• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2008

Bombina orientalis, or Korean fire-bellied toad is belonging to Class Amphinia, Order Anura, Family Bombinatoridae, Genus Bombina. Ecological characteristics, such as small size, slow moving and swimming, gentle attitude to other species, under laboratory and/or wild condition lead the toad as suitable experimental animals with easy handling. Seasonal reproductive biology except breeding season (usually from Apr. to late Jun.) are unknown still caused by sampling methods for hibernating specimens have not been established yet. Most species of amphibian, include B. orientalis, are declined around the world related with global warming, therefore, wild caught specimen for any purposes must be limited controled soon. Even though, some pre-studies of biotope for increasing biodiversity have been reported, construction of an artificial biotope to get natural breeding cycling specimen for study of amphibian reproduction is unique modelling and only trial. In an effort to set year-round sampling for study of reproduction of B. orientalis, we suggest protocols for planning, construction manual and SOP(Standard Operation Process) to manage amphibian biotope. During pilot operation of a designed and constructed biotope, the seasonal acclimation during winter hibernation of B. orientalis were successful. It will be helpful for studying the reproductive biology of wild amphibians in temperate region and allow to get reasonable research conditions in amphibian laboratory.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2000

This study aims at restoring urban forest destructed and eliminated by industrialization, urbanization, and city development and presenting a direction to manage remaining urban forest ecologically. To this end, an experiment zone where Populus tomentiglandulosa T. Lee were selective cutted and a control zone where Populus tomentiglandulosa T. Lee were kept intact were created in Chongdam Park located in Kangnam-ku, Seoul. Then, the structural changes of herbaceous plant species, the growth of targeted woody plants, and the increase of the number of insect and bird species were examined. The conclusions reached in this study are as follows. First, for the sake of ecological restoration and management of urban forest, it is good to selective cutting. Although timing, frequency, and methods may vary depending on the features and types of urban forest, the study revealed that selective cutting contributes to the restoration speed of origin vegetation and the enhancement of biodiversity including plants and insects. Second, as for the correlations of selective cutting and the appearance of plant species, the growth of origin vegetation, and insect distribution, the study showed that the impact of meteorological environment such as brightness is much greater than that of soil environment. Third, in order to manage urban forest, tramping pressure needs to be controlled efficiently. The efficient control of tramping pressure would contribute in the appearance of herbaceous plants. It would also be beneficial in promoting biodiversity of birds by removing the impact of people using routes. Fourth, in order to enhance the overall biodiversity of urban forest, diverse environment needs to be provided. In particular, it is necessary to supply water that is insufficient in urban forest. Providing habitats such as forest wetland performs an important function to amphibians and birds that require water as well as the appearance of aquatic plants and insects. Therefore, ways to introduce water efficiently should be initiated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.109-123
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• 2014

Kaloula borealis is the species of Amphibia which belongs to Kaloula genus and it is the only species inhabiting in Korea. The population size and habitat of Kaloula borealis have been significantly decreased on a national scale due to the diversified developments and the uses of agricultural pesticides. Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment has designated and managed them as the class II of endangered species, in accordance with "Endangered Species Protection and Management Act"; however, a particular study focused on the ecological restoration of Kaloula borealis is desperately needed to prevent their extinction. This study was conducted to propose the HSI (Habit Suitability Index) of Kaloula borealis based on literature survey on ecology and habitats of Kaloula borealis, as well as their HSI. Factors to be investigated in HSI include: space, feed, cover, water(breeding) and threatening factors and the variables of each factor were also proposed. The distance from wetland, grassland, farm, stream and rice paddy, as well as the altitude of spawning pond were proposed as the variables of space, whereas the bed structure of forest and low-rise grassland were proposed as the variables of feeding. The variables of water (breeding) include the area of permanent and temporary wetlands, coverage of emerged pants (ratio of open water), water depth, water temperature, water quality, pH level, etc., whereas the presence of predator, distance from street and pollutants were proposed as the variables of threatening factor. The sub-standards by HSI factor of Kaloula borealis have been drawn from in-depth consultation with experts and based on this, the final HSI of Kaloula borealis was developed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2007

The use of aquatic species in ecotoxicity research is well established in developed countries. However, there are limitations of using the species that are not native to Korea, and the toxicity data produced by domestic test species are significantly needed to reflect the domestic situation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the domestic species that can be applicable for the aquatic toxicity assessment in Korea. Aquatic toxicity data were collected in the framework of the project 'Development of integrated methodology for evaluation of water environment' to obtain a range of test species used for aquatic toxicity assessment internationally. The test species collected were evaluated in terms of domestic distribution based on the reliable references and the advices of experts. We figured out the 71 test species native to Korea. They included 7 fish, 26 invertebrates (2 annelids, 2 bryozoa, 13 crustaceans, 3 insects, 4 mollusc, 1 platyhelminth, and 1 protozoan), 26 plants (9 diatoms, 14 green algae, 3 macrophytes), and 12 others (2 amphibians, 3 bacteria, 6 blue-green algae, and 1 fungus). The result of this study should be a very useful information for ecotoxicity assessment in aquatic ecosystem, especially in choosing the test species applicable for the ecotoxicity in Korea hereafter.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.366-377
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• 2019

