• Journal of Species Research
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.355-361
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• 2023

In this paper, we present unrecorded protozoans of Korea that were discovered, through the 'Discovery of Korean Indigenous Species' project hosted by the 'National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR)'. A taxonomic account is provided for each identified species, offering comprehensive information such as species name, Korean name, collection site, synonyms, specimen vouchers, diagnoses, and figures. This study introduces 13 previously unrecorded Korean protozoan species that are classified into three phyla: Amoebozoa, Cercozoa, and Ciliophora. Notably, the cercozoan family Chlamydophryidae was recorded in Korea for the first time, together with the discovery of three previously unreported genera: Diaphoropodon within Cercozoa, and Metauroleptus and Hemicycliostyla within Ciliophora.

• Journal of Species Research
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.335-342
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• 2022

Through the 'Discovery of Korean Indigenous Species' project hosted by the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), new or unrecorded species of various protozoans inhabiting the Korean Peninsula have been discovered. Samples were collected from marine, freshwater, and soil habitats in South Korea and all species were identified and reviewed by experts working on the respective taxonomic group. This study includes 17 unrecorded Korean protozoan species discovered through this project, which belong to four phyla: Amoebozoa Lühe, 1913, Cercozoa Cavalier-Smith, 1998, Euglenozoa Cavalier-Smith, 1981, and Ciliophora Doflein, 1901. Among them, three families (Rhogostomidae Dumack et al., 2017, Parauronematidae Small and Lynn, 1985, and Cyclidiidae Ehrenberg, 1838) and three genera (Rhogostoma Belar, 1921, Parauronema Thompson, 1967, and Cyclidium Müller, 1773) were reported for the first time in Korea. Unlike the previous paper of 2017, this study provides a comprehensive taxonomic account of each species (e.g., species name, collection site, synonyms, specimen vouchers, diagnoses, and figures). Additionally, all the species were assigned Korean names.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.118-133
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• 2023

Background: Free-living amoebae (FLA) are widely distributed in freshwater, seawater, soil, and extreme environments, and play a critical role as feeders on diverse preys in the ecosystem. Also, some FLA can become opportunistic pathogens in animals including humans. The taxa Amoebozoa and Heterolobosea are important amoeboid groups associated with human pathogens. However, the identification and habitat of amoebae belonging to Amoebozoa and Heterolobosea remain poorly reported in the Republic of Korea. This study highlights the first record for identification and source of four amoebae including putative pathogens in the Republic of Korea. Results: In the present study, four previously reported FLA were isolated from freshwaters in Sangju Gonggeomji Reservoir (strain GO001), one of the largest reservoirs during the Joseon Dynasty period, and along the Nakdong River, the largest river in the Republic of Korea (strains NR5-2, NR12-1, and NR14-1) for the first time. Microscopic observations and 18S rDNA phylogenetic trees revealed the four isolated strains to be Acanthamoeba polyphaga (strains NR5-2 and NR12-1), Tetramitus waccamawensis (strain GO001), and Naegleria australiensis (strain NR14-1). Strains NR5-2 and NR12-1 might be the same species and belonged to the morphological Group 2 and the T4 genotype of Acanthamoeba. Strain GO001 formed a clade with T. waccamawensis in 18S rDNA phylogeny, and showed morphological characteristics similar to previously recorded strains, although the species' flagellate form was not observed. Strain NR14-1 had the typical morphology of Naegleria and formed a strongly supported clade with previously recorded strains of N. australiensis in phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA sequences. Conclusions: On the bases of morphological and molecular analyses, four strains of FLA were newly observed and classified in the Republic of Korea. Three strains belonging to the two species (A. polyphaga and N. australiensis) isolated from the Nakdong River have the potential to act as opportunistic pathogens that can cause fatal diseases (i.e. granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, Acanthamoeba Keratitis, and meningoencephalitis) in animals including humans. The Nakdong River in the Republic of Korea may provide a habitat for potentially pathogenic amoebae, but additional research is required to confirm the true pathogenicity of these FLA now known in the Republic of Korea.

