• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.193-204
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• 2014

The distribution of animals is affected by habitat selection, and habitat type and prey resource are important factors affecting their survival. This study was conducted to investigate the distribution pattern of the Red-tongue viper snake (Gloydius ussuriensis) with respect to altitude, habitat type and distribution of potential prey resource in Cheon-ma mountain, Korea. The study area of Cheon-ma mountain was separated into three altitude categories (low, middle, and high altitude) and the habitat types were categorized according to presence or absence of aquatic ecosystem and the preferred habitat in relation to altitude was determined. The distribution pattern of Red-tongue viper snakes was significantly different according to altitude and habitat type: they were mainly distributed at low altitude and in the water valleys. The distribution pattern of the Red-tongue viper snake correlated with that of amphibians. The analyses of microhabitat use of the Red-tongue viper snake and amphibians showed that their microhabitat types were not different significantly in water valleys. In conclusion, Red-tongue viper snakes were mainly distributed in the water valleys at low altitude and this is because amphibians are important as potential prey of the Red-tongue viper snake in Cheon-ma mountain.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2014

In order to study the home range of the red-tongue viper snake (Gloydis ussuriensis) and the short-tailed viper snake (Gloydius saxatilis) belonging to the viperidae of squamat in Korea, we implanted radio-transmitters which were weighed less than 5% of individual mass in them and traced their location by radio-tracking. Surgeries for transmitter insertion were performed on 5 red-tongue viper snakes and 6 short-tailed viper snakes (total 11 individuals) and the average ratio of transmitter mass to body mass were 4.2% and 2.2%, respectively. After radio-transmitter implantation, all short-tailed viper snakes survived but 4 out of 5 red-tongue viper snakes did not survive during the convalescence stage, showing only 20% of survival rate. The results suggest that the ratio of transmitter mass to body mass should be less than 3.6% at least in these species, although previous studies have recommended various ranges from 1% to 7% as the acceptable ratios.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.281-285
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• 2023

The red-tongue viper(Gloydius ussuriensis) is one of only three species of the genus Gloydius found in South Korea. Gloydius ussuriensis has a narrow activity radius and is distributed nationwide, and this species was reported to have the largest population among the Korean species in genus Gloydius. Preliminary results of a phylogenetic analysis using part of the mitochondrial DNA indicated that domestic G. ussuriensis is not comprised of monophyletic groups, and morphological analysis showed differences between domestic populations. In this study, we developed 17 microsatellites for the analysis of G. ussuriensis genetic diversity based on these characteristics. These microsatellites were developed using six multiplex panels, which could be employed to validate 80 G. ussuriensis specimens from different geographical regions in South Korea. The average number of alleles per locus was 12.2 and ranged from 4 to 25 alleles; the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.238 to 0.950 and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.213 to 0.933. As a result of assessing four inland populations, a high level of genetic diversity was confirmed. These newly developed markers will be useful for further studies on the population structure and evolutionary history of the G. ussuriensis.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.531-541
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• 2014

This research investigated the reproduction cycle, litter size, and the effects of factors of red-tongue viper snake inhabiting in Jeju Island, to delve into their life strategy. Field survey was conducted in Jeju Island from May 2006 to November 2008. Reproduction cycle was analyzed through measurements of testis and follicle sizes in laboratory from March 2009 to December 2010. According to the research results, the sizes of red-tongue viper snake's testis and follicle clearly changed seasonally. The number of eggs within the oviduct were greater on the right side ($2.6{\pm}1.0$ eggs, n=16) than on the left side ($1.8{\pm}0.5$ eggs, n=16) (t=-2,721, p<0.05). Average (${\pm}SD$) of survival litter size (SLS) was $4.4{\pm}1.7$ (1~9, range), while total litter size (TLS) was $4.7{\pm}1.5$ (3~9, range), which were not statistically significant. However, their litter sizes were similar to the number of eggs within the oviduct (t=0.039, P>0.05). Relative litter mass (RCM) was $0.42{\pm}0.13$ (0.18~0.79, n=33), and tended to increase, as maternal condition of pre-parturition (MCPPI) was getting better. The sexual ratio of delivered litters showed no significant difference between male and female red-tongue viper snakes (♂:♀ = 1.15:1, n=73 ; ${\chi}^2$=0.342, P>0.5). Average neonate mass showed a weak correlation with maternal mass of pre-parturition (MMPP1) (r=0.387, P<0.05, n=33). Average neonate Snout-vent length (SVL) also demonstrated a weak correlations with maternal SVL (r=0.399, P<0.05, n=33) and MMPP1 (r=0.344, P<0.05, n=33). Average neonate mass and maternal SVL approached significant probability (r=0.323, P=0.067, n=33). This indicates that mother snakes can bear bigger litter due to its larger size. In some cases, litter's weight decreases as mother snakes are bearing more litter; however, the red-tongued viper snake did not show such exchange relationship. From this, it can be conjectured that a red-tongued viper snake has peculiarity of its own species. The research results are predicted to be used as the basis to find a life history of red-tongued viper snake.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.127-130
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• 2024

The first complete mitogenome sequence of the Red-tongue Pit Viper (Gloydius ussuriensis) from Korea was characterized using next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome is a circular molecule (17,209 bp) with a typical vertebrate mitogenome arrangement, which consists of 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNA), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNA), two non-coding regions (D-loop), and 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs). The base composition of the mitogenome is 32.7% of A, 27.5% of C, 13.9% of G, and 25.9% of T, with a slight AT bias(58.6%). This phylogenetic analysis infers that G. ussuriensis is in the same group as the Chinese G. ussuriensis (Accession No. KP262412) and is closely related to G. blomhoffi and other species of the genus Gloydius. In our study, the complete mitogenome sequence of Korean G. ussuriensis was characterized and we provided basic genetic information on this species.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.445-448
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• 2011

