• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2023

In this paper, we present unrecorded protozoans of Korea that were discovered, through the 'Discovery of Korean Indigenous Species' project hosted by the 'National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR)'. A taxonomic account is provided for each identified species, offering comprehensive information such as species name, Korean name, collection site, synonyms, specimen vouchers, diagnoses, and figures. This study introduces 13 previously unrecorded Korean protozoan species that are classified into three phyla: Amoebozoa, Cercozoa, and Ciliophora. Notably, the cercozoan family Chlamydophryidae was recorded in Korea for the first time, together with the discovery of three previously unreported genera: Diaphoropodon within Cercozoa, and Metauroleptus and Hemicycliostyla within Ciliophora.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2022

Through the 'Discovery of Korean Indigenous Species' project hosted by the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), new or unrecorded species of various protozoans inhabiting the Korean Peninsula have been discovered. Samples were collected from marine, freshwater, and soil habitats in South Korea and all species were identified and reviewed by experts working on the respective taxonomic group. This study includes 17 unrecorded Korean protozoan species discovered through this project, which belong to four phyla: Amoebozoa Lühe, 1913, Cercozoa Cavalier-Smith, 1998, Euglenozoa Cavalier-Smith, 1981, and Ciliophora Doflein, 1901. Among them, three families (Rhogostomidae Dumack et al., 2017, Parauronematidae Small and Lynn, 1985, and Cyclidiidae Ehrenberg, 1838) and three genera (Rhogostoma Belar, 1921, Parauronema Thompson, 1967, and Cyclidium Müller, 1773) were reported for the first time in Korea. Unlike the previous paper of 2017, this study provides a comprehensive taxonomic account of each species (e.g., species name, collection site, synonyms, specimen vouchers, diagnoses, and figures). Additionally, all the species were assigned Korean names.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.118-133
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• 2023

Background: Free-living amoebae (FLA) are widely distributed in freshwater, seawater, soil, and extreme environments, and play a critical role as feeders on diverse preys in the ecosystem. Also, some FLA can become opportunistic pathogens in animals including humans. The taxa Amoebozoa and Heterolobosea are important amoeboid groups associated with human pathogens. However, the identification and habitat of amoebae belonging to Amoebozoa and Heterolobosea remain poorly reported in the Republic of Korea. This study highlights the first record for identification and source of four amoebae including putative pathogens in the Republic of Korea. Results: In the present study, four previously reported FLA were isolated from freshwaters in Sangju Gonggeomji Reservoir (strain GO001), one of the largest reservoirs during the Joseon Dynasty period, and along the Nakdong River, the largest river in the Republic of Korea (strains NR5-2, NR12-1, and NR14-1) for the first time. Microscopic observations and 18S rDNA phylogenetic trees revealed the four isolated strains to be Acanthamoeba polyphaga (strains NR5-2 and NR12-1), Tetramitus waccamawensis (strain GO001), and Naegleria australiensis (strain NR14-1). Strains NR5-2 and NR12-1 might be the same species and belonged to the morphological Group 2 and the T4 genotype of Acanthamoeba. Strain GO001 formed a clade with T. waccamawensis in 18S rDNA phylogeny, and showed morphological characteristics similar to previously recorded strains, although the species' flagellate form was not observed. Strain NR14-1 had the typical morphology of Naegleria and formed a strongly supported clade with previously recorded strains of N. australiensis in phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA sequences. Conclusions: On the bases of morphological and molecular analyses, four strains of FLA were newly observed and classified in the Republic of Korea. Three strains belonging to the two species (A. polyphaga and N. australiensis) isolated from the Nakdong River have the potential to act as opportunistic pathogens that can cause fatal diseases (i.e. granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, Acanthamoeba Keratitis, and meningoencephalitis) in animals including humans. The Nakdong River in the Republic of Korea may provide a habitat for potentially pathogenic amoebae, but additional research is required to confirm the true pathogenicity of these FLA now known in the Republic of Korea.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.381-384
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• 2016