Paddy wetlands are a critical habitat for a variety of wild animals, and their rapid development and environmental changes pose a threat to the conservation of agrobiodiversity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the habitat characteristics of anuran inhabiting paddy wetlands and identify major environmental variables affecting their distributions. The study was conducted in the Daeho reclaimed area in Dangjin, from March to October 2018. In this study, we found three anuran species (Pelophylax nigromaculatus, Hyla japonica and Pelophylax chosenicus). The environmental factors affecting the three species were identified as air temperature, humidity, water-depth, and micro-habitats. H. japonica were affected by water temperature, and P. chosenicus were affected by rice height and types of farming practices. All the three species richness was correlated with air temperature, humidity, and water-depth positively, and the three species used rice transplanted paddy fields the most. It was also found that paddy is the most preferred of the micro-habitats during the breeding season, so the survey area is considered to be used as the major breeding sites for the three species. P. chosenicus were more observed on environmental-friendly paddy fields than conventional paddy fields, which appears to be differences in their surroundings environment caused by predators and weeding. It will be needed to identify their relationship with predators, their preferred food resources and the richness and diversity of wild vegetation around paddy wetlands.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.257-265
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• 1996

Previously, we demonstrated that estradiol (E$_2$) was produced by medium sized follicles of Rana nigromaculata and Rana dybowskii in vitro. Present experiments were carried out to determine when the growing follicles have obtained the ability to produce E$_2$. Follicles in different growth stages were isolated and cultured for 6 hours in the presence or absence of frog pituitary homogenates (FPH, 0.1 pituitary/2m1) or various steroid precursors (200 ng/2m1). levels of progesterone (P$_4$), 17 -hydroxyprogesterone (17$\alpha$-OHP), androstenedione (AD), testosterone Cr) or E$_2$ in the medium were measured by RIA. The smallest follicles failed to produce steroids, whereas the smaller follicles produced considerable amounts of steroids (211 pg/follicle), and the medium sized follicles produced a large amounts of steroids (1653 pg/follicle) in response to FPH. Addition of pregnenolone (P5) resulted in a marked increase in P$_4$ but not in other steroids by the smallest follicles whereas the treatment resulted in a marked increase in P$_4$, 17$\alpha$-OHP, AD, T and E$_2$by the smaller and medium follicles. When the amounts of steroids are calculated on the basis of unit surface area (pg/mm$_2$), the ability of the smallest follicles to produce P$_4$ from P5 was similar to those of smaller and medium sized follicles. However, the smallest follicles failed to metabolize P$_4$ to other steroids whereas the smaller and medium follicles did. Taken together, the data suggest that the smallest follicles do not response to FPH in terms of steroid production but they have capacity to convert P5 to P$_4$ and that the smaller follicles have potential to produce E$_2$ although much less efficient than medium sized follicles.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2000

Herpetofauna biodiversity was surveyed at the Chin-do. The results are as follows: During census periods presence of 2 orders, 4 families, 6 species of amphibians and 1 order, 2 suborders, 4 families, 8 species of reptiles were observed or found indirectly by auditorial recording from residents at the Chin-do. Among them 1 protected wildlife(Agkistrodon saxatilis) and several rare species such as Takydromus wolteri, Sciucella laterale laterale and Zamenis spinalis were indentified. Rana nigromaculata and Rana catesbeiana were found in all surveyed areas. Dominant amphibian species was Rana rugosa (D'= 25.8%) and reptile was Takydromus wolteri (D'= 21.8%). Among 4 areas survey area, Uisin-myon showed the highest level of species richness, diversity, and evenness indices (R'= 2.393, H'= 1.931, and E'= 0.7772, respectively). The species richness of Kunnae-myon was lower (R'= 0.932) than other surveyed regions. Based on the frequency of occurrence (85.71%), habitation density of Rana catesbeiana was very common in Chin-do, suggesting that spreading of this foreign species in the entire Korean peninsula. Scincella laterale laterale, Elaphe dione, Elaphe rufodorsata, Dinodon rufozonatus rufozonatus, Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus, Agkistrodon ussuriensis, and Zamenis spinalis showed low frequency of occurrence ( < 10%) and efforts to protect them are required. [Herpetofauna, Bio-diversity, Chin-Do].

