• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.269-277
• /
• 2008

Siberian flying squirrel, an endangered species in South Korea, is distributed through major mountain regions of South Korea. The number of Siberian flying squirrel(Pteromys volans) in South Korea has decreased and their habitats are fragmented and isolated because of anthropogenic activities. So far no molecular genetic data has, however, been available for their conservation and management. To obtain better information concerning genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the Siberian flying squirrel in South Korea, we examined 14 individuals from South Korea, 7 individuals from Russia, and 5 individuals from northeastern China along with previously published 29 haplotypes for 1,140 bp of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene. The 14 new individuals from South Korea had 7 haplotypes which were not observed in the regions of Russia and Hokkaido. The level of genetic diversity(0.616%) in the South Korean population was lower than that in eastern Russia(0.950%). The geographical distribution of mtDNA haplotypes and reduced median network confirmed that there are three major lineages of Siberian flying squirrel, occupying; Far Eastern, northern Eurasia, and the island of Hokkaido. The South Korean population only slightly distinct from the Eurasia, and eastern Russian population, and is part of the lineage Far Eastern. Based on these, we suggest that the South Korean population could be considered to belong to one partial ESU(Far Eastern) of three partial ESUs but a different management unit. However, the conservation priorities should be reconfirmed by nuclear genetic marker and ecological data.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2008

The Gold-spotted pond frog, Rana plancyi chosenica, designated as a vulnerable species by IUCN Red list. This species is a typical example facing local population threats and extinction due to human activities in South Korea. A strategic conservation plan for this endangered species is urgently needed. In order to provide information for future conservation planning, accurate information on the genetic diversity and taxonomic status is needed for the establishment of conservation units for this species. In this study, we used a molecular genetic approach using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and control region sequences to find the genetic diversity of gold-spotted pond frogs within South Korea. We sequenced the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene and control region of 77 individuals from 11 populations in South Korea, and one from Chongqing, China. A total of 15 cytochrome b gene haplotypes and 34 control region haplotypes were identified from Korean gold-spotted pond frogs. Mean sequence diversity among Korean gold-spotted pond frogs was 0.31% (0.0-0.8%) and 0.51% (0.0-1.0%), respectively. Most Korean populations had at least one unique haplotype for each locus. The Taean, Ansan and Cheongwon populations had no haplotypes shared with other populations. There was a sequence divergence between Korean and Chinese gold-spotted pond frogs (1.3% for cyt b; 2.9% for control region). Analysis of genetic distances and phylogenetic trees based on both cytochrome b and control region sequences indicate that the Korean gold-spotted pond frog are genetically differentiated from those in China.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.230-236
• /
• 2012

The Korean hare, Lepus coreanus, is an important mammal in ecosystem food chains, and is distributed across the entire Korean peninsula and northeastern China. Polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed using the biotinenrichment technique for use in population genetics studies. Five trinucleotide and four dinucleotide microsatellite loci were selected and tested on 22 Korean hare specimens collected from Gangwon Province and Gyeongsangbuk Province in South Korea. The number of alleles across the two sampling regions ranged from three to nine with a mean of 6.1. Mean observed and expected heterozygosities and polymorphic information content were 0.540, 0.627 and 0.579, respectively. Only one locus, Lc06, showed departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium after applying the Bonferroni correction. Four microsatellites, Lc01, Lc03, Lc12, and Lc19, satisfied the criteria to serve as a core set of markers recommended for population genetics studies. These new microsatellite markers will be widely applicable to future genetic studies for management and conservation of the Korean hare and related species, including assessment of the genetic diversity and population structure of L. coreanus.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.111-119
• /
• 2018

