• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.457-464
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• 2022

A public health concern emerging from a zoonotic disease. Monkeypox is caused by the orthopoxvirus specie Monkeypox virus (MPXV). Monkeypox was identified as the most common orthopoxvirus infection in humans following the eradication of smallpox. Monkeypox has a similar clinical presentation to smallpox. The MPXV is now considered a high-threat pathogen that causes a serious public-health problem. The continuous spread of Monkeypox virus from West Africa to all other places around the world throughout 2018 to 2022, have raised concerns that MPXV could have emerged to acquire the immunological and ecological niche vacated by smallpox virus. This review highlights the current knowledge about Monkeypox evolution, infection biology, and epidemiology around the world since from 1970 to 2022, with a focus on the human, viral, and cellular factors that influence virus emergence, infection, spread, and maintenance in nature. This paper also discusses the current therapeutic options for Monkeypox treatment and control. Under the right conditions, with limited smallpox vaccination and very little orthopoxvirus immunity in some areas of the world, MPXV could become a more efficient human pathogen. Finally, the review identified knowledge gaps, particularly in terms of identifying a definitive reservoir host for monkeypox and proposes future research endeavors to address the unanswered questions.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.447-447
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• 2023

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a critical indicator of soil fertility. Its importance in maintaining ecological balance has received widespread attention. However, global temperatures have risen by 0.8℃ since the late 1800s due to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in severe disruptions in SOC dynamics. To study the impacts of temperature variations on SOC and soil respiration, we used the Soil Carbon and Landscape co-Evolution (SCALE) model, which was capable of estimating the spatial distribution of soil carbon dynamics. The study site was located at Heshan Farm (125°20'10.5"E, 49°00'23.1"N), Nenjiang County in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China. We validated the model using observed soil organic carbon and soil respiration in 2015 and achieved excellent agreement between observed and modeled variables. Our results showed considerable influences of temperature increases on SOC and soil respiration rates at both erosion and deposition areas. In particular, changes in SOC and soil respiration at the deposition area were greater than at the erosion area. Our study highlights that the impacts of temperature elevations are considerably dependent on soil erosion and deposition processes. Thus, it is important to implement effective soil conservation strategies to maintain soil fertility under global warming.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.902-910
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• 2012

This study has been carried out to determine the effects of disturbances from wild boar grubbing on the functions of ecosystem. The experiments was performed in Mt. Jumbong of Long-term Ecological Research Sites of the Ministry of Environment. We measured soil physical properties, soil respiration($CO_2$), microbial biomass C, and soil enzyme activities from both disturbed and control plots. The disturbance sites were divided into two parts, mounds and pits. Soil organic matter contents were highest value at the control plots and lowest at the pit plots, respectively at 20.22% and 15.52%. The soil bulk densities were highest at the pit plots. Soil microbial biomass C and $CO_2$ evolution were significantly higher at the control plots compared to the disturbed plots. The results were positively correlated with soil organic matter contents. The cellulase activity and invertase activity in the soil showed similar pattern as the microbial biomass C and $CO_2$ evolution results. The cellulase activity and invertase activity in the soil were positively correlated with soil microbial biomass C. Soil organic matter contents seemed to affect the soil enzyme activities. The nitrate reductase activities were highest at the pit plots, which showed positive correlation with soil bulk density. The study results showed that the grubbing disturbances by wild boars induced the changes in soil properties, which affected soil microbial activities.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.233-247
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• 2003

The purpose of this study focuses on the spatial evolution and characteristics of cultural tourism festivals in Chonnam province of Korea. More than 58 community festivals functioned with hallmark events are held annually in the Chonnam province. Most of community festivals were mainly established since 1995, and more than 48 percents of festivals are held in October and May. Spatial diffusion process of festival are divided into three phases: a primary stage before 1995, a diffusion stage from 1995 to 1999, and a condensing stage since 2000 Cultural tourism festivals began at some areas such as Mokpo, Yesu, and Gurye in 1960's, and spread all over the counties of Chonnam province. During diffusion stage, 51.7 percent of all festivals were newly held. The themes and purposes of festival, and the typology of community festivals were transformed with diffusion stage. In festival purpose, community reconciliation and unity festivals were held in primary stage, tourism oriented festivals were held in diffusion and condensing stage. In the festival themes, community culture and folk arts festival were held in primary stage, however, community history and environment & ecological festivals are held in condensing stage. In addition, the typology of community festivals was transformed according to diffusion stage. Thus it was transformed from indigenous festivals of primary stage to commercialized indigenous festivals of condensing stage.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.36-51
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• 2012