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 1971

The excretion of uric acid in man has been of great interest because of its importance as an end product in purine metabolism as well as of its role in causing gout. There are many differences in the modes of renal handling of urate among various species of animals. Uric acid actively secreted by the renal tubules of most vertebrate including amphibians, reptiles, and birds. On the other hand, in most mammals net tubular reabsorption of urate appears to be occurred with some exception, such, as Dalmatian dog. In the rabbits, however, the mechanism of renal excretion of uric acid has long been a subject of controversial results. Within a given group it was possible to find individuals with either net secretion or net reabsorption of urate depend on the experimental conditions. Excretion of urate can be depressed or enhanced by a variety of drugs belonging mainly to the aromatic acid group. Diodrast, probenecid, cinchophen and salicylates have been reported as uricosuric agents, on the other hand, lactate, benzoate, pyrazinoic acid, acetazolamide and chlorothiazide are known to be contraindicated to use for the patient with gout since these agents depress the excretion of uric acid from the kidney. However, complex and sometimes the paradoxical effects on the urate excretion by those above mentioned drugs are not uncommon. The experiments were designed to investigate the mechanisms of renal handling of urate as well as the effects of variety of drugs on the tubular transport of uric acid in the rabbits. Male or female white rabbits, from 1.5 to 2.5 kg in weight, were used. The experimental methods used in these studies were clearance, stop-flow, and retrograde injection techniques. The effects of saline, salicylate, chlorothiazide and probenecid were investigated in each experimental conditions. Results of the experiments were summarized as follows; 1. In the rabbits, the rate of urate clearance was always lower than the rate of inulin clearance. The filtration fraction of the urate was one third on an average, therefore, it is estimated that approximately two thirds of filtered urate was reabsorbed. 2. In the kidneys of rabbits, the urate clearance was increased significantly by administration of chlorothiazide and decreased by probenecid. The administration of salicylate had no effect on the rate of urate clearance. The filtration fraction of urate was increased by chlorothiazide and decreased by probenecid. 3. In the stop-flow studies, the U/P ratio of urate was higher than the U/P ratio of inulin in the proximal region, indicating the secretion of uric acid in the proximal tubules. The proximal peak was increased by chlorothiazide and inhibited by probenecid.4. In the retrograde injection studies, the reabsorption of urate in the proximal region was observed, and these reabsorptive transport of urate was depressed by either probenecid or by chlorothiazide. 5. No distal tubular activity was observed under any of these experimental conditions concerning urate transport. The results of these experiments show that probenecid inhibits both secretory and reabsorptive transport of uric acid in the kidney of the rabbits. The enhancement of secretory transport of urate by chlorothiazide in the clearance study was due to the secondary action of chlorothiazide which inhibits the reabsorptive transport of urate in the proximal tubules. It is evident that the urate transport in the kidneys of rabbits is bidirectional nondiffusive flux both secretory and reabsorptive directions in the proximal tubules.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.3 s.104
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• pp.369-374
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• 2003

Nonylphenol (NP), an well known aquatic contaminant, has been known to induce abnormalities in various aquatic animals. In an effort to develop proteome in the study of aquatic contamination of NP and its impact on the amphibia, protein changes in liver tissues of Korean red bellied frog, Bombina orientalis was investigated following the NP exposure. NP was administered intraperitoneally to male B. orientalis at 10 mg/kg body weight. At 48 and 96h after the treatment, the frog livers were sampled, and the protein fraction was separated using two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D/E) and visualized with Coomassie brilluant blue staining. The 2D/E Images of the tissue from the animals treated with NP showed marked changes of protein spots (about 20% of total protein spots). Analysis of the 50-60 separated spots allowed identification of the major protein changes in the overall pattern for the stressor (NP) by time (0,48 and 96 h). At 48h after treatment, 8 spots were increased and 12 spots were reduced. Then, at 96h after treatment, 10 spots were increased and 8 spots were reduced. In total, approximately 29% of liver proteins showed the altered expression following the NP treatment. It is suggested that protein expression was repressed by blocking of certain metabolisms at 48 hand induced by the synthesis of new proteins for adaptation at 96 h following NP exposure. This application for 2D/E analysis may show promise in searching biomarkers for environmental proteomics in amphibians.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.3-25
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• 2011

Recently, a number of local governments as well as private organizations have spearheaded the release of animals into the natural ecosystem in Korea. In 2002, most of these animals released were mammals and birds, but the parameter was gradually expanded to include fish, amphibians, and invertebrates in addition to mammals and birds in 2007, with an increased overall number of animals released. Such increase has not only posed ecological, economic, and public health risks, but also yielded an increase in damages incurred by releasing animals historically or ecologically alien to a given region without thorough risk assessment. The most significant cause of such risks was a critical lack of risk management and regulatory schemes addressing the release of animals into the natural ecosystem. In stark contrast, developed countries long before established the requisite risk management and regulatory schemes either by complying with the IUCN/SSC's Guidelines for Re-Introductions or devising them independently. In this context, the current study has examined the release of animals into the natural ecosystem in Korea and, based on the investigation, asserted a strong need for proper risk management. Moreover, the study has presented systematic risk management and regulatory schemes suitable for the Korean milieu based on a comparative analysis of those employed in developed countries.