• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.132-138
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• 1996

To learn how maximal locomotory speed of animals is defined in terms of hindlimb structure and muscle contractile function, take-off speed, hindlimb length, thigh muscle mass, shortening velocity and power of the sastrocnemius muscle were measured with one fast species, Rono nigromaculota and one relatively slowresponding species, Bombina orientalis. Take-off speed (m.sec-1) was greater in R. nigromoculata $(2.4\pm0.2SD, $ n: 14) than in the Bombino $(1.6\pm0.1SD, $ n=8). Stvle of the take-off response was a long-iump type in the Rano and a short-ranged hopping in the Bombing. Faster take-off capacity of the ranid frogs was supported by the longer hindlimb length (relative to body length) and the more massive thigh muscles (relative to body mass), compared to the Bombina. Further, the ranids exhibited faster maximal shortening velocity and Breater maximal power generateion than the Bombina [Vmax $(ML.sec-1)=11.79\pm1.69SD$ for the Runa and $9.74\pm1.27SD$ for the Bombina; Pmax $nW.kg-1)=222.42\pm42.42SD$ for the Rono and $169.03\pm34.52SD$ for the Bombinal. With more massive thigh muscles and greater mechanical power, the ranids would generate greater total power and thus higher energy release per unit time to muscle tissues for the burst take-off. As a consequence, biomechanical properties seen in the ranids seem to be more effective for frost take-off than in the Bombina.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.876-883
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• 2012

In order to analyze the meteorological factors influencing breeding activities of the Kaloula borealis, spawning sites which are located in Daejung-Eub, Jeju Island were investigated for 4 years from 2008 to 2011. The factors for analysis were rainfall, humidity, temperature, barometric pressure and wind speed. Comparative analysis were done on the spawning activities on rainy days. The analysis shows that the main factors influencing breeding activities of the Kaloula borealis are rainfall, humidity, and barometric pressure. The most influencing factor among them is rainfall. According to the analysis, the Kaloula borealis participate in spawning activities when it rains hard and humidity and barometric pressure also have influence on their spawning activities to a certain degree. As for temperature, the breeding season is summer so it meets one of the conditions for breeding activities. As a result, like the previous studies on other anurans in temperate regions, rainfall and temperature have a great impact on breeding activities of the Kaloula borealis.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.271-282
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• 1983

The authors observed the ultrastructure of the pigment cells of the frog, Rana nigromaculata Hallowell, during the hibernation. The specimens from the skin were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-paraform-aldehyde fixative in phosphate buffer at pH 7.2 prior to fixation in 2% osimium tetroxide, dehydrated in graded ethanol and acetone, embedded in Epon 812 mixture, and sectioned with LKB-ultramicrotome. the ultrathin sections were contrasted with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and observed with a JEOL-100B electron microscope. The results were as follows. In hibernating phase, pigment cells of the frog were consisted of the three kinds of chromatophores (xanthophore, iridophore and melanophore) in their dorsal skin. The traits of these cells were as follows. 1. Xanthophores A. Xanthophores were filled with pterinosomes and carotenoid vesicles. Many ribosomes, a few mitochondria and glycogen particles were dispersed in the cytoplasm. B. Pterinosomes were spherical or ellipsoidal in shape. They were divided into 6 types (type I, type II, type III, type IV, type V, type VI pterinosomes) by the their inner structure and especially, type I, type II, type III pterinosomes were well developed.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2009

The programed cell death of the cutaneous epithelial tissue during tail regression stages in anuran tadpoles of the blackspotted frog, Rana nigromaculata were visualized by the histochemical and transmission electron microscopic techniques. Metamorphotic changes in the tail regression during the period of the Shumway stage number 31 to 33 are characterized by the disappearance of mucous layer and formation of compound epithelium through cutaneous thickening. Following the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated d-uridine triphosphate nick end labeling) staining technique, the apoptotic cells were detected at the distal region of the tail skin initially, but they can be seen at the proximal region according to their following development. It has been also revealed that the number of the TUNEL-positive cells gradually increased from apical to basal direction of the epithelial layers during the tail regressing stages. Following the TEM observation, the early apoptotic cells shown in the epithelium demonstrated condensation and margination of the chromatin material at the nuclear periphery. Another epithelial apoptotic cells were shown nuclear fragmentation, membrane blebbing and cytoplasmic condensation. Following the process of the apoptotic degradation, well preserved organelles and nuclear fragments can be identified in the cytoplasm of lysosome-rich cells, however they soon reduced to lysosomal residual bodies through the progressive degradation.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 1984

The fertilized eggs of Rana dybowskii were irradiated with UV (254 nm wave length) on the vegetal hemisphere to investigate the effects on the primordial germ cells (PGCs) and axis formation. The investigations were carried out in two ways; namely time course and UV dose. Up to 1,600 $ergs/mm^2$ of UV dose, irradiated at 60 min. after fertilization, there was no effect on the PGC number. However, the number of PGC comparing with that of unirradiated control was decreased more than 40%. As the amount of irradiation was increased, the number of PGC was inversely declined. The maximal dose of irradiation which eliminates PGC completely without inducing any axis abnormality was 4,800 $ergs/mm^2$. If the eggs were irradiated earlier with this amount the severer effect could be obtained. Thus the UV effect on the PGC number was most effective when irradiated by 60 min. post fertilization. Thereasfter stage. At UV doses over 9,600 $erge/mm^2$ other effects start to appear; namely abnormalities of nerual tube and axis formation. Therefore, comparative study on the UV sensitivity of PGC and axis formation was carried out. It was revealed that UV effect on the axis was drastically decreased at the time of $0.7\\sim0.8$ between fertilization and 1st cleavage, while the germ plasm was sensitive to UV until 4 cell stage.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.258-263
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• 1989