The demand for a climatological dataset with a regular spaced grid is increasing in diverse fields such as ecological and hydrological modeling as well as regional climate impact studies. PRISM(Precipitation-Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model) is a useful method to estimate high-altitude precipitation. However, it is not well discussed over the optimization of PRISM parameters and DEM(Digital Elevation Model) resolution in South Korea. This study developed the PRISM and then optimized parameters of the model and DEM resolution for producing a gridded annual average precipitation data of South Korea with 1km spatial resolution during the period 2000-2005. SCE-UA (Shuffled Complex Evolution-University of Arizona) method employed for the optimization. In addition, sensitivity analysis investigates the change in the model output with respect to the parameter and the DEM spatial resolution variations. The study result shows that maximum radius within which station search will be conducted is 67km. Minimum radius within which all stations are included is 31km. Minimum number of stations required for cell precipitation and elevation regression calculation is four. Optimizing DEM resolution is $1{\times}1km$. This study also shows that the PRISM output very sensitive to DEM spatial resolution variations. This study contributes to improving the accuracy of PRISM technique as it applies to South Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.129-134
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• 2003

Amounts of CO₂ fixed by net primary production and released by soil respiration were determined on big-cone pine plantation. Net primary production, which was determined by allometric method, was converted into CO₂. CO₂ evolution in forest ecosystems are mainly through soil and root respiration. In order to separate root respiration from soil respiration, root-free sites were made in stand. Litter removal sites were prepared to estimate CO₂ evolution through litter layer. Respiration was measured at every two weeks intervals from April 2001 through April 2002, and soil temperature and soil moisture were measured at the same time. Net primary production of this big-cone pine plantation was 25.7 t·ha/sup -1/·yr/sup -1/. The amount of CO₂ fixed by this plantation was 42.5 t CO₂·ha/sup -1/·yr/sup -1/, The amount of CO₂ released by soil respiration was 5.0 t CO₂·ha/sup -1/·yr/sup -1/. The relative contribution of root respiration and litter layer respiration to total respiration was 46% and 32%, respectively. Net amount of fixed CO₂ was 37.5 t CO₂·ha/sup -1/·yr/sup -1/ in this big-cone pine plantation. From this result, this big-cone pine plantation play a carbon sink source from the atmosphere.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.650-657
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• 2020

We conducted a phylogeographic analysis of Korean endemic Zacco koreanus populations inhabiting the East-flowing river (Gangneung Yeongokcheon; GY, Yangyang Namdaecheon; YN), the Han River (Seomgang; SG, Soksacheon; SS), and the Nakdong River(Gilancheon; GA) using the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene (619 bp). Population genetic analysis was further performed to assess the population connectivity for the GY river where there is a large number of human-made artificial weirs with several fishways. The phylogeographic analysis revealed that while the populations of the East-flowing river and those of the Han River formed a monophyletic lineage, the Nakdong River individuals represented a distinct lineage with 3.7-4.2% (mean=4.0%) genetic distance from the other lineages. The population genetic analysis of the GY showed that a mid-stream population harbored relatively higher mitochondrial diversity relative to up- and down-stream populations, and there was no genetic differentiation between these three populations. The latter findings might suggest high genetic connectivity between the populations via genetic flow along the fishways. However, an analysis using faster-evolving genetic markers, such as microsatellites, is needed to confirm the findings of high population connectivity. Our study suggests the possibility of the presence of cryptic species in Z. koreanus in the Nakdong River basin. However, further study with more individual samples as well as additional markers or even more advanced genomic tools is required to test our hypothesis. Ecological or phenotypic analyses should be conducted to test whether the observed Nakdong River lineage represents a different or cryptic species, or simply hidden, but excessive, intraspecific diversity.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2020