Background: Juniperus chinensis L. populations are distributed locally on several areas including coastal cliffs which are difficult to access in the central eastern Korea. Wild populations inhabit relatively barren environments such as rocky areas and cliffs, which are very sensitive to even minor environmental disturbances including artificial interventions and natural disturbances, and thus demonstrate great fluctuations in the population size and density. This study aims to analyze the genetic diversity, differentiation, and genetic structure of each population in order to provide useful data required to establish a substantial conservation strategy of J. chinensis. Results: The genetic diversity of J. chinensis at the population level (P = 78.7%, h = 0.282, S.I. = 0.420) was somewhat higher compared with those measured in the same genus, Juniperus. The genetic differentiation degree among nine populations established naturally in central eastern Korea was 11.50% and that among sub-populations within the same area was 5.52%. On the other hand, genetic variation of individuals within the populations was 82.93%. But frequency of the main allele was different among loci. In particular, fixation of allele frequency and occurrence of rare allele in the highly isolated population suggest a likelihood that genetic drift would occur in populations of this plant. As the result of analysis on the genetic structure of nine populations, nearby populations and isolated populations tended to form separate clusters from each other as the hypothetical number of clusters (K) increase. Conclusions: This result implies that if the population size of J. chinensis is reduced due to environmental change and artificial and/or natural disturbances in the future, it could affect negatively on the genetic diversity of the plant species. In order to maintain and conserve genetic diversity of J. chinensis, ecological network, which can help genetic exchange among the local populations, should be prepared, and conservation strategies in situ as well as ex situ are also required with continuous monitoring.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.239-243
• /
• 2013

Tigers are one of the most endangered species over the world and protected internationally or locally. However, they are still traded illegally for the Traditional East Asia Medicine or souvenirs / mementos as well as fake products. In the present study, to identify the species of the specimen known as the tiger's genitalia that was sold for mementos in China, two approaches of genetic tools and morphological comparisons were applied. On the basis of the entire sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1,140 bp), the result of nucleotide comparisons showed that the specimen examined here is matched with banteng, Bos javanicus (Identities = 1,138/1,140; 99%). In addition, the examination of external morphological characters revealed that the genitalia of the specimen is much more similar to the one of cows, not to tigers. The outcomes highlighted that there are still some fake products of tigers traded in market and molecular genetic tools could help identifying species of wildlife products.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2008

Level and distribution of genetic diversity in seven populations of Albizia lucida Benth. in eastern region of the Indian sub-continent were estimated using ISSR markers. Relatively higher level of genetic diversity within populations was observed in seven populations of A. lucida (mean of 0.38). From the result of AMOVA, majority of genetic diversity was allocated within populations (96.2%) resulting in a moderate degree of population differentiation. The observed distribution pattern of I-SSR variant among the populations was coincided with the typical pattern of long-lived woody tree species. Genetic relationships among the populations, reconstructed by UPGMA method, revealed two genetic groups. The population of Anugul and Bargarh turned out to be the most closely related despite a distance location between them. These formations will be of great value in the development of conservation plans for species exhibiting high levels of genetic differentiation due to fragmentation, such as indication of conservation unit size, which populations should be chosen as priority in conservation plans and which samples should be introduced in areas with a low number of individuals of A. lucida.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.15-19
• /
• 2010

The Russian ratsnake, Elaphe schrenckii, is found in Russia, China, and Korea, and is considered to be an endangered species by the Ministry of Environment in South Korea. Due to habitat loss and use in oriental medicine, their population has been severely decimated. In South Korea, two subspecies of E. schrenckii has been defined according to body color: E. s. schrenckii (blackish) and E. s. anomala (yellow-brownish). Molecular genetic studies on Elaphe schrenckii are very scarce and the taxonomy of Elaphe schrenckii subspecies is uncertain. From the present study, we attempted to identify the genetic differences of these two subspecies using species-specific microsatellites developed from the genomic library of E. schrenckii. Nine polymorphic loci were tested on 19 individuals from E. s. schrenckii (n=10) and E. s. anomala (n=9) in South Korea. The mean number of alleles was 3.78 in E. s. schrenckii and 4.11 in E. s. anomala. The average expected heterozygosity was 0.542 and 0.511 in E. s. schrenckii and E. s. anomala, respectively. We found a lack of genetic structure between two subspecies ($F_{ST}=0.016$) and no genetic discrimination between two subspecies was found. Based on the present findings by microsatellites, two subspecies can be considered as one species, E. schrenckii. However, further investigations on taxonomical status using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences need to be performed and morphological & ecological data should be revised. The genetic markers should benefit future studies of the endangered species of other Elaphe species for the study of genetic diversity and potential conservation management.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.323-327
• /
• 2006

