• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.412-423
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the distribution and habitat of Tscherskia triton from 2014 to 2016 in Jeju Island. Nine individuals of T. triton were observed and captured from four habitat sites. Most of the habitats were of the natural and rural type, and urban type coexisted in some of the areas. The natural type of habitat comprised of forests, shrubs, and grasslands. The habitat of T. triton ranged vertically from 102 m in lowland to 742 m in a mountainous area and was not observed in altitude over 1,000 m. Small brooks, dry streams or wetlands were found to be located nearby the habitat of T. triton. The T. triton was distributed mainly in areas with natural vegetation and artificial plantation in company with the upper story vegetation on the ground of intact or incomplete layer structure, or the area with the relatively large distribution of shrubs and long grassland. The presence of roads and forest paths in these habitats suggested that the T. triton can thrive in areas with human disturbance. The designation of Halla Mountain National Park in Jeju Island as a conservation area prevents damage or loss of the habitat due to any artificial development. However, frequent human disturbances occurring in grassland is tolerated by small mammals. Therefore, in order to help T. triton maintain a stable population density, it is essential that various types of the habitat should be conserved in the middle mountain areas and the grasslands in lowlands should be well protected.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.160-168
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• 2017

Tscherskia triton is widely distributed in Northern China, Korea, and the adjacent areas of Russia. Except its distribution, reproduction, and growth development related to life history, reproductive cycle and reproductive organs of T. triton are rarely studied in Korea. The purpose of this study was characterized the estrous cycle of T. triton captured in Jeju Island in order to provide information to a better information of captive breeding of the species when long-day (16L : 8D) and short-day (8L : 16D) photoperiod. Then, histological study of the ovaries and uterus with five females in each photoperiod was performed. The duration of the estrus cycle was 4~5 days and it showed regular cycle pattern. Results of the vaginal cytology examination showed four characteristic phase of the estrous cycle in long-day photoperiod (16L : 8D): proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus. However, in short-day photoperiod, the diestrus phage of the estrus cycle was maintained from the $6^{th}$ to $12^{th}$ day. In the long-day photoperiod, females had many Graafian follicles and corpus luteums in large ovaries, and developed uterine glands in the thick endometrium. But they had some primary, secondary and tertiary follicles, and undeveloped uterine glands in the thin endometrium during short-day photoperiod. These results were identified difference of the estrus cycle and histological characteristics of reproductive tracts according to the photoperiod. These results are very important clues to the reproductive biology of T. triton, and it will be widely used as date for maintaining biodiversity.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.389-397
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of species by comparing the external shape traits and skull size of Tscherskia triton in Jeju Island from May 2014 to November 2016. Body weight, head-body length, ear length, and hind-foot length were not statistically significant (p>0.05), but tail length was statistically significant in females compared to males (p=0.003). To examine the secondary sexual dimorphism characteristics of the collected T. triton, B_HR, T_HR, E_HR, and H_HR were calculated based on the head-body length, and only T_HR was statistically significant (p=0.003). Because of comparing male and female averages, among the 21 traits, the greatest length of skull (GLS; p=0.020) and occipitonasal length (ONL; p=0.014) were statistically significant and length of incisive foramen (LIF) was statistically significant, when the significance level was 90%. However, the other 18 traits did not show statistically significant differences between males and females (p>0.05). Other than GLS, ONL, interorbital breadth (IB), and breadth of occipital foramen (BOF), there was female-biased SSD. The results of this study are the analysis of external morphology and skull characteristics of T. triton in Jeju Island and will be used as basic data to understand the morphological characteristics of T. triton. In addition, the data can be used as a basic information to compare characteristics of T. triton, which is known as a single species, inhabited in China and Russia. The data will play an important role in biogeography and ecology research of T. triton, based on geographical conditions, climate effects, and habitat environment.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.152-165
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• 2017

