• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.188-192
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• 2024

This is the first report of Apogon erythrinus (Perciformes: Apogonidae) from Korea. A single specimen (33.6 mm SL) was collected by a fish pot from the coastal waters of Jeju-do Island on 28 October 2009. This species is characterized by having 5~6 predorsal scales, 7~9 developed gill rackers, end of second dorsal fin spine not reaching the middle of second dorsal fin base when depressed, and posterior margin of body scales reddish-brown. To confirm the correctness of species identification, the DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequence was obtained from the sample and compared with those of cardinalfish species recorded in the NCBI database. As a result, it was well-matched to A. erythrinus. We newly added this species to the Korean fish fauna and proposed a new Korean name, "Kueun-nun-eol-ge-bi-neul" because the eyes are large compared to its body.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 2024

Two specimens of Ostorhinchus fleurieu (54.25 mm, 55.64 mm SL) were collected by angling for the first time from Seogwipo-si, Jejudo Island, Korea on September and November 2023. This species is readily distinguished from the congeneric species, O. aureus by the number of total gill rakers (19~23 in O. fleurieu vs 22~27 in O. aureus) and shape of dark stripe on caudal peduncle (poorly defined, barrel shaped in O. fleurieu vs. well-defined, hourglass shaped in O. aureus). A total of 560 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I region of our two apogonid individuals perfectly matched with those of O. fleurieu (MT076481) registered in NCBI. Here, we propose the new Korean name "Kkoch-dong-gal-dom" for the species O. fleurieu.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2024

The giant jellyfish, Nemopilema nomurai, is an endemic species found in Northeast Asian waters and their population structures, such as size and genetics, and their environmental characteristics were investigated. N. nomurai was obtained from the Yellow and Northern East China Seas during the summers of 2006, 2007, and 2009. In the northern Yellow Sea, small-sized jellyfish were found to be dominant and towards the southern seas, the size of the jellyfish increased. In the northern East China Sea, only one mode of jellyfish was found in May, and the number of modes increased up-to five in July. However, at the center of the Yellow Sea, one or two modes were found in July, 2007. Thus, different jellyfish populations were present in the northern East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. However, based on first appearance and a cohort analysis using the bell diameter, the jellyfish population in the northern Yellow Sea might be recognized as a distinct group that differed from those found in the northern East China Sea. Furthermore, mitochondrial DNA sequences (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) of N. nomurai were, determined and compared with genetic structures obtained from jellyfish in the Yellow Sea. The genetic diversity of N. nomurai was highest in the regions around the northern East China Sea and at the center of the Yellow Sea and was the lowest around the northern Yellow Sea. Thus, N. nomurai populations in the Yellow Sea and northern East China Sea might be different concerning their seeding places.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.171-191
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• 2024

Identification of Helicotylenchus species is very challenging due to phenotypic plasticity and existence of cryptic species complexes. Recently, the use of rDNA barcodes has proven to be useful for identification of Helicotylenchus. Molecular markers are a quick diagnostic tool and are crucial for discriminating related species and resolving cryptic species complexes within this speciose genus. However, DNA barcoding is not an error-free approach. The public databases appear to be marred by incorrect sequences, arising from sequencing errors, mislabeling, and misidentifications. Herein, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the newly obtained, and published DNA sequences of Helicotylenchus, revealing the potential faults in the available DNA barcodes. A total of 97 sequences (25 nearly full-length 18S-rRNA, 12 partial 28S-rRNA, 16 partial internal transcribed spacer [ITS]-rRNA, and 44 partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I [COI] gene sequences) were newly obtained in the present study. Phylogenetic relationships between species are given as inferred from the analyses of 103 sequences of 18S-rRNA, 469 sequences of 28S-rRNA, 183 sequences of ITS-rRNA, and 63 sequences of COI. Remarks on suggested corrections of published accessions in GenBank database are given. Additionally, COI gene sequences of H. dihystera, H. asiaticus and the contentious H. microlobus are provided herein for the first time. Similar to rDNA gene analyses, the COI sequences support the genetic distinctness and validity of H. microlobus. DNA barcodes from type material are needed for resolving the taxonomic status of the unresolved taxonomic groups within the genus.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.244-252
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• 2023

This study compared the morphological and molecular characteristics of the two Pampus spp. in Korea, Japan and China to clarify the long-confused taxonomic status of the two Korean pomfrets named as "Byeong-eo" and "Deok-dae". Among them "Byeong-eo" was identified as Pampus punctatissimus in having the following morphological traits: patch of wavy ridges extending beyond the anterior tip of the pectoral fin, the groove on the lower ridge of gill cover absent, and the number of vertebrae 34. On the other hand, "Deok-dae" was identified as Pampus argenteus in having the following morphological traits: patch of wavy ridges not reaching to the anterior tip of the pectoral fin, the groove on the lower ridge of gill cover reaching to the lower jaw, and the number of vertebrae 38~42. In addition, "Byeong-eo" almost corresponded to P. punctatissimus from Japan in the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences (genetic distance=0.1%), while "Deokdae" showed genetic distance of 0.3% when compared to P. argenteus from China. Our comprehensive results suggest the validify of P. punctatissimus for "Byeong-eo", and P. argenteus for "Deok-dae".