Nuclear Transplantation between Rana pipiens and Rana dybowskii When diploid blastula nuclei of Rana pipiens are traraplanted into enucleated eggs of Rana dybowskii the resulting nucleocytoplasmic hybrids are lethal-those development were arrested around the stage of the dorsal lip formation For the improvement of developmental capacity, serial nuclear transplantation was carried out. Even though serial transplantation of 15 generations showed normal development in each generation until gastrula stage, there was no sign of fundamental improvement in development afterward. This results implied that up to gastrulation normal DNA replication and cell division can take place in foreign cytoplasm. Since chromosomal aberrations both in shape and number were usually observed, the nuclei must have been modifted while resided in the foreign cytoplasm. Those nuclei didn't participate in normal development and led the embryos to early death. Tissue graft experiment indicated that the abnormal behavior of this lethal nucleocytoplasmic hybrid is an inherent property which is not corrected by the contact with its own tissue.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.281-286
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the individual size and age of Kaloula borealis, a pair in amplexus. In June 2013, the total 23 pairs of Kaloula borealis were captured in the wetland located in Seongsan-eup and Daejeong-eup, Jeju Island. Size and age of each individual have been examined and as a result of analyzing SVL (snout-vent length), weight, length of forelimb and hindlimb of the collected 23 pairs, the females were shown to have the heavier weight and the longer SVL and hindlimb compared to males. No significant difference in the length of forelimb has been found between the female and the male. The average age of the male of the pair in amplexus was shown to be $5.17{\pm}0.26$, whereas the female was shown to be $6.22{\pm}0.28$, which indicates the higher average age in female compared to the male. The age range of Kaloula borealis was distributed from at least 3 years to 10 years at the maximum. A positive correlation was shown between age of the male and SVL; however, no significant difference was found in female. This study result expected to be utilized as an important base data in establishing the preservation and restoration strategy of endangered species, Kaloula borealis.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.533-538
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• 2015

This study was conducted to examine the effect of salinity on the early embryonic development stage of boreal digging frogs (Kaloula borealis). An experiment was carried out with the eggs of K. borealis mating couples laid along the coastal zone of Jeju Island in June 2013. The salinity was set to 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 ‰, respectively. The survival and growth of the larvae at various stages from the egg phase to the closing of their external gills phase were observed. In another experiment, tadpoles in internal gill stage were placed in solutions with salinity of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 ‰, respectively, and their survival rate and growth rate were observed, and then the results of the two experiments above were compared. The results showed that in egg and external gill stage, there was no significant difference in survival rate in 3 ‰ solution, though there was low survival rate in 5 ‰ solution. Further, all the eggs were dead in 7 ‰ solution, so it appeared that solutions with salinity of 5 ‰ or higher affect the survival of K. borealis in the early embryonic development. Larvae in the internal gill stage showed no significant difference in survival rate from the control group up to a salinity of 5 ‰, but when placed in a solution of over 7 ‰ salinity, the survival rate decreased. The growth rate also slowed down with the higher salinity. It appeared that in both the external gill stage and the internal gill stage in 5 ‰ solution, the growth rate decreased significantly compared to the control group. From this study it is concluded that higher salinity values have a significant impact on the survival and growth of the K. borealis larvae and this finding can be used to conserve K. borealis species that are decreasing in number due to the side effects of development in coastal areas.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2020

This study was carried out to compare the Snout-vent length (SVL) and the biomass for the endangered species II, narrow-mouthed toad (Kaloula borealis), at the three different latitude sites (Seoul, Nonsan, Busan) in Korea. For the narrow-mouthed toad study, pitfall traps and inducement traps were used to catch the species, and environmental factors (temperature, precipitation, humidity) were compared by region. As a result of this study, each of the male narrow-mouthed toads' SVL and biomass in Busan was 41.6±0.39mm, and 11.3±0.17g, which showed that it was the biggest and heaviest among the three regions. For Seoul and Nonsan, each of the SVL of the female narrow-mouthed toad was 36.6±2.03mm, 36.6±1.76mm, and the biomass was 8.1±0.55g, 8.2±0.91g, which showed that there was no significant difference between Seoul and Nonsan. Each of the female narrow-mouthed frogs' SVL and biomass in Busan was 44.7±0.35mm, 13.1±0.18g, which was also biggest but showed no significant difference in biomass by region. Concluding, this showed that the female narrow-mouthed toad in Busan is larger and heavier than those of other regions. We hope this study will be a standard for the future amphibian research with comparing the SVL and biomass for the endangered species II, narrow-mouthed toad. It is expected that if this kind of study keeps for long, it will be a basis for understanding changes in biomass of amphibian species due to climate change.