• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.365-381
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• 2009

The chloroplast DNA sequences of Megaleranthis saniculifolia, an endemic and monotypic endangered plant species, were completed in this study (GenBank FJ597983). The genome is 159,924 bp in length. It harbors a pair of IR regions consisting of 26,608 bp each. The lengths of the LSC and SSC regions are 88,326 bp and 18,382 bp, respectively. The structural organizations, gene and intron contents, gene orders, AT contents, codon usages, and transcription units of the Megaleranthis chloroplast genome are similar to those of typical land plant cp DNAs. However, the detailed features of Megaleranthis chloroplast genomes are substantially different from that of Ranunculus, which belongs to the same family, the Ranunculaceae. First, the Megaleranthis cp DNA was 4,797 bp longer than that of Ranunculus due to an expanded IR region into the SSC region and duplicated sequence elements in several spacer regions of the Megaleranthis cp genome. Second, the chloroplast genomes of Megaleranthis and Ranunculus evidence 5.6% sequence divergence in the coding regions, 8.9% sequence divergence in the intron regions, and 18.7% sequence divergence in the intergenic spacer regions, respectively. In both the coding and noncoding regions, average nucleotide substitution rates differed markedly, depending on the genome position. Our data strongly implicate the positional effects of the evolutionary modes of chloroplast genes. The genes evidencing higher levels of base substitutions also have higher incidences of indel mutations and low Ka/Ks ratios. A total of 54 simple sequence repeat loci were identified from the Megaleranthis cp genome. The existence of rich cp SSR loci in the Megaleranthis cp genome provides a rare opportunity to study the population genetic structures of this endangered species. Our phylogenetic trees based on the two independent markers, the nuclear ITS and chloroplast MatK sequences, strongly support the inclusion of the Megaleranthis to the Trollius. Therefore, our molecular trees support Ohwi's original treatment of Megaleranthis saniculifolia to Trollius chosenensis Ohwi.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.265-271
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• 2018

Background: Temperature-driven variation in pollinator assemblage and activity are important information, especially at high altitudes, where rising temperature trends exceed global levels. Temporal patterns of pollinators in a flowering season can be used as a proxy to predict the changes of high-altitude plants' mutualistic relationships. We observed a spring temperature change in one population of a high-altitude endemic species, Megaleranthis saniculifolia on Mt. Sobaeksan, and related it to pollinator assemblage and activity changes. Methods: This study was conducted at two sites, each facing different slopes (NE and NW), for two times in the spring of 2013 (early-flowering, April 27-28, vs. mid-flowering, May 7-8, 2013). We confirmed that the two sites were comparable in snowmelt regime, composition of flowering plants, and flower density, which could affect pollinator assemblage and activity. Pollinator assemblage and activity were investigated at three quadrats ($1m^2$ with 5-m distance) for each site, covering a total of 840 min observation for each site. We analyzed correlations between the temperature and visitation frequency. Results: Twelve pollinator species belonging to four orders were observed for M. saniculifolia at both sites during early- and mid-flowering times. Diptera (five species) and hymenopteran species (four species) were the most abundant pollinators. Pollinator richness increased at both sites toward the mid-flowering time [early vs. mid = 7 (NE) and 3 (NW) vs. 9 (NE) and 5 (NW)]. Compared to the early-flowering time, visitation frequency showed a fourfold increase in the mid-flowering time. With the progression of spring, major pollinators changed from flies to bees. Upon using data pooled over both sites and flowering times, hourly visitation frequency was strongly positively correlated with hourly mean air temperature. Conclusions: The spring temperature change over a relatively brief flowering period of M. saniculifolia at high altitudes can alter pollinator assemblages through pollinator dominance and visitation frequency changes. Thus, this study emphasizes information on intra- and inter-annual variations in the mutualistic relationship between pollinators and M. saniculifolia to further assess the warming impacts on M. saniculifolia's reproductive fitness.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.75-84
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• 2012

The importance of the genetic value of native plants has been raised recently after the adoption of Nagoya Protocol. In this stream, this research focused on the future distribution of Megaleranthis saniculifolia which has been evolved and adapted to Korean natural environment and classified as an endemic endangered species by IUCN. The distribution of the species in future are projected based on 'present potential distribution area' by adopting SRES (Special Report on Emission Scenarios) A1B climate change scenario using 6 types of GCM (General Circulation Model). The major results of the research are as follows : habitats of Megaleranthis saniculifolia. (1) will be reduced by 44% nation wide; (2) in Chungcheongngnam Do and Jeollanam Do will be the most affected; and (3) in high altitude in Chungcheongbuk Do, Gyunggi Do and Gangwon Do will be relatively less affected.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.116-125
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• 2017