DNA barcoding, an inventory of DNA sequences from a standardized genomic region, provides a bio-barcode for identifying and discovering species. Several recent studies suggest that the sequence diversity in a 648 bp region of the mitochondrial gene for cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) might serve as a DNA barcode for identifying animal species such as North American birds, insects and fishes. The present study tested the effectiveness of a COI barcode in discriminating Korean bird species. We determined the 5' terminus of the COI barcode for 92 species of Korean birds and found that species identification was unambiguous; the genetic differences between closely related species were, on average, 25 times higher than the differences within species. We identified only one misidentified species out of 239 specimens in a genetic resource bank, so confirming the accuracy of species identification in the banking system. We also identified two potential composite species, calling for further investigation using more samples. The finding of large COI sequence differences between species confirms the effectiveness of COI barcodes for identifying Korean bird species. To bring greater reliability to the identification of species, increased intra- and interspecies sampling, as well as supplementation of the mitochondrial barcodes with nuclear ones, is needed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.9
• /
• pp.1368-1372
• /
• 2014

Several studies arduously reported that gayal (Bos frontalis) is an independent bovine species. The population size is shrinking across its distribution. In Bangladesh, it is the only wild relative of domestic cattle and also a less cared animal. Their body size is much bigger than Bangladeshi native cattle and has prominent beef type characters along with the ability to adjust in any adverse environmental conditions. Human interactions and manipulation of biodiversity is affecting the habitats of gayals in recent decades. Besides, the only artificial reproduction center for gayals, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), has few animals and could not carry out its long term conservation scheme due to a lack of an objective based scientific mission as well as financial support. This indicates that the current population is much more susceptible to stochastic events which might be natural catastrophes, environmental changes or mutations. Further reduction of the population size will sharply reduce genetic diversity. In our recent investigation with 80K indicine single nucleotide polymorphism chip, the $F_{IS}$ (within-population inbreeding) value was reported as $0.061{\pm}0.229$ and the observed ($0.153{\pm}0.139$) and expected ($0.148{\pm}0.143$) heterozygosities indicated a highly inbred and less diverse gayal population in Bangladesh. Prompt action is needed to tape the genetic information of this semi-domesticated bovine species with considerable sample size and try to investigate its potentials together with native zebu cattle for understanding the large phenotypic variations, improvement and conservation of this valuable creature.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.65-73
• /
• 2010

Biodiversity, referring to the variety and abundance of species, their genetic composition, and the communities, ecosystem, and landscapes, is essential to maintain healthy and productive forests, and to provide useful hedge against the future uncertainties in conditions of the environment and natural resources. To realize the long-term sustainability for forest production of goods and services is dependent upon maintaining and enhancing the biodiversity in the forest ecosystem. Because we can not always recognized which portion of biodiversity is essential to maintain the stability and sustainability of the natural system, conserving biodiversity is even unconditionally important. Even though the activities of forest resource management may have a variety of negative impacts on biodiversity by modification of the natural ecosystem into economically effective artificial ecosystem, forest professionals have been developing intelligent scheme to coexist management and conservation. However, conservation of biodiversity must be a complex problem encircled by ecological, economical, and social considerations. There seems to be no such a simple and easy solution. Strategies for ecologically deliberated forest resource management, which could play an important role to conserve biodiversity, were discussed.