• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.107-123
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• 1996

The position effects on the abortion of flowers, fruits, and ovules were examined in relation to the resource limitation hypothesis using a temperate legume species, Vicia cracca. Fifty plants were randomly sampled from a natural population located at the Belmont Conservation Site in Belmont, MA, USA. Due to indeterminant growth and acropetal flowering of this species, the position of flower or fruit on the plant was able to be coded by the combination of architectural levels such as plant half (lower and upper half) and inflorescence half (lower and upper half) within each plant half. Overall, only 17.3% of the flowers on an inflorescence began to develop into fruits, while overall 36.0% of the fruits initiated failed to mature. Consequently, 11.5% of the flowers successfully matured into fruits. The mean flower number per inflorescence differed significantly among plants as well as between plant halves. Although the probability of fruit initiation was higher in the lower halves of both plant and inflorescence than in the upper halves of the latter, fruit abortion rate differed significantly only between plant halves. The overall mean seed set was 33.6%, implying that about two out of six ovules in a fruit matured into seeds. The seed set was independent of both plant identity and architectural level unlike other reproductive characters examined. When the ovule developmental stage was examined on data pooled over all fruits, the proportion of ovules in varying developmental stages decreased in order of early abortion, seed maturation, late abortion, and seed predation (48.4, 34.9, 12.2, and 4.5%, respectively). A within-fruit ovule position was also used as a class variable for the analysis of position effects on ovule development. All architectural levels considered exerted singificant influence over the ovule development. In particular, ovule development was strongly affected by the within-fruit ovule position. Ovules in both extreme ends within a fruit tended to abort early, while those in the middle position were more likely to mature into seeds. The strong position effects detected from the flowering to seed maturation stage were interpreted as an indication of competitive interaction among reproductive characters which are largely constrained by plant architecture.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2001

The stink bug, Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff.) is a natural and potential biocontrol agent of Spilarctia obliqua (Walk.). The present investigation reveals the biology, predatory efficiency and reproductive parameters of the predator which feeds on S. obliqua caterpillars in mulberry plantation. In order to find out the role of prey sine on the biology of the predators the predatory insects were separately fed with small and large caterpillars of S. obliqua. The incubation period of the eggs of E. furcellata was 8.37${\pm}$0.44 days, while the nymphal duration varied as per the prey sine. The predator when supplied with small larvae of prey, consumed 61.1 larvae and completed nymphal stage in 19.9 days; while those fed with larger prey, consumed 36.1 larvae and completed their nymphal stage in 21.55 days. The prey size also influences the reproductive parameters of the predator, The adult female predator is more voracious feeder than the adult male and consumed 41.9${\pm}$0.64 small larvae and 42.2${\pm}$0.87 large larvae during their life span. The longevity of male and female was observed as 20.7 and 29.4 days respectively. Visualization of the predator as well as the movement of the prey increases the predatory efficiency. Scanning electron microscopic studies on the feeding part explain its support in effective predation. Field observations indicated a drastic fall in the incidence of the mulberry pest, S. obliqua with the increased population E. furcellata in mulberry plantation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.16.1-16.9
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• 2014

Fatty acids (FA) have recently been used in several studies to infer the diet in a number of species. While these studies have been largely successful, most have dealt with predators that have a fairly specialized diet. In this paper, we used FA analysis as a tool to infer the diet of the nearctic river otter (Lontra canadensis). The river otter is an opportunistic predator known to subsist on a wide variety of prey including, fishes, crayfish, molluscs, reptiles and amphibians, among others. We analyzed the principle components of 60 FA from otters and 25 potential prey species in Illinois, USA. Prey species came from 4 major taxonomic divisions: fishes, crayfish, molluscs and amphibians. Within each division, most, but not all, species had significantly different profiles. Using quantitative FA signature analysis, our results suggest that, by mass, fish species are the most significant component of Illinois River otters' diet ($37.7{\pm}1.0%$). Molluscs ranked second ($32.0{\pm}0.8%$), followed by amphibians ($27.3{\pm}4.3%$), and finally, crayfish ($3.0{\pm}0.6%$). Our analysis indicates that molluscs make up a larger portion of the otter diet than previously reported. Throughout much of the Midwest there have been numerous otter reintroduction efforts, many of which appear to be successful. In regions where mollusc species are endangered, these data are essential for management agencies to better understand the potential impact of otters on these species. Our analysis further suggests that quantitative FA signature analysis can be used to infer diet even when prey species are diverse, to the extent that their FA profiles differ. Better understanding of the otter's metabolism of FA would improve inferences of diet from FA analysis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2002

