• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.15-19
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• 2010

The Russian ratsnake, Elaphe schrenckii, is found in Russia, China, and Korea, and is considered to be an endangered species by the Ministry of Environment in South Korea. Due to habitat loss and use in oriental medicine, their population has been severely decimated. In South Korea, two subspecies of E. schrenckii has been defined according to body color: E. s. schrenckii (blackish) and E. s. anomala (yellow-brownish). Molecular genetic studies on Elaphe schrenckii are very scarce and the taxonomy of Elaphe schrenckii subspecies is uncertain. From the present study, we attempted to identify the genetic differences of these two subspecies using species-specific microsatellites developed from the genomic library of E. schrenckii. Nine polymorphic loci were tested on 19 individuals from E. s. schrenckii (n=10) and E. s. anomala (n=9) in South Korea. The mean number of alleles was 3.78 in E. s. schrenckii and 4.11 in E. s. anomala. The average expected heterozygosity was 0.542 and 0.511 in E. s. schrenckii and E. s. anomala, respectively. We found a lack of genetic structure between two subspecies ($F_{ST}=0.016$) and no genetic discrimination between two subspecies was found. Based on the present findings by microsatellites, two subspecies can be considered as one species, E. schrenckii. However, further investigations on taxonomical status using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences need to be performed and morphological & ecological data should be revised. The genetic markers should benefit future studies of the endangered species of other Elaphe species for the study of genetic diversity and potential conservation management.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.41-50
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• 2012

To determine the movement patterns, home range, and use of structural features of captive-bred one- or two-year-old Amur ratsnake (Elaphe schrenckii) juveniles in the natural habitat, we radio-tracked a total of 11 juvenile snakes in a mountain valley in Chiaksan National Park, South Korea, between August 21 and September 20, 2010 and between June 13 and July 13, 2011. During the first week of the release, most juveniles moved short distances, daily, but they increased their distances after the first week. The body weight of the juveniles was negatively related with the movement rate (dividing the number of movements by the number of relocations), which was positively related with the mean daily distances moved and the size of both a kernel 50% and 95% home range. During the study period, the juveniles moved daily, approximately 17 m, and the size of the minimum convex polygon and the 50% and 95% kernel home ranges were 1.8 ha, 0.4 ha, and 3.0 ha, respectively. The released captive-bred juveniles were more frequently confirmed underground or on the ground rather than on rocks or on trees. Our results suggest that the body condition of released individuals, the seasonal time of the release, and the existence of available prey and shelters in the habitat should be carefully considered when releasing captive-bred Amur ratsnake juveniles for the rehabilitation of field populations.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.217-220
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• 2018

A female Russian rat snake, Elaphe schrenckii, was presented for loss of movement. Physical examination showed the swelling in the area of heart. Radiographic examination revealed cardiomegaly, pericardial effusion, and a soft opacity in the area of swelling. Although pericardiocentesis to remove fluid out from the heart as well as vigorous treatments were given to the Russian rat snake, it died during treatments. Postmortem examination confirmed pericardial effusion of pale yellow, translucent fluid with mild dilation of the right atrium and ventricle. Formalin -fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections were stained with routine H&E and the classical von Kossa's method for histopathological demonstration. Histopathological examination revealed multifocal calcification in myocardium and consists of the displacement of muscular fiber by limy deposits. Congestive heart failure was suspicious for the snake when it was alive. In wild reptiles, muscle degeneration has been reported with nutrition disorders but the present case is the first report of myocardial degeneration in a Russian rat snake and contributes to the rare reports of cardiac disease in snakes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권5호
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• pp.531-536
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• 2013

Morphological characteristics of Mesocestoides lineatus tetrathyridia collected from Chinese snakes and their adults recovered from experimental animals were studied. The tetrathyridia were detected mainly in the mesentery of 2 snake species, Agkistrodon saxatilis (25%) and Elaphe schrenckii (20%). They were 1.73 by 1.02 mm in average size and had an invaginated scolex with 4 suckers. Adult tapeworms were recovered from 2 hamsters and 1 dog, which were orally infected with 5-10 larvae each. Adults from hamsters were about 32 cm long and those from a dog were about 58 cm long. The scolex was 0.56 mm in average width with 4 suckers of 0.17 by 0.15 mm in average size. Mature proglottids measured 0.29 by 0.91 mm (av.). Ovaries and vitellaria bilobed and located in the posterior portion of proglottids. The cirrus sac was oval-shaped and located median. Testes were follicular, distributed in both lateral fields of proglottids, and 41-52 in number per proglottid. Gravid proglottids were 1.84 by 1.39 mm (av.) with a characteristic paruterine organ. Eggs were 35 by $27{\mu}m$ in average size with a hexacanth embryo. These morphological characteristics of adult worms were identical with those of M. lineatus reported previously. Therefore, it has been confirmed that the tetrathyridia detected in 2 species of Chinese snakes are the metacestodes of M. lineatus, and 2 snake species, A. saxatilis and E. schrenckii, play the role of intermediate hosts.

