• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2017

The red-spotted apollo butterfly, Parnassius bremeri Bremer, 1864 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), is an endangered species in South Korea. Development and application of molecular markers to assess population genetics perspectives can be used as a basis to establish effective conservation strategies. In this study, we developed 12 microsatellite markers specific to P. bremeri using Illumina paired-end sequencing and applied the markers to South Korean populations to understand population characteristics. Genotyping of 40 P. bremeri individuals from three localities showed that at each locus, the observed number of alleles ranged from 6 to 22 and the observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.500-1.00 and 0.465 to 0.851, respectively. Significant deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was not observed in all loci studied. The population based $F_{ST}$ and $R_{ST}$ collectively suggest that at least the Samcheok population in northernmost Gangwon Province has a significant divergence from the remaining two populations (P < 0.01), and this result is also reflected in the forewing length. Further studies with an increased sample size will be necessary to draw robust conclusions and devise conservation strategies.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.347-363
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• 2009

The 15,389-bp long complete mitogenome of the endangered red-spotted apollo butterfly, Parnassius bremeri (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) was determined in this study. The start codon for the COI gene in insects has been extensively discussed, and has long remained a matter of some controversy. Herein, we propose that the CGA (arginine) sequence functions as the start codon for the COI gene in lepidopteran insects, on the basis of complete mitogenome sequences of lepidopteran insects, including P. bremeri, as well as additional sequences of the COI start region from a diverse taxonomic range of lepidopteran species (a total of 53 species from 15 families). In our extensive search for a tRNA-like structure in the A+T-rich region, one $tRNA^{Trp}$-like sequence and one $tRNA^{Leu}(UUR)$-like sequence were detected in the P. bremeri A+T-rich region, and one or more tRNA-like structures were detected in the A+T-rich region of the majority of other sequenced lepidopteran insects, thereby indicating that such features occur frequently in the lepidopteran mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analysis using the concatenated 13 amino acid sequences and nucleotide sequences of PCGs of the four macrolepidopteran superfamilies together with the Tortricoidea and Pyraloidea resulted in the successful recovery of a monophyly of Papilionoidea and a monophyly of Bombycoidea. However, the Geometroidea were unexpectedly identified as a sister group of the Bombycoidea, rather than the Papilionoidea.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2011

Understanding the metapopulation structure and movement of a species are required for conserving the species. In this paper, migration patterns and connectivity of patches of a threatened butterfly, Parnassius bremeri Bremer, were postulated using the mark-release-recapture (MRR) technique in a habitat located in the mid-southern region of the Korean peninsula. A total of 194 individuals were captured (137 males and 57 females) and, of them, 93 individuals (73 males and 20 females) were recaptured during the MRR experiment. The migration analysis showed 23-150% immigration and 28-53% emigration. There were high correlations between the migrating individuals and the distance between patches, but there was no correlation between migrating individuals and patch size or between migrating individuals and the number of host plants. Consequently, the migration of butterflies occurred frequently between closer patches, while patch size and quantity of the food plant had minor effects on migration behavior. Additionally, males migrated more frequently than females. Analysis of the migration patterns of P. bremeri showed that the central patch played an important role on linking patch groups and more frequent migrations were monitored between nearby patches than between the remote patches. This study suggested that active migrations take place between the neighboring multiple patches and these are accelerated if there is a stepping-stone patch between them.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2012

Understanding the ecological complexity and habitat of a species are crucially important to conserve an endangered species. This study evaluated the patch network ecology of the endangered species $Parnassius$ $bremeri$. The results indicated that 188 individuals were captured and 220 were recaptured, respectively. The sex ratio of female: male was 42:146; males were four times more abundant than females. The average longevity of an adult was $3.93{\pm}3.93$ days (male, $4.0{\pm}3.9$; female, $2.5{\pm}1.0$ days); the maximum longevity was 14 days for males and 13 days for females, respectively. Therefore, the expected longevity of males was longer than that of females. The average emigration distance for the species was 377 m, and the maximum emigration distance was 1550 m. The analysis of patch connectivity and individual colonization revealed that the ideal distance between patches was about 300 m. Moreover, a >600 m patch distance decreased the colonization rate severely. We also observed higher immigration and emigration between patches that were clustered in close proximity. This leads us to conclude that a higher number of patches at a close distance is best suited for $P.bremeri$. We find these results to be crucial to determine a policy to protect and conserve this endangered species.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.98-106
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• 2011

Establishing conservation programs to protect and maintain populations of endangered species are not only a global trend, but also a pursuit endorsed by the Korean Environmental Conservation Act. This study evaluates the feasibility of alternative habitat patches for the endangered butterfly Parnassius bremeri. A portion of habitat of P. bremeri is expected to be fragmented and damaged due to the scheduled construction of the Sangju-Yongduk Highway. A trans fer of the habitat patches of P. bremeri is also scheduled. In order to select an alternative habitat patch, the Mark-Release-Recapture (MRR) method was used to simulate a patch transfer model. The connectedness between habitat are as and the survival of local populations were evaluated for each candidate habitat. It was found that metapopulations with patch distances of <250m showed a 50% connectedness and survival rate in local populations. P. bremeri were expected to migrate at an average distance of 300m. In addition, P. bremeri formed a metapopulation that exhibited intimate patch dynamics that promoted persistence among these patches. Possible candidate habitats including those recommended by local governing bodies were evaluated along with habitats that may counter problems arising from the damage done to the original habitat and habitats that may have a compensatory value equal to that of the original habitat. Based on these criteria, Ansa-myeon township office was selected due to its high scores. This scoring was based on a consideration of a wide range of variables that mark a successful transfer of habitat. These include the amount of funding available, the governing bodies of the possible alternative habitat, and the Expected collaborative effort of local citizens. This decision was collaborated on by incorporating the expertise of various fields of study including biology, ecology, biogeography, ecological engineering, landscape architecture, and social sciences. Therefore, it is suggested that in order to evaluate an alternative habitat for organisms, many social issues as well as ecological issues must be considered.