Seasonal variations of species composition and density of caprellids was accomplished in eelgrass beds around Daedo Island, a south coast of Korea. Sampling was performed monthly using an epifaunal sampler at two stations from June 1996 to May 1997, Caprellids were comprised of 6 species belong to a family Caprellidae, Mean density was 402 ind./$m^2$. The numerically-dominant species were Caprella tsugarensis (216 ind./$m^2$) and C. kroeyeri (129 ind./$m^2$). High density was occurred in the early summer, and lows in autumn and winter. The density of caprellids was correlated with the biomass of the eelgrass. Predation pressure by fish was also correlated with the density of caprellids in spring.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2014

Scientific study has investigated the body condition differences by habitat characteristics in larvae Korea salamander (Hynobius leechii) from March to April in 2012. To examine the sensitivity of external environment (predation risk), we divided two groups according to habitat characteristic; 1) Permanent pond and 2) Temporary pond. Howere, each larva was measured by head width at the level of the eye (HWE), largest head width (LHW) and snout-vent length, and we calculated the ratio of the head size by dividing HWE/LHW. As a result, larvae were larger in permanent pond group, had a faster growth rate than in temporary pond group. When exposed to the predator, larvae in permanent pond were smaller HWE/LHW than larvae in permanent pond. Therefore, these results indicate larvae in temporary pond more sensitive to the external environment.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.746-753
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate artificial fish shelter, which was known to increase prey survival and expand habitat space to improve species diversity and fish communities in a freshwater ecosystem. The experiment was performed at an outdoor test-bed for three months from 2011 by comparing the responses to adjustments in the volume of the artificial patch (juvenile fish shelter, JFS) in the control and experimental groups. Analysis of the environmental conditions over two periods (Period1 ~ 2) showed minor differences in the physichemical characteristics of water quality, phytoplankton, and zooplankton biomass, thus, allowing comparative analysis of feeding ecology. However, high water temperature conditions in Period1 ($25.6{\pm}2.0^{\circ}C$), affected the predation activity of the piscivorous fishes, Coreoperca herzi (C. herzi, size $89{\pm}4mm$). Survival rates of the prey fishes, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (R. oxycephalus, size $29{\pm}1mm$), improved as the patch volume increased and were higher than those of the control group by 35.9 ~ 46.7%. Analysis showed that JFS reduced the chances of predator-prey encounter, and thereby minimized prey vulnerability.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.175-187
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• 2018

Myxobacteria produce diverse secondary metabolites for predation, self-defense, intercellular signaling, and other unknown functions. Many secondary metabolites isolated from myxobacteria show pharmaceutically useful bioactivity such as anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal activities with a unique mechanism of action. Therefore, a large number of myxobacterial strains have been isolated globally and many bioactive compounds have been purified from them. However, 16S rRNA database analysis indicates that there are far more types of myxobacterial species in the wild than have ever been isolated, and genome sequence analysis suggests that each myxobacterium is capable of producing much more metabolites than already known. In this article, the current status of studies on the secondary metabolites from myxobacteria, their biosynthetic genes, biological functions, and transcriptional regulatory factors governing gene expression were reviewed.