A survey was performed to find out the intermediate hosts of Gnathostoma nipponicum in Jeju-do (Province), the Republic of Korea. In August 2009 and 2010, a total of 82 tadpoles, 23 black-spotted pond frogs (Rana nigromaculata), 7 tiger keelback snakes (Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus), 6 red-tongue viper snakes (Agkistrodon ussuriensis), and 2 cat snakes (Elaphe dione) were collected in Jeju-do and examined by the pepsin-HCl digestion method. Total 5 gnathostome larvae were detected in 3 (50%) of 6 A. ussuriensis, 70 larvae in 3 of 7 (42.9%) R. tigrinus tigrinus, and 2 larvae in 2 of 82 (8.7%) frogs. No gnathostome larvae were detected in tadpoles and cat snakes. The larvae detected were a single species, and $2.17{\times}0.22mm$ in average size. They had characteristic head bulbs, muscular esophagus, and 4 cervical sacs. Three rows of hooklets were arranged in the head bulbs, and the number of hooklets in each row was 29, 33, and 36 posteriorly. All these characters were consistent with the advanced third-stage larvae of G. nipponicum. It has been first confirmed in Jeju-do that R. nigromaculata, A. ussuriensis, and R. tigrinus tigrinus play a role for intermediate and/or paratenic hosts for G. nipponicum.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.42-53
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• 2017

One of the negative ecological effects following road construction is roadkill; animals die on the roads after being struck by vehicles. Roadkills have been a major concern in South Korea due to the large mountain areas in the country and have been mentioned as a causal factor for the decline in wildlife. Although snake roadkills frequently occur, as with mammals, birds, and amphibians, there are not many related studies done on snake roadkills. In this study, we determined snake roadkill patterns in the northeast part of South Korea including most of the Gangwon-do areas and parts of Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do by analyzing the snake roadkills found between May 2007 and Aug 2012. We identified a total of 155 roadkilled snakes from 10 different species. Red-sided water snake (Rhabdophis tigrinus), Red-tongue viper snake (Gloydius ussuriensis), Cat snake (Elaphe dione), Red-banded snake (Dinodon rufozonatus), and Viper snake (Gloydius brevicaudus) accounted for more than 90% of the total cases. It was found that more active forager snakes were killed than sit-and-wait foragers, more male snakes were killed than female snakes, and more adult snakes were killed than subadult snakes. The snake roadkill frequency was the highest in September between the altitudes of 200 and 400 m, and on roads between either a mountain and a body of water or between a mountain and a crop field. Our results are expected to enhance the understanding of snake roadkills in general and to determine the areas, specific sites and species for planning projects for snake roadkill reduction in the northeast of South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.173-184
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• 2016

Knowledge of the relationships among interspecific competition, spatial distributions and ecological niches plays an important role in understanding biogeographical distribution patterns of species. In this study, the distributional characteristics and ecological niches of the three Viperidae species (Gloydius ussuriensis, G. brevicaudus, and G. saxatilis) in South Korea were determined based on observation data and species distribution model. The effects of interspecific competition on geographical distribution and the division of the ecological niches of the vipers were also examined based on the models of predicted species distribution. The results showed that altitude was the most important environmental variable for their distribution, and the altitudes at which these snakes were distributed correlated with the climate of that region. Although interspecific ecological niches are quite overlapped, their predicted distribution patternsvary by the Taebaek Mountains. When overlaying the distribution models, most of the overlapping habitats were forest areas, which were relatively less overlapped than were the entire research areas. Thus, a parapatric distribution pattern was expected. The abundance of species occurring sympatrically was positively correlated with each other, indicating the lack of serious interspecies competition in this region. In conclusion, although the three Viperidae species in South Korea occupy similar ecological niches, these snakes exhibit parapatric distribution patterns without direct competition. Further research on various geographic variables (e.g., altitude, microhabitat characteristics) using relatively fine grid sizes, as well as further detailed ecological and behavioral research, is needed to determine the causative factors for the parapatric distribution pattern.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.146-154
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• 2009

To suggest effective ways of the management of reptiles in Korea national parks, we applied PIT (passive integrated transponder) tag and radio telemetry research methods in the monitoring of reptiles in Odaesan and Woraksan national parks. We implanted PIT tags into 137 snakes (six species) captured in both the national parks between March 2006 and October 2008 and also radio-tracked two Korean rat snakes (Elaphe schrenckii anomala) from September 2007 to November 2008 in the Woraksan national park. Of total 137 snakes which we had inserted the PIT tag, 17 snakes (12.40%) were recaptured. Based on the PIT tag data of the recapture, we successfully obtained the annual growth rate of Korean cat snakes (Elaphe dione) and Red-tongue pit-viper (Gloydius ussuriensis). Home range of the Korean rat snakes based on the data of radiotracking was estimated as 389,600$m^2$ (MCP: Minimum convex polygon) and 471,800$m^2$ (Kernel 95%) for males and 162,500$m^2$ and 208,700$m^2$ for females. These results suggest that if we apply PIT tag and radio telemetry research methods to manage reptiles in Korea national parks, it could greatly increase our understanding about their basic ecology and as the result, it could allow us to develop better management and conservation ways of reptiles in Korea national parks.