• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1-19
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• 2017

This study set out to identify problems with amphibian habitation by the wetland types and improve their habitation environment in urban forest wetlands, thus creating a habitat for amphibians. Study site include forest swamps in Jatjul Park as well as Yeoji neighborhood Park in Guro-gu, and in Choansan neighborhood Park in Dobong-gu. The forest swamp in Jatjul Park gets its water from Mt. Maebong and it is a former escalated farmland-turned wetland. The swamp area is $2,500m^2$, a forest zone and a landscape planting site are 83.27% and 6.70% each. Target species Seoul pond frogs are inseparable from rice fields because they live in a short radius of and lay eggs in or near paddy fields, and Rana nigromaculata have similarities with Rana plancyi chosenica in choosing their habitats. There was need for paths that would lead to other paths so amphibians would spread to other parts of the forest and for measures to secure open water. Modifying a variety of routes for water, human and animals along with building a buffer to keep the core habitation zones were required. The forest swamp in Yeonji neighborhood Park used to be a water reservoir on the foot of Mt. Gunji. The swamp area is $1,980m^2$, a forest zone and farmland account for 80.61% and 4.88% each. Non-point pollutants from upstream along run into the subject forest marsh, bare ground on the around swamp and steep stone embankments obstructed amphibians. Target species was Bufo gargarizans that live in forests and edges of hills and spawn in deep water. The forest swamp in Choansan neighborhood Park gets its water from Mt. Choan and it is close to its water source that it is a mountain stream forest wetland. The basin and the swamp are $35,240m^2$ and $250m^2$ in size respectively. A forest zone accounts for 90.20%, high stone embankments laid in refurbishing the valley obstruct amphibians and there is water shortage in times of droughts. Target species were Rana coreana, Rana dybowskii and Hynobius leechii that live in mountain valleys, streams and wetlands and lay eggs in forest marshes and rocks in valleys. Looking into the three swamps of amphibian habitation, I came to conclusions that those wetlands were suitable for their amphibians but man-made facilities blocked their corridors leading to other corridors and even killed off target species in some parts of those swamps by destroying those parts. Amphibians live in water, on ground and underground at different stages of life. Hence, we should take this fact into consideration when planning their habitats and design core habitation zones, buffers zone and use zones accordingly. Buffer zones ought to be between core habitation zones and surrounding trees. Aiming at protecting core habitation zones, buffers should be in harmony with habitation zones. Use zones should be minimized in size and not in direct contact with core habitation zones.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2004

In order to clarify intra-and inter-specific variation of Korean Rana species, the partial DNA sequences of mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene were determined from 6 Korean and 1 Japanese Rana species, DNA sequences from Korean and Japanese species were comparison-analysed within, and also with the sequences from three species of Japanese brown frogs. DNA similarities were calculated as 91.3∼97.3％ among brown frog (R. amurensis coreana, R. dybowskii and R. huanrenensis), as 96.11∼97.26％ among pond frogs (R. nigromaculata and R. planeyi chosenica). Genetic distance of pond frog and wrinkle fyog (R. rugosa) were near than that of pond frog and brown frog. Two clusters were formed brown frogs and the other group by neigh-bor-joining and maximum-likelihood analysis, also the populations of R. nigromaculata were well distinguished between Korean peninsula and Korean island. But result from maximum-likelihood analysis slightly differed from neighbor-joining to cluster of R. rugosa. Further analyses for their population will be necessary to study the phylogenetic status.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2001

We have previously shown that oocyte maturation is induced by an immobilized progesterone, progesterone-3-carboxymethyloxime - bovine serum albumin conjugate (P-BSA) in Rana dybowskii. In this study, we confirmed the maturation inducing activity of P-BSA on Xenopus oocyte and examined the binding character of the immobilized progesterone on the surface of Xenopus oocytes after removal of the vitelline layer. P-BSA induced maturation of Xenopus oocytes but E-BSA failed to do so as observed in Rana. Binding of the immobilized progesterone, fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled progesterone-3-0-carboxymethyloxime-BSA (P-BSA-FITC) on the devitellined oocytes surface was examined by fluorescence confocal microscopy. The binding affinity of P-BSA-FITC to the devitellined oocyte was higher than that of estrogen-BSA-FITC (E-BSA-FITC) or testosterone-BSA-FITC (T-BSA-FITC). The binding disappeared in the presence of excess free progesterone but not in the presence of free estrogen. Maximum binding occurred after two-hours of incubation with P-BSA-FITC at pH 7.5. Stronger binding occurred in oocytes at stage Vl than stage IV, and in vitro treatment of hCG enhanced the binding. Taken together, these results suggest that a specific receptor for progesterone exists on the plasma membrane of Xenopus oocytes and that progesterone acts initially on this putative receptors and triggers generation of membrane-mediated second messengers during the early stage of oocyte maturation In amphibians.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2011