Background: Understanding the geographical distribution of a species is a key component of studying its ecology, evolution, and conservation. Although Schlegel's Japanese gecko (Gekko japonicus) is widely distributed in Northeast Asia, its distribution has not been studied in detail. We predicted the present and future distribution of G. japonicus across China, Japan, and Korea based on 19 climatic and 5 environmental variables using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) species distribution model. Results: Present time major suitable habitats for G. japonicus, having greater than 0.55 probability of presence (threshold based on the average predicted probability of the presence records), are located at coastal and inland cities of China; western, southern, and northern coasts of Kyushu and Honshu in Japan; and southern coastal cities of Korea. Japan contained 69.3% of the suitable habitats, followed by China (27.1%) and Korea (4.2%). Temperature seasonality (66.5% of permutation importance) was the most important predictor of the distribution. Future distributions according to two climate change scenarios predicted that by 2070, and overall suitable habitats would decrease compared to the present habitats by 18.4% (scenario RCP 4.5) and 10.4% (scenario RCP 8.5). In contrast to these overall trends, range expansions are expected in inland areas of China and southern parts of Korea. Conclusions: Suitable habitats predicted for G. japonicus are currently located in coastal cities of Japan, China, and Korea, as well as in isolated patches of inland China. Due to climate change, suitable habitats are expected to shrink along coastlines, particularly at the coastal-edge of climate change zones. Overall, our results provide essential distribution range information for future ecological studies of G. japonicus across its distribution range.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.44-56
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• 2017

Sustainable development is important because the ultimate objective is efficient development combining the economic, social, and environmental aspects of urban conservation. Despite Korea's rapid urbanization and economic development, the distribution of resources is inefficient, and land-use is not an exception. Land use distribution is difficult, as it requires considering a variety of purposes, whose solutions lie in a multipurpose optimization process. In this study, Yangpyeong-eup, Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do, is selected, as the site has ecological balance, is well-preserved, and has the potential to support population increases. Further, we have used the genetic algorithm method, as it helps to evolve solutions for complex spatial problems such as planning and distribution of land use. This study applies change to the way of mutation. With four goals and restrictions of area, spatial objectives, minimizing land use conversion, ecological conservation, maximizing economic profit, restricting area to a specific land use, and setting a fixed area, we developed an optimal planning map. No urban areas at the site needed preservation and the high urban area growth rate coincided with the optimization of purpose and maximization of economic profit. When the minimum point of the fitness score is the convergence point, we found optimization occurred approximately at 1500 generations. The results of this study can support planning at Yangpyeong-eup.ausative relationship between the perception of improving odor regulation and odor acceptance.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.367-381
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• 2003

Dispersal polymorphism in insects Is a kind of adaptive strategy of the life history together with the diapause, consisting of the “long-winged or alate forms” of migratory phase and the “short-winged or apterous forms” of stationary phase. Dispersal polymorphism is a polymorphism related with the flight capability, and has three categories ; the wing polymorphisms, flight muscle polymorphisms, and flight behavior variations. Phase variation is another type of dispersal polymorphism varying in morphology, physiology and wing forms in response to the density of the population. The dispersal migration is a very adaptive trait that enables a species to keep pace with the changing mosaic of its habitat, but requires some costs. In general, wing reduction has a positive effect on the reproductive potential such as earlier reproduction and larger fecundity The dispersal polymorphism is a kind of optimization in the evolutionary strategies of the life history in insects; a trade-off between the advantages and disadvantages of migration. Wing polymorphism is a phenotypically plastic trait. Wing form changes with the environmental conditions even though the species is the same. Various environmental factors have an effect on the dispersal polymorphisms. Density dependent dispersal polymorphism plays an important role In population dynamics, but it is not a simple function of the density; the individuals of a population may be different in response to the density resulting different outcomes in the population biology, and the detailed information on the genotypic variation of the individuals in the population is the fundamental importance in the prediction of the population performances in a given environment. In conclusion, the studies on the dispersal polymorphisms are a complicated field in relation with both physiology and ecology, and studies on the ecological and quantitative genetics have indeed contributed to understanding of its important nature. But the final factors of evolution; the mechanisms of natural selections, might be revealed through the studies on the population biology.