Alpine plants with a scarcity of pollinators in harsh environments have been believed to undergo selfing for reproductive assurance; however, contradictory evidence is also available. Snowmelt regimes in alpine areas function to change life history characteristics of alpine plants such as flowering time and duration; yet the effects of snowmelt regimes have never been tested in alpine plants in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the dichogamy, mating systems, and flowering characteristics of Megaleranthis saniculifolia populations [early and late snowmelt plots (ESP and LSP, respectively)] in a subalpine area of Sobaeksan Mountain in Korea. M. saniculifolia exhibited incomplete protogyny in that despite early maturation of pistils, maturation times of pistils and stamens within flowers were partly overlapped. Control and hand-outcrossing treatments produced significantly higher number of follicles and seeds per flower than autonomous and hand-selfing treatments. Based on the aggregate fruit set, the auto-fertility index (AI) and self-compatibility index (SI) were 0.33 and 0.50, respectively. Snowmelt occurred 10 days earlier in ESP than in LSP, thereby ESP and LSP showed distinct differences with regard to flower longevity and season, but showing no difference in peak flowering dates. We concluded that M. saniculifolia is an incomplete protogynous and largely outcrossing plant requiring pollinator service. Temporal variation in snowmelt time and subsequent changes in flowering characteristics under climate change may further threaten the population persistence of M. saniculifolia which has already been designated as endangered species in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2008

Anatomical features of seed coat were examined on Trollius, Calathodes, and Caltha of Ranunculaceae to evaluate the taxonomic circumscription of Megaleranthis saniculifolia, which is monotypic and endemic in Korea. Megaleranthis saniculifolia showed the exotestal type of seed coat exhibiting a well-developed palisade structure in exotesta and its external surface of exotesta cells was concave. On the other hand, the shape of exotesta cells in Caltha was cuboidal and the outer surface was smooth. The exotesta of Calathodes seeds was formed of the palisade structure like M. saniculifolia, but the outer surface of exotesta cells was smooth. The palisade structure was much better developed in the exotesta of Calathodes as well as Megaleranthis seeds than in the exotesta of Trollius seeds. The outer surface of exotesta cells in Trollius was either convex or concave according to the species examined. Since the genera of the subtribe Calthinae of the family display differences in seed sculpturing and the anaotmy of seed coat, these characteristics are useful to access taxonomic relationships among them. The morphological and anatomical features of seed coat suggest that Megaleranthis be possibly allied with Trollius rather than Caltha or Calathodes. Concave surface of seed coat cells and well-developed palisade structure of exotesta are shared by M. saniculifolia and some species of Trollius in common.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2003.08a
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• pp.117.3-117
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• 2003

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.314-322
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• 2009

Vegetation, environmental characteristics and soil analysis of Megaleranthis saniculifolia Ohwi habitats were investigated to propose the basal data for conservation and restoration. M. saniculifolia was distributed around an altitude of 770~1,440 m with an inclination of $0{\sim}20^{\circ}$, and mostly formed discontinuous populations in northern part of valley. The vascular plants from 78 quadrates of 11 habitats were identified 111 taxa. Importance value of M. saniculifolia was 27.05%, and highly ranked 5 species such as Veratrum oxysepalum (5.67%), Corydalis turtschaninovii (5.32%), Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus (4.35%), Meehania urticifolia (4.06%) and Anemone koraiensis (3.91%) were considered to be an affinity with M. saniculifolia. Dominant species of woody plants in 78 quadrates were represented as Cornus controversa, Juglans mandshurica, Quercus mongolica, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum and A. mono in tree (B1) layer, A. pseudo-sieboldianum and Carpinus cordata in subtree (B2) layer, Deutzia glabrata and Prunus padus in shrub (S) layer. Average species diversity was 1.16, and dominance and evenness were found to be 0.12 and 0.81, respectively. Average field capacity was 26.41%, and the organic matter and soil pH were 7.83% and 5.83. Correlation coefficients based on environmental factors, vegetation and soil analysis were showed that the positive correlations between slope degrees and pH, slope degrees and organic matter, dominance and importance value, species diversity and richness, whereas between species diversity and dominance, and importance value and dominance were showed negative correlations.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.315-323
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• 2011