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1007-1014
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• 2016

A highly efficient, rapid, and reliable multiplex polymerase chain reaction based method for distinguishing ten species of genus Cynoglossus (C. senegalensis, C. abbreviates, C. macrolepidotus, C. arel, C. semilaevis, C. interruptus, C. joyneri, C. lingua, C. robustus, and C. monodi) is described. The species-specific primer sets were designed base on the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene (1,500 bp). The optimal PCR conditions and primers were selected for ten of Cynoglossus species to determine target base sequences using single PCR. Multiplex PCR using the ten pairs of primers either specifically amplified a DNA fragment of a unique size or failed, depending on each species DNA. The length of amplification fragment of 208 bp for C. senegalensis, 322 bp for C. abbreviates, 493 bp for C. macrolepidotus, 754 bp for C. arel, 874 bp for C. semilaevis, 952 bp for C. interruptus, 1,084 bp for C. joyneri, 1,198 bp for C. lingua, 1,307 bp for C. robustus, and 1,483 bp for C. monodi with the species-specific primers, visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis, allowed perfectly distinction of the Cynoglossus species. The multiplex PCR assay can be easily performed on multiple samples and attain final results in less than 6 hours. This technique should be a useful addition to the molecular typing tools for the tentative identification of Cynoglossus species.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.199-209
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• 2020

In order to clarify the taxonomic status of the Korean Macroramphosus species, which were previously confused, we investigated morphological and molecular variations of Macroramphosus (18 individuals) from Korea, and Macroramphosus (35 individuals) from Japan and Taiwan, and compared with those of M. scolopax from type locality (Mediterranean Sea). Although the Korean and Japanese specimens of Macroramphosus were clearly divided into two types in the first dorsal spine length (22.8~32.1% in A-type vs. 15.6~21.4% in B-type), distance between the first dorsal fin and second dorsal fin (6.4~9.7% vs. 8.6~13.3%), and body depth (20.0~28.0% vs. 17.3~22.6%), no genetic differences among all individuals of longspine snipefish between them were found at the specific level [d=0.0~3.3% in control region (CR); 0.0~1.3% in cytochrome b (cytb); 0.0~0.5% in cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI)]. Whereas, they were well distinguished in genetics (9.9~11.5% in CR; 3.8~4.6% in cytb; 1.2~3.6% in COI) from those of M. scolopax in Mediterranean Sea. It needs the scientific name of the longspine snipefish (M. scolopax) in Korea be changed as M. japonicus (and/or M. sagifue). However, our results could not find evidence of consistency between morphological and mitochondrial DNA variations which suggests that their differentiation event may occur fairly recently. Further studies using more sensitive markers such as microsatellite are needed to clarify the degree of gene flow between the two types.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.354-362
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• 2020

A common snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina inhabiting North America is internationally protected as an endangered species. It is known that the individuals of common snapping turtles were imported to South Korea as pets, and after being abandoned, some inhabit the natural ecosystem of South Korea like wild animals. No genetic survey has yet been performed for the common snapping turtles imported to South Korea. Hereby, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) information, which is 594 bp long, was determined for a total of 16 C. serpentina individuals, of which one was found in nature, twelve legally imported and their descendants, and the other three were provided from the Kansas Herpetological Society, USA. The obtained data were combined with thirteen COI sequences of C. serpentina retrieved from NCBI GenBank for the subsequent population genetic analyses. The results showed that there exist five haplotypes with high sequence similarity (only three parsimoniously informative sites). In the TCS and phylogenetic analyses, all the examined C. serpentina samples coincidently formed a strong monoclade with those collected mostly from Kansas State, USA, indicating that the imported ones to South Korea are from the central North America. In addition, there found the amino acid changes and the high degree of nucleotide sequence differences between C. serpentina and C. rossignoni with some important morphological characters. It is expected that the present results could provide an important framework for systematic management and control of exotic snapping turtles imported and released to nature of South Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.639-645
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• 2019

In the present study, a Spirometra species of Tanzania origin obtained from an African leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) was identified based on molecular analysis of cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit I (nad1) as well as by morphological observations of an adult tapeworm. One strobila and several segments of a Spirometra species were obtained from the intestine of an African male leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in the Maswa Game Reserve of Tanzania. The morphological characteristics of S. theileri observed comprised 3 uterine loops on one side and 4 on the other side of the mid-line, a uterine pore situated posterior to the vagina and alternating irregularly either to the right or left of the latter, and vesicular seminis that were much smaller than other Spirometra species. Sequence differences in the cox1 and nad1 genes between S. theileri (Tanzania origin) and S. erinaceieuropaei were 10.1% (cox1) and 12.0% (nad1), while those of S. decipiens and S. ranarum were 9.6%, 9.8% (cox1) and 13.0%, 12.6% (nad1), respectively. The morphological features of the Tanzania-origin Spirometra specimens coincided with those of S. theileri, and the molecular data was also consistent with that of S. theileri, thereby demonstrating the distribution of S. theileri in Tanzania. This places the leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) as new definitive hosts of this spirometrid tapeworm.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2016

In this study, an attempt has been made to analyze the morphology of Cephalopods distributed in Korea and collected samples from South-East Asian countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and China. A phylogenetic analysis was performed using the mitochondrial gene, Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) to understand the genetic divergences of the species and validate their origins. For achieving the objectives, samples were collected directly from Thailand Hat Yai, Songkhla, Indonesia Medan, Vietnam Ho Chi Minh, and Vung Tau in August 2015 and from China in September 2015. A total of 23 species of Cephalopods were identified falling under three orders, four familyies and nine genus. The species were distributed under Order: Octopoda (1 family, 3 genus, and 9 species), Order: Sepiolioda (1 family, 2 genus, and 8 species), and Order Teuthoidea (2 family, 4 genus, and 6 species). 23 species which is 1 family 3 genus 9 species in Octopoda, 1 family 2 genus 8 species in Sepiolioda, 2 family 4 genus 6 species in Teuthoidea. Phylogenetic analysis using COI gene was conducted for 18 species. For the remaining 5 species sequencing results showed severe variation and hence were not considered further. The COI phylogenetic analysis for the 18 species of Cephalopods were found consistent with the morphological identification. The excluded species will be subjected for a further detailed analysis.