The current study analyzed appropriateness of abandoned rice paddy wetlands as habitats for the Amphibia by assessing functions and value of abandoned rice paddy wetlands within land development districts as a habitat for living creatures and researching into the Amphibia living in the subject districts. For this purpose, the study designated abandoned rice paddy wetlands within Hwaseong A District and Pangyo B District under land development as subject lands. Those wetlands went through succession after abandonment of farming. Detailed study results are as follows. From classification of wetland types and an analysis of their characteristics, it was found that herbaceous plants such as smartweed communities, horsetail communities and reed communities, and woody plants such as pussy willow communities appeared in both districts. These abandoned rice paddy wetlands shows typical characteristics of palustrine wetlands. As a result of a vegetation structure research, it was observed that succession has been progressed for at least over 2~3 years. In assessment of wetland functions by item, it was found that they are developing into fine wetlands in terms of functions because they are ranked over Moderate Class except separate distance from streams. Also from a research into animals living in the abandoned rice paddy wetlands, it was found that main inhabitants are Rana nigromaculata,Rana dybowskii, Hyla japonica, Bufo bufo gargarizans, etc. It can be confirmed that the abandoned rice paddy wetlands are providing appropriate conditions as habitats to the Amphibia in a view that those species have life cycles of inhabitation (shores and wetlands) - egg-laying (rice paddy, puddles and swampy places) - hibernation (rice field banks and swampy places). From this point of view, it was found that abandoned rice paddy wetlands that developed because of abandonment of farming can be used as means to improve structure and functions of habitats.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.657-663
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the difference in feeding habits of Red-Tongued Viper Snakes, according to available foods sources and areas. The effects of differences in food sources were found on Red-Tongued Viper Snake inhabited in the Jeju Island and its islet Gapado, from May 2006 to Nov. 2010. The food sources for the Red-Tongued viper snake population in the Jeju Island were found to be as follows: Chinese red-headed centipedes (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans), Jeju Salamanders (Hynobius quelpaertensis), Japanese tree Frogs (Hyla japonica), Narrow-mouthed Toad (Kaloula borealis), Dybowski's Brown Frogs (Rana dybowskii), Black-spotted Pond Frogs (Rana nigromaculata), Smooth Skinks (Scincella vandenburghi), Asian Keelback Snakes (Amphiesma vibakari), Lesser White-toothed Shrews (Crosidura shantungensis), Hallasan Shrews (Sorex caecutiens hallamontanus), and Jeju Striped Field Mice (Apodemus chejuensis). This implies that Red-Tongued Viper Snakes mainly feed on amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals. Among these, amphibians occupied the highest portion at 55.2% followed by mammals at 20.7%, centipedes at 13.8%, and reptiles at 10.3%. On the contrary, Red-tongued viper snake population in Gapado only feed on Chinese red-headed centipedes and Smooth Skinks (S. vandenburghi). Since only a small amount of nutrient can be obtained from Chinese red-headed centipeds or Smooth Skinks, this feeding habit for Red-tongued viper snake would adversely effect on the growth or regeneration. The reason why Red-Tongued viper snake population in the Gapado mainly feed on Lizard and Centipedes in spite of relatively various available food sources, might be due to the low density of other food sources in the Gapado. Red-Tongued viper snake could be feeding on foods that are low in quality but are easily accessible, to minimize energy consumption on searching for other more nutritious foods. A snake tends to select the size of its food depending on the size of its own head. The positive correlation was found between the size of the heads of Red-Tongued viper snakes from the Jeju island and the diameter of their foods. The head size was larger in the males than females in viper snake population from the Jeju Island, which might effect on their selection of foods. However, no significant difference was found between the sizes of the head and the food in the Red-Tongued viper snake population from the Gapado. The findings of this study would provide meaningful data, which directly shows that even within the same viper species they choose different available food sources according to their inhabitance. This leads to their growth and adaptation to their environment which is beneficial for sustaining of its population.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.203-212
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• 2014

Frog culture industry is not yet familiar but has much potential. Generally, in farm, the population density is higher than that of in nature and frog farm is not the exception. But when population density is high, it can easily leads to stressful condition, poor sanitation. When a disease occur, it is a primary factor that makes the population more susceptible and the results more grave. Because of severe Rhabditoidea- helminth infection and subsequent bacterial septicemia, 50~70% of the total population had been died in a farm in Jeong-sun in Gangwon-do and Chungju in Chungcheongbuk-do from late June, 2012 to September, 2012. Diseased frogs showed ruptured lung, bloody ascites, liver discoloration, myocardium weakness, congested kidney, microcytic anemia and so on. Enterobacteriacea, Citrobacter.sp, Cupriavidus metallidurans, Acinetobacter.sp were isolated as major bacterium that had caused septicemia in frogs. Among isolated bacterium, Cupriavidus metallidurans, Ewingella americana, Shewanella aquimarina and Pseudoalteromonas sp. have not reported as potential pathogens in frogs before. It is