To elucidate the taxonomic status of the genus Megaleranthis Ohwi, a monotype in Korea, its distribution and morphological characteristics were studied and a cluster analysis was performed. The cluster analysis showed that Megaleranthis was separately clustered from Trollius and Calathodes. Megaleranthis is morphologically different from Calathodes Hook.f. et Thomson in having petals, and from Trollius L. in having an involucre instead of a caulescent leaf under the flower and follicles with simple veins. The three genera above are distributed independently within Asia, although they can be found together at the boundaries where their distributions overlap: Trollius and Calathodes occur together between the Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in China, and Megaleranthis and Trollius can both be found on the northern edge of the Korean Peninsula. From both a morphological and a distributional viewpoint, Megaleranthis should be recognized as an independent genus different from both Trollius and Calathodes.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2010

This study was conducted to provide basic information for conservation and restoration through investigation of vegetation and soil condition of Megaleranthis saniculifolia Ohwi, Korean endemic species, in Mt. Halla, Jeju Island. Very few individuals were discontinuously distributed and restricted at 1,075 m above sea level, very steep slope ($60-70^{\circ}C$), rocky area of north face of Eorimok Valley. For investigation of environmental condition, we established two $10\;{\times}\;10\;m$ quadrats in the habitats and one control quadrat. Twenty-four species were found at site 1 under 10-12 m Carpinus laxiflora tree layer (35%) and soil conditions are pH 5.9, moisture content (field capacity) 9.39%, organic carbon 8.22% and organic matter 14.17%, respectively. Site2, 15 taxa were found under 8-12 m Platycarya strobilacea tree layer (40%) and soil conditions are pH 5.07, moisture content 4.99%, organic carbon 5.34% and 9.21 percentage of organic matter. In the control quadrat, 14 taxa were found under 10 m Carpinus laxiflora tree layer (10%) and soil conditions are pH 5.27, moisture content 6.23%, organic carbon 4.74% and organic matter 8.17%, respectively. The principal causes of threat which were investigated in this study are competition among company, very steep slopes, artificial management of valley. For restoration and conservation of habitats, it is needed to suitable plans.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.312-323
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• 1999

External morphology, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and vegetation were investigated to understand the taxonomic relationships and native environmental characters of Megaleranthis saniculifolia populations in four different habitats. Morphological characters such as calyx length and width, calyx index, presence or absence of serrate in calyx lobe, length of peduncle, branch of peduncle and fruit characters were useful for the identification of four different habitats. But, characters of plant height, bract and seed in four habitats were similar. The results obtained based on the principal component(PC) analysis of treated 96 OTU were divided into two groups by PC 1, 2, 3, and the sums of contributions for the total variance were 66.79%(PC1 31.3%, PC2 20.7%, PC3 15.8%, respectively), and only Mt. Taeki population was distinctly different from populations of other three habitats. In cluster analysis based on average linkage cluster analysis and Ward's method, there were similarities in the composition of clustered taxa, and each populations were not identified. Importance value by relative coverage and frequency appeared in M. saniculifolia(50.81%), Aruncus dioicus(12.64%), Corydalus turtschanovii(11.62%), Veratrum oxysepalum(11.45%), Anemone koraiensis(8.96%), Meehania urticifolia(8.76%), Filipendula palmata(7.06%), Aconitum pseudo-laeve(5.66%), Pseudostellaria palibiniana(5.45%) and Smilacina japonica(5.25%), respectively. These species were considered to be highly similar with M. saniculifolia. The highest importance value in all investigated sites was M. saniculifolia, but specific composition of high level different from each habitat. Average diversity of species was 1.40, and the highest in Mt. Kwangdeok(1.31), lowest in Mt. Jumbong(1.17). Average soil pH was 5.25 and similar in each habitat. Although the lowest content of K ion, but the highest the EC, water capacity, organic compound, Ca content were found in soil of Mt. Sobaek. Soils in Mt. Kwangdeok had the lowest content of EC, organic compound, Ca. Soils of Mt. Jumbong showed the highest of Mg content, but the lowest of water capacity, $P_2O_5$, and K contents.