Two marine amoebae Vannella bursella (Page, 1974) Smirnov et al., 2007 and Pseudoparamoeba sp. were encountered from marine coastal waters of Masan Bay and Garorim Bay (Korea), respectively. These species are described with uninterpreted records based on light-microscopy of living cells and reported taxonomically for the first time from Korea. Diagnostics of these species are as follows. Vannella bursella: size in vivo, $17-29{\mu}m$ long with flattened ovoid, semicircular locomotive forms. Pseudoparamoeba sp.: size in vivo, $10-15{\mu}m$ long with elongated locomotive forms, producing a few short conical pseudopodia from anterior hyaline zone.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.462-466
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• 2020

Testate amoebae are easily recognized as their characteristic shells from other protistan groups. They in which more than 1,900 species have been recorded are mixture of heterogeneous groups mainly composed of Amoebozoa and Cercozoa. In Korea, 74 species of testate amoebae have been recorded since late 1980s. Here I report a list of 12 unrecorded species of testate amoebae from Korea which were discovered during 2016-2018: Arcella crenulata Deflandre, 1928; Centropyxis cassis(Wallich, 1864); C. delicatula Penard, 1902; C. hirsuta Deflander, 1929; C. orbicularis Deflandre, 1929; C. sylvatica (Deflandre, 1929); Cyclopyxis eurystoma Deflandre, 1929; C. intermedia Kufferath, 1932; C. kahli(Deflandre, 1929); Difflugia diafana Vucetich, 1987; D. manicata Penard, 1902; Awerintzewia cyclostoma Schoutenden, 1906. As a result the fauna of testate amoebae in Korea is composed of 86 species. There are still much more species remained to be discovered in Korea. The faunal studies on testate amoebae will provide us valuable information about freshwater and soil environments.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Vermamoeba vermiformis is a very important free-living amoeba for human health in association with Legionnaires' disease and keratitis. This interesting amoeba was firstly isolated from a freshwater of Dokdo (island), which was historically used for drinking water. Trophozoites and cyst forms of V. vermiformis strain MG1 are very similar to previous reported species. Trophozoites of V. vermiformis strain MG1 showed cylindrical shape with prominent anterior hyaline region. The average ratio of length and width was about 6.5. Typically, cysts of the strain MG1 showed a spherical or slightly ovoidal shape with smooth wall, and lacked cyst pores. Some cysts had crenulate-walled ectocyst, which was separated from endocyst wall. Further, 18S rRNA gene sequence of V. vermiformis strain MG1 showed very high similarity to other V. vermiformis species (99.4%-99.9% identity). Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA gene sequences clearly confirmed that the isolate was one strain of V. vermiformis with maximum bootstrap value (maximum likelihood: 100%) and Bayesian posterior probability of 1. Thus, the freshwater of Dokdo in Korea could harbor potentially pathogenic amoeba that may cause diseases in humans.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.251-264
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi by surveying sites from June 2010 to October 2011. The obtained results from investigation were as follows. The total of 2 Kingdom 3 Phylum 6 classes 15 orders 34 families 59 genera and 107 species including saprophytic and ectomycorrhizal fungi was investigated. A total of 10 families 17 genera 49 species (801 ea.) of ectomycorrhizal mushroom was investigated. The mushrooms are classified into 28 families 51 genera and 99 species in Basidiomycota, 5 families 7 genera and 7 species in Ascomycota and 1 families 1 genera and 1 species in Amoebozoa. Dorminant species were Amanitaceae (14 species) followed by Russulaceae (12 species) and Boletaceae (11 species). The populaion ectomycorrhizal mushroom was highest in sites 1 and 2, and sites 4 and 5 occurrence rarely. The mushroom occurrence of ectomycorrhizal fungi was closely related to climatic conditions such as high air temperature and lots of rainfall from July to August. The environment factors which have a favorable influence of mushroom occurrence were soil pH, organic matter content of soil and air temperature of climatic environment.