• ALGAE
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.61-78
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• 2020

Species belonging to the dinoflagellate genus Prorocentrum are known to cause red tides or harmful algal blooms. To understand the dynamics of a Prorocentrum sp., its growth and mortality due to predation need to be assessed. However, there are only a few Prorocentrum spp. for which heterotrophic protist predators have been reported. We explored feeding by the common heterotrophic dinoflagellates Gyrodinium dominans, Oxyrrhis marina, Pfiesteria piscicida, Oblea rotunda, and Polykrikos kofoidii and the naked ciliate Strombidinopsis sp. (approx. 90 ㎛ cell length) on the planktonic species Prorocentrum triestinum, P. cordatum, P. donghaiense, P. rhathymum, and P. micans as well as the benthic species P. lima and P. hoffmannianum. All heterotrophic protists tested were able to feed on the planktonic prey species. However, O. marina and O. rotunda did not feed on P. lima and P. hoffmannianum, while G. dominans, P. kofoidii, and Strombidinopsis sp. did. The growth and ingestion rates of G. dominans and P. kofoidii on one of the seven Prorocentrum spp. were significantly different from those on other prey species. G. dominans showed the top three highest growth rates when it fed on P. triestinum, P. cordatum, and P. donghaiense, however, P. kofoidii had negative growth rates when fed on these three prey species. In contrast, P. kofoidii had a positive growth rate only when fed on P. hoffmannianum. This differential feeding on Prorocentrum spp. between G. dominans and P. kofoidii may provide different ecological niches and reduce competition between these two common heterotrophic protist predators.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.19-23
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• 2011

In this study three types of domatia; Tuft (T), Pocket-Tuft (PT) and Pocket (P) were observed on some species of the genus Cornus. Cornus officinalis Sieb & Zuee and C. florida Linnaeus possess T type, C. controversa Hemsl and C. walteri Wangerin possess PT type while C. alba Linnaeus possess P type. A total of 120 leaves were investigated for foliar mite's population. T type domatia was the habitat of 329 mites (48.89%), followed by PT type where 198 mites (29.41%) were found, and the least favored was the P type domatia that accommodated 146 mites (21.70%) out of 673 mites in total. The mean number of mites per domatia was $8({\pm}0.22)$, $4({\pm}0.95)$ and $3({\pm}0.70)$ for T, PT and P type, respectively. The alternative hypothesis that foliar mites prefer T type domatia as a habitat than PT and P type domatia was accepted based on these findings at a probability of P<0.05. Thus, it was concluded that foliar mites prefer T type domatia than the other two types. This could be due to the nature and efficiency of T type domatia in ensuring mites protection from predators and unfriendly environmental conditions. Therefore, the presence of denser tufts lowers the risks of predation and unfriendly environmental conditions and results in a higher number of mites.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.127-140
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• 2019

The species in the dinoflagellate order Suessiales have 5-24 latitudinal paraplate series and include many fossil and extant species. There have been a few studies on the ecophysiology of the phototrophic species Biecheleriopsis adriatica, and no study on its predators. Thus, we explored the feeding occurrence by common heterotrophic protists on B. adriatica and the growth and ingestion rates of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina on B. adriatica BATY06 as a function of prey concentration. The common heterotrophic dinoflagellates Aduncodinium glandula, O. marina, Gyrodinium dominans, Gyrodinium moestrupii, Luciella masanensis, Pfiesteria piscicida, and Oblea rotunda and two naked ciliates Strombidinopsis sp. and Pelagostrobilidium sp. were able to feed on B. adriatica, but the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Polykrikos kofoidii was not. However, B. adriatica supported the positive growth of O. marina, but did not support that of G. dominans and O. rotunda. With increasing prey concentrations, the growth and ingestion rates of O. marina on B. adriatica increased and became saturated. The maximum growth rate of O. marina on B. adriatica was $0.162d^{-1}$. Furthermore, the maximum ingestion rate of O. marina on B. adriatica was $0.2ng\;C\;predator^{-1}\;d^{-1}$ ($2.0cells\;predator^{-1}\;d^{-1}$). In the order Suessiales, the feeding occurrence by common heterotrophic protists on B. adriatica is similar to that on Effrenium voratum and Biecheleria cincta, but different from that on Yihiella yeosuensis. However, the growth and ingestion rates of O. marina on B. adriatica are considerably lower than those on E. voratum and B. cincta, but higher than those on Y. yeosuensis. Therefore, B. adriatica may be less preferred prey for O. marina than E. voratum and B. cincta, but more preferred prey than Y. yeosuensis.