• 환경생물
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.146-154
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• 2009

본 연구는 PIT tag (passive integrated transponder)과 무선추적법(radio telemetry)을 오대산국립공원과 월악산국립공원에 서식하고 있는 파충류에 적용한 후, 이를 평가하여 효과적으로 국립공원 내 파충류 자원관리 방안을 모색하기 위하여 수행되었다. PIT tag은 현재까지 알려진 파충류 개체표시법 중에서 가장 효과적인 방법으로 2006년 3월부터 2008년 10월까지 오대산국립공원과 월악산국립공원의 조사지역에 출현한 모든 137마리의 뱀류를 대상으로 적용하였다. 무선추적 연구는 월악산국립공원에서 서식하고 있는 황구렁이(Elaphe schrenckii anomala) 2마리를 대상으로 2007년 9월부터 2008년 11월까지 실시하였다. 연구결과, 두 곳의 국립공원 지역에서 연구기간 동안 17마리가 재 포획되어 평균 12.40%의 재포획률을 보였으며, 재 포획된 개체들의 자료를 통하여 누룩뱀 (Elaphe dione)과 쇠살모사 (Gloydius ussuriensis) 성체의 SVL 증가를 성공적으로 확인하였다. 무선추적을 통하여 확인된 황구렁이 수컷의 행동권 면적은 MCP=389,600 $m^2$, Kernel 95%=471,800 $m^2$, 암컷은 MCP=162,500 $m^2$, Kernel 95%=208,700 $m^2$인 것으로 확인되었다. 국립공원 내에서 보호와 관리가 필요한 종 혹은 멸종위기대상 종인 파충류를 대상으로 PIT tag과 무선추적을 적용한다면 공원 내 파충류의 효율적인 관리 및 보존방안을 마련하는 데 중요한 기초자료를 제공할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국환경생태학회지
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.381-396
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• 2017

생물 종의 분포를 파악하는 것은 진화생물학 뿐만 아니라 보전생물학에서 매우 중요한 연구 분야이다. 최근에는 직접적인 관찰 위주 결과의 한계를 극복하고자, 종 분포 모델을 적용한 멸종위기종의 보전에 대한 연구들이 다양한 분류군에서 이루어지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 개체들이 관찰된 좌표 자료와 종 분포 모델링 기법을 바탕으로 한국에 서식하고 있는 멸종위기양서 파충류 종들의 주요 분포지역을 예측하고 이들의 서식지 특성을 파악하였다. 분석에 이용된 멸종위기양서 파충류는 이끼도롱뇽(Karsenia koreana)과 수원청개구리(Hyla suweonensis), 금개구리(Pelophylax chosenicus), 맹꽁이(Kaloula borealis), 구렁이(Elaphe schrenckii), 표범장지뱀(Eremias argus), 남생이(Mauremys reevesii), 자라(Pelodiscus sinensis)를 포함하며, 고리도롱뇽(Hynobius yangi)과 비바리뱀(Sibynophis chinensis)은 표본수가 적어 분석에서 제외되었다. 그 결과 고도가 멸종위기종들의 분포에 가장 중요한 환경변수로 나타났으며, 그들이 분포한 고도는 그 지역의 기후와 상관관계를 나타냈다. 또한 종분포 모델링에서 예측된 분포지역은 본 연구의 관찰결과 뿐만 아니라 다른 선행 조사의 관찰결과를 충분히 포함하고 있었다. 8종의 AUC 값은 평균 $0.845{\pm}0.08$로 비교적 높게 측정되었고, 오류 값은 $0.087{\pm}0.01$로 비교적 낮게 측정되었다. 따라서 생성된 멸종위기종들의 종 분포 모델은 성공적으로 생성되었다고 판단된다. 멸종위기양서 파충류들의 주요 분포지역을 확인하기 위해 분포 모델들을 중첩한 결과, 5 종은 한반도의 서쪽 지역인 경기도와 충청남도의 해안지역 주변에서 공통적으로 서식하고 있는 것으로 예측되었다. 따라서 이와 같은 지역들을 우선적으로 보호지역으로 지정되어야 하며, 이러한 결과들은 멸종위기양서 파충류의 보호지역을 지정함에 있어 보호대책 수립에 중요한 기초자료가 될 수 있을 것이다.