• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2014

Structural heterogeneity results in different spatial distributions of microcrustaceans. Thus, in ecosystems with excessive macrophyte development, it may be difficult to determine the microcrustacean species composition. Given the importance of microcrustaceans in the food web, the elucidation of microcrustacean diversity is essential. In vegetated habitats, bluegill sunfish can prey on microcrustaceans, and therefore have a potential role as microcrustacean monitoring agents. In the present study, we compared microcrustacean species compositions in the field with those in the guts of bluegill, in Jangcheok Lake, South Korea. Our results showed that the number of microcrustacean species was higher in bluegill guts than in the field. Further, microcrustacean species, such as Daphnia galeata, Graptoleveris testudinaria, Leydigia leydigii, Rhynchotalona sp., and Simocephalus exponisus, were found only in bluegill guts. Our findings verify the validity of the fish gut analysis to monitor microcrustacean species compositions and to clarify spatial distributions of microcrustacean species in structurally heterogeneous ecosystems with excessive macrophyte development.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.340-346
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• 2012

The relationships between environmental factors and the dynamics of the microcrustacean community, including planktonic or epiphytic cladocerans and copepods, were studied at Upo Wetlands from 2001 to 2010. Among 10 identified cladoceran taxon, epiphytic cladocerans (Alona, Camptocercus, Simocephalus, Diaphanosoma, Sida) and planktonic cladocerans (Bosmina, Ceriodaphnia, Daphnia, Moina, Scapholeberis) showed distinctive patterns in appearance throughout the year. Overall, epiphytic cladocerans were more abundant during the aquatic plant development season (May to Nov.), planktonic cladocerans were similarly distributed throughout the seasons, but showed a lower density than epiphytic cladocerans. The seasonal changes in copepods abundance showed a similar seasonal pattern when compared to epiphytic cladocerans. Planktonic cladocerans showed no significant relationship to rainfall and physico-chemical factors, while epiphytic cladocerans exhibited a distinct relationship with rainfall and water temperature (n=120, p<0.01), and a negative relationship with pH and conductivity (n=120, p<0.05). Among the epiphytic cladocerans, the Alona and Diaphanosoma showed a distinctive correlation with environmental factors, and their density was affected by rainfall and water temperature (n=120, p<0.01). Copepods had a positive relationship with rainfall (n=120, p<0.01) and water temperature (n=120, p<0.05). In conclusion, changes in rainfall and water temperature can affect the seasonal changes of microcrustacean community and abundance in Upo Wetlands.

• Entomological Research
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.533-539
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• 2018

The RNA interference (RNAi) has been considered as an important genetic tool and applied to develop a new living modified (LM) crop trait which is an improvement of nutrient quality or pest management. The RNAi of DvSnf7 has been used for resistance to LM maize and the Western Corn Rootworm which is a major agricultural pest for the US Corn Belt. Most of the environmental risk assessments (ERA) of double strand RNA (dsRNA) have been performed using in vitro transcript products, and not in vivo expressed product. A large amount of dsRNA was required for the acute toxicity assay of water fleas. Therefore development of massive dsRNA purification techniques is critical. Daphnia, a freshwater microcrustacean, is a model organism for studying cellular and molecular mechanism involved in life history traits and ecotoxicology. In this study, we established the massive dsRNA purification method using Escherichia coli and implemented acute toxicity assays to Daphnia magna. As a result, the present RNase A and DNase I, dsRNA was efficiently purified without any special techniques or equipment. Even though purified dsRNA existed during the acute toxicity test, lethality or abnormal behavior were not observed in D. magna. These results indicated that GFP and DvSnf7 dsRNA were not significantly affected to D. magna due to their lack of sequence matching in its genome. The purification method of dsRNA and the acute toxicity assay of water fleas using purified dsRNA would be suitable for the toxicological studies of LMOs to aquatic non-target organisms.