The greater long-tail hamster, Tscherskia triton, is widely distributed in Northern China, Korea and adjacent areas of Russia. Except for its distribution, biological characteristics related to life history, behavior, and ecological influences for this species are rarely studied in Korea. This study was conducted to obtain biological information on breeding, growth and development that are basic to species-specific studies. The study adopted laboratory management of a breeding programme for T. triton collected in Jeju Island from March, 2015 to December, 2016. According to the study results, the conception rate was 31.67% and the mice in the large cages had a higher rate of conception than those in the small cages (56.7 vs. 6.7%). The gestation period was $22{\pm}1.6days$ (ranges from 21 to27 days), and litter size ranged from 2 to 7, with a mean of $4.26{\pm}1.37$ in the species. The minimum age for weaning was between $19.2{\pm}1.4days$ (range of 18-21 days). There were no significant differences by sex between mean body weight and external body measurements at birth. However, a significant sexual difference was found from the period of weaning (21 days old) in head and body length, as well as tail length (HBL-weaning, $106.50{\pm}6.02$ vs. $113.34{\pm}4.72mm$, p<0.05; HBL-4 months, $163.93{\pm}5.42$ vs. $182.83{\pm}4.32mm$, p<0.05; TL-4 months, $107.23{\pm}3.25$ vs. $93.95{\pm}2.15mm$, p<0.05). Gompertz and Logistic growth curves were fitted to data for body weight and lengths of head and body, tail, ear, and hind foot. In two types of growth curves, males exhibited greater asymptotic values ($164.840{\pm}7.453$ vs. $182.830{\pm}4.319mm$, p<0.0001; $163.936{\pm}5.415$ vs. $182.840{\pm}4.333mm$, p<0.0001), faster maximum growth rates ($1.351{\pm}0.065$ vs. $1.435{\pm}0.085$, p<0.05; $2.870{\pm}0.253$ vs. $3.211{\pm}0.635$, p<0.05), and a later age of maximum growth than females in head and body length ($5.121{\pm}0.318$ vs. $5.520{\pm}0.333$, p<0.05; $6.884{\pm}0.336$ vs. $7.503{\pm}0.453$, p<0.05). However, females exhibited greater asymptotic values ($105.695{\pm}5.938$ vs. $94.150{\pm}2.507mm$, p<0.001; $111.609{\pm}14.881$ vs. $93.960{\pm}2.150mm$, p<0.05) and longer length of inflection ($60.306{\pm}1.992$ vs. $67.859{\pm}1.330mm$, p<0.0001; $55.714{\pm}7.458$ vs. $46.975{\pm}1.074mm$, p<0.05) than males in tail length. These growth rate constants, viz. the morphological characters and weights of the males and females, were similar to each other in two types of growth curves. These results will be used as necessary data to study species specificity of T. triton with biological foundations.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.101-112
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• 1976

1. It has been found in the karyotype of Apodemus agrarius coreae that No. 1 chromosome pair is subtelocentric and this is the new chromosome type in comparison with acro-telocentric No. 1 pair of the other subpecies. 2. It was reported in the Karyotype of Microtus fortis from USSR that the autosome consisted of 2 submetacentric, 10 metacentric and 38 acrocentric chromosomes, and that X is acrocentric and Y is small acrocentric one. In the present study, however, the autosome of M. fortis pelliceus in Korea is composed of three groups; 4 subtelocentric, 10 meta-submetacenric, and 36 acrocentric one. And X is the largest metacentric chromosome of the complement. Y is smaller acrocentric one. Thus, it has been found that the karyotype of M. fortis in Korea differs from that of the same species in USSR. In the karyotype of this red vole, two pairs of heteromorohic chromosome with respect to the size of their secondary constrictions have been shown in the acrocentric group. 3. The diploid number of Cricetulus triton nestor was found to be 28, and its chromosome size ranges from 7.5 $\\mu$ to 1.5 $\\mu$. Autosomes contains 11 large acrocentric pairs and two pairs of very small metacentric ones. This feature is simillar to that of Tscherskia triton found USSR.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.135-139
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• 2015

A total of 1,708 small mammals (1,617 rodents and 91 soricomorphs), including Apodemus agrarius (n = 1,400), Microtus fortis (167), Crocidura lasiura (91), Mus musculus (32), Myodes (= Eothenomys) regulus (9), Micromys minutus (6), and Tscherskia (= Cricetulus) triton (3), were live-trapped at US/Republic of Korea (ROK) military training sites near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) of Paju, Pocheon, and Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province from December 2004 to December 2009. Small mammals were examined for their intestinal nematodes by necropsy. A total of 1,617 rodents (100%) and 91 (100%) soricomorphs were infected with at least 1 nematode species, including Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Syphacia obvelata, Heterakis spumosa, Protospirura muris, Capillaria spp., Trichuris muris, Rictularia affinis, and an unidentified species. N. brasiliensis was the most common species infecting small mammals (1,060; 62.1%) followed by H. polygyrus (617; 36.1%), S. obvelata (370; 21.7%), H. spumosa (314; 18.4%), P. muris (123; 7.2%), and Capillaria spp. (59; 3.5%). Low infection rates (0.1-0.8%) were observed for T. muris, R. affinis, and an unidentified species. The number of recovered worms was highest for N. brasiliensis (21,623 worms; mean 20.4 worms/infected specimen) followed by S. obvelata (9,235; 25.0 worms), H. polygyrus (4,122; 6.7 worms), and H. spumosa (1,160; 3.7 worms). A. agrarius demonstrated the highest prevalence for N. brasiliensis (70.9%), followed by M. minutus (50.0%), T. triton (33.3%), M. fortis (28.1%), M. musculus (15.6%), C. lasiura (13.2%), and M. regulus (0%). This is the first report of nematode infections in small mammals captured near the DMZ in ROK.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2010