• Journal of Species Research
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.381-384
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• 2016

Two marine amoebae Vannella bursella (Page, 1974) Smirnov et al., 2007 and Pseudoparamoeba sp. were encountered from marine coastal waters of Masan Bay and Garorim Bay (Korea), respectively. These species are described with uninterpreted records based on light-microscopy of living cells and reported taxonomically for the first time from Korea. Diagnostics of these species are as follows. Vannella bursella: size in vivo, $17-29{\mu}m$ long with flattened ovoid, semicircular locomotive forms. Pseudoparamoeba sp.: size in vivo, $10-15{\mu}m$ long with elongated locomotive forms, producing a few short conical pseudopodia from anterior hyaline zone.

• Journal of Species Research
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.462-466
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• 2020

Testate amoebae are easily recognized as their characteristic shells from other protistan groups. They in which more than 1,900 species have been recorded are mixture of heterogeneous groups mainly composed of Amoebozoa and Cercozoa. In Korea, 74 species of testate amoebae have been recorded since late 1980s. Here I report a list of 12 unrecorded species of testate amoebae from Korea which were discovered during 2016-2018: Arcella crenulata Deflandre, 1928; Centropyxis cassis(Wallich, 1864); C. delicatula Penard, 1902; C. hirsuta Deflander, 1929; C. orbicularis Deflandre, 1929; C. sylvatica (Deflandre, 1929); Cyclopyxis eurystoma Deflandre, 1929; C. intermedia Kufferath, 1932; C. kahli(Deflandre, 1929); Difflugia diafana Vucetich, 1987; D. manicata Penard, 1902; Awerintzewia cyclostoma Schoutenden, 1906. As a result the fauna of testate amoebae in Korea is composed of 86 species. There are still much more species remained to be discovered in Korea. The faunal studies on testate amoebae will provide us valuable information about freshwater and soil environments.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Vermamoeba vermiformis is a very important free-living amoeba for human health in association with Legionnaires' disease and keratitis. This interesting amoeba was firstly isolated from a freshwater of Dokdo (island), which was historically used for drinking water. Trophozoites and cyst forms of V. vermiformis strain MG1 are very similar to previous reported species. Trophozoites of V. vermiformis strain MG1 showed cylindrical shape with prominent anterior hyaline region. The average ratio of length and width was about 6.5. Typically, cysts of the strain MG1 showed a spherical or slightly ovoidal shape with smooth wall, and lacked cyst pores. Some cysts had crenulate-walled ectocyst, which was separated from endocyst wall. Further, 18S rRNA gene sequence of V. vermiformis strain MG1 showed very high similarity to other V. vermiformis species (99.4%-99.9% identity). Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA gene sequences clearly confirmed that the isolate was one strain of V. vermiformis with maximum bootstrap value (maximum likelihood: 100%) and Bayesian posterior probability of 1. Thus, the freshwater of Dokdo in Korea could harbor potentially pathogenic amoeba that may cause diseases in humans.

• 생태와환경
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.251-264
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• 2013

2010년 6월부터 2011년 10월까지 고등균류를 조사한 결과, 총 2계 3문 6강 15목 34과 59속 107종이 동정되었으며, 담자균문은 28과 51속 99종, 자낭균문은 5과 7속 7종 및 아메바문은 1과 1속 1종인 것으로 조사되었다. 외생균근성 버섯을 조사한 결과 총 10과 17속 49종 총 801개체가 조사되었으며 이 중 애기꾀꼬리버섯이 198개체로 가장 많이 발생되었고 꾀꼬리버섯 66개체, 색시졸각버섯 53개체 순이었다. 종 분포가 높은 균류는 광대버섯과가 14종으로 가장 많이 나타났으며, 그물버섯과 12종, 무당버섯과 11종 순으로 조사되었다. 조사시기별 분포에서는 7월과 8월에 가장 다양한 외생균근성 버섯이 발생되었는데 이는 높은 온도 및 강수량이 많은 시기와 밀접한 관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 조사구별 분포에서는 조사구 I인 소나무 군락 (8과 13속 30종)과 II인 참나무 군락 (8과 12속 30종)에서 가장 높았고, 조사구 IV (1과 1속 1종)와 V의 곰솔 식재지 에서는 발생하지 않았다. 외생균근성 버섯 발생에 영향을 주는 기후환경 요인으로는 대기온도 (평균온도, 최저온도, 최고온도)에서, 토양환경 요인으로는 토양 산도와 유기물함량에서 밀접한 관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다.