An unique characteristic of this method is a complete omission of conventional grinding or homogenization of minced lepromatous tissues prior to purification. Inoculation of trypsin-purified preparation of Myco. leprae into foot pads and ear lobes of Korean chipmunk(Tamias sibiricus asiaticus, Gmelin) resulted in apparent increases in total number of acid-fast bacilli per inoculated tissue 8 and 12 months after inoculation.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.101-106
• /
• 1996

Hantavirus is the etiologic agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). It has been known that the natural reservoirs of Hantavirus are not only field mice but also other animals in parts of the world. In this study, to research on the host range of Hantavirus, immunofluorescent antibody against Hantavirus was investigated in wild birds from 1991 to 1992, duck from 1991 to 1992 and squirrels (Tamias sibiricus) in 1990 in Korea. The results were as follows: 1. Of total 179 wild birds of 14 species, Emberiza elegans elegans and Passer montanus dy-bowsky were antibody positive. The positive rates were 3.92% (2 out of 51) and 1.64% (1 out of 61), respectively. 2. The antibody titers of wild birds were 1:16 and 1:64 in Emberiza elegans elegans, 1:16 in Passer montanus dybowsky. 3. The positive rate of antibody in ducks was 2.3% (3 out of 129). 4. The positive rate of antibody in squrrels was 48.10% (38 out of 79). According these results, we newly showed that passer montanus dybowsky, domestic ducks and Tamias sibiricus possessed the antibody against Hantavirus.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.388-394
• /
• 1995

We investigated ultrastuctural change of small intestinal mucosal epithelial cell, columnar cell and mucous cell, of hibernating ground squirrel during activating and hibernating stages. In active columnar cells, many mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum were observed. In hibernating columnar cells, more free nhosome than rough endoplasmic reticulum were observed. In active mucous cells, large and many mucosal granules, mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum were observed. Mucosal granules have been secreted excellently. In hibernating mucous cells, small and little mucosal granules and many free ribosome were observed.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.566-575
• /
• 2008

Twenty-five chipmunk species occur in the world, of which only the Siberian chipmunk, Tamias sibiricus, inhabits Asia. To investigate mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence variations and population structure of the Siberian chipmunk in northeastern Asia, we examined mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences (1140 bp) from 3 countries. Analyses of 41 individuals from South Korea and 33 individuals from Russia and northeast China resulted in 37 haplotypes and 27 haplotypes, respectively. There were no shared haplotypes between South Korea and Russia - northeast China. Phylogenetic trees and network analysis showed 2 major maternal lineages for haplotypes, referred to as the S and R lineages. Haplotype grouping in each cluster was nearly coincident with its geographic affinity. In particular, 3 distinct groups were found that mostly clustered in the northern, central and southern parts of South Korea. Nucleotide diversity of the S lineage was twice that of lineage R. The divergence between S and R lineages was estimated to be 2.98-0.98 Myr. During the ice age, there may have been at least 2 refuges in South Korea and Russia - northeast China. The sequence variation between the S and R lineages was 11.3% (K2P), which is indicative of specific recognition in rodents. These results suggest that T. sibiricus from South Korea could be considered a separate species. However, additional information, such as details of distribution, nuclear genes data or morphology, is required to strengthen this hypothesis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.99 no.4
• /
• pp.553-558
• /
• 2010

This study was conducted to clarify the differences in rodents population densities between natural restored and red pine silvicultured forests after forest fire in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, Korea from March to December 2008. One ha size of 3 study plots were set up in each natural restored and silvicultured stand. We trapped the small rodents during 4 consecutive nights every 2 months in each stand. Understory coverage and number of shrub stems were higher in silvicultured stand than in natural restored stand. Coverage of overstory, suboverstory and midstory, number of tree stem, woody seedling stems and dead wood, and amount of coarse woody debris were higher in natural restored stand than in silvicultured stand. Six hundred eighty eight individuals of four species, such as Apodemus agrarius, A. peninsulae, Eothenomys regulus and Tamias sibiricus were captured in our study. Number of captured small rodents were higher in natural restored stand than in silvicultured stand. Also, species compositions were differed in both stands. The captured number of A. agrarius and A. peninsulae were most highest in April and December. E. regulus were shown higher number of captured in April and June, and T. sibiricus were in June and October. Removal of coarse woody debris and silvicultural practice would not be good for the inhabitation of small rodents. For the conservation of small rodents diversity, management of understory and canopy would be needed in forest fired area.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.361-367
• /
• 2022

This study was conducted to identify annual variation of observation and activity pattern of Korean chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus) using camera traps in the Seoraksan and Jirisan National Parks, South Korea from May 2019 to May 2021. The annual variation was identified based on the observed frequency through weekly observations. Daily activity patterns of the species were also analyzed by season. The daily activity pattern of chipmunk appeared to be constantly diurnal across the years regardless of habitat or season. The Korean chipmunks living in the two different regions were observed in different time periods throughout the year. While the chipmunks inhabiting the Seoraksan were observed from 18^th to 45^th week, the chipmunks inhabiting the Jirisan National Park were observed from 7^th to 48^th week. This may be influenced by the hibernation period of chipmunks in the two different regions. In both regions, chipmunks were most frequently observed in autumn. It is considered that seasonal variation on population dynamic and activity patterns of chipmunks were reflected in the observation frequency. Although the observation frequency of camera trap is an indirect indicator and thus having a limitation that it cannot distinguish the population density and amount of activity for the target species, camera trapping is still an effective survey technique for monitoring mammals due to its high accessibility and easy use.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.53-59
• /
• 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.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.161-168
• /
• 2011

Siberian chipmunks, Tamias sibiricus, are one of several popular companion animals found in the pet shops of South Korea. At present, however, there have been no studies done in South Korea examining their origin even though they could be potential carriers of zoonotic diseases, and are a species of concern for efficient conservation and management strategies. Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1140 bp) were determined to investigate the origin of Siberian chipmunks sold in four South Korean pet shops through comparison with sequence data from animals of known locality. Nine Siberian chipmunks were collected from pet shops in South Korea, which resulted in nine haplotypes. One (AR) of these coincided with the haplotype previously described. Phylogenetic and network analyses using 53 haplotypes including 45 haplotypes from GenBank showed three phylogenetic groups in South Korea, almost concordant to locality, designated as northern, central, and southern parts as described in a previous study. Of the nine individuals examined from the pet shops, eight were clustered into the northern phylogroup but one (cgrb9153) was grouped with the southern phylogroup, implying that at least the Siberian chipmunks examined in this study did not originate from other countries. It is likely that most individuals sold in the pet shops of Seoul were caught in the wild in Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do, or are maternal descendants of captive-bred individuals originating from the northern part of South Korea. It is recommended that conservation and management units of Korean chipmunks should be examined in further detail.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.94 no.2 s.159
• /
• pp.112-116
• /
• 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.