Comprehensive quarterly serosurveillance on scrub typhus in small mammals collected from military training sites located near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), northern Gyeonggi-do (Province), ROK was conducted to determine the potential rodent-borne and associated ectoparasite disease risks to military personnel. A total of 1,196 rodents and insectivores representing 8 species, Apodemus agrarius (87.3%, n = 1,044), Mus musculus (5.4%, n = 65), Crocidura lasiura (3.3%, n = 40), Microtus fortis (2.6%, n = 31), Micromys minutus (0.3%, n = 4), Tscherskia triton (0.3%, n = 4), Rattus norvegicus (0.3%, n = 4), and Myodes regulus (0.3%, n = 4) were assayed for the presence of antibodies to Orientia tsutsugamushi. O. tsutsugamushi antibodies were detected in 6 of 8 species and seroprevalence determined; A. agrarius (45.6%), M. musculus (23.1%), M. fortis (48.4%), M. minutus (50.0%), T. triton (50.0%), and R. norvegicus (25.0%). A total of 31,184 chigger mites collected from 508 rodents and insectivores were slide-mounted and 10 species belonging to 4 genera were identified. Leptotrombidium pallidum (53.4%) was the most frequently collected, followed by L. pal pale (15.7%), Neotrombicula tam/yai (14.3%), L. orientate (10.7%), L. zetum (3.1%), Walchia fragilis (2.1%), and L. gemiticutum (0.8%), while the remaining 3 species, L subintennedium, N. gardellai, and Euschoengastia koreaensis were rarely observed (prevalence < 10%). In contrast to previous surveys, higher chigger indices of the primary scrub typhus vectors, L. pallidum (165.4), L. orientale (45.0), and L. palpate (21.4), were observed during the spring season.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.203-214
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• 2003

Scrub typhus and murine typhus are common endemic febrile illness in the fall in Korea. Scrub typhus is caused by Orientia tsutsugomushi, murine typhus is caused by Rickettsia typhi. Trombiculid mites are known as both the vector and the reservoir host of O tsutsugamushi, the mites which transmit O tsutsugomushi have been reported to be Leptotrombidium pallidum and L scutellare. The author carried out an epidemiological study of scrub typhus and murine typhus in Kyodong-Myeon, Kanghwa-Gun, Incheon in relation to the residents and the host rodents, such as their distribution, seroepidemiology, and population density of chigger mites. 1. Out of 900 residents, 33(3.7%) showed positive reaction to O tsutsugamushi, 24(2.7%) to R typhi. 2. In the seropositives to O tsutsugamushi or R typhi, between the sixties and the seventies of the age were dominant. 3. In the seropositives to O tsutsugamushi serotypically Gilliam was dominant. 4. Among the total 42 field rodents trapped by the sherman traps, 18 rodents were Apodemus agrarius(42.9%), 13 rodents were Crocidura lasiura(31.0%), 5 rodents were Musmusculus(11.9%), 2 rodents(4.8%) were Crocidura suaveolens, Rattus norvegicus, Tscherskia triton, respectively. 5. Out of 42 field rodents, 25 were parasitized by 4,419 chigger mites, showing 59.5% of the infestation rate and 98.8 of the chigger index. L pallidum parasitized in A agrarius, C lasiura, M musculus, R norvegicus and T triton, and L scutellare parasitized only C lasiura. 6. Antibodies in the sera of field rodents against O tsutsugamushi and R typhi were investigated by indirect immunofluorescent antibody technique. Positive rate of antibody against O tsutsugamushi were 11.9(5 of 42) and all of the positive is A agrarius. Antibody against R typhi was not detected. These results might provide the basic information for the management of scrub typhus and murine typhus in Kyodong-myeon, where the epidemiological studies on scrub typhus and murine typhus was not carried out enough.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 1977

The authors examined fresh-water gammarid materials which were collected from streams in 20 localities of South Korea during the period from 1965 to 1977. As the results of the observation, the authors have concluded as follows: 1. These fresh-water gammarids belong to Gammarus pulex-group and are distributed widely in mountain-streams of mainland and surrounding islands of South Korea. 2. The present specimens are different from the subspecies, G. pulex koreanus Ueno, 1940 which was described originally from North Korea. In the latter, the pulmose setae of third uropod are limited only to the outer margin of both rami. The peduncle and flagellum of second antenna are fringed with a few short setae and the flagellum is provided with calceoli. In the former, both margins of inner ramus and outer margin of outer ramus of third uropod are fringed with long pulmose setae. The peduncle and flagellum of second antenna have abundant relatively long setase and the flagellum is not provided with calceoli. 3. The present specimens are different from the subspecies, G. pulex sobaegensis Ueno, 1966 which was described originally from South Korea. The latter dwells in cave, while the former dwells in mountain-stream. In the former, the arrangements of pulmose setae of third uropod and the setation of second antenna are similar to those of the latter. But they are quite different from each other in several characters such as shape of upper lip, shape of fifth article of second gnathopod and numbers of incisions on front distal margins of coxal plates 1-3. The former has spines on surface of coxal plates 1-3, but the latter has not. In females, the former has four pairs of marsupial plates, while the latter has three pairs. 4. The present materials show local variations. Therefore, they could be divided into 3 local groups. The first group (specimens from Mt. Odae and Mt. Sogeumgang) has pulmose setae on the both margins of both rami of third uropod and second article of outer ramus is relatively long. In general, this group has setae sparsely on the both rami and especially a few setae on the outer margin of outer ramus. The second group, which are widely distributed in South Korea, has pulmose setae on the both margins of inner ramus and on the outer margin of outer ramus of third uropod. In the third group (specimens from Mt. Soyo), the pulmose setation of third uropod is similar to that of the first group, but the second article of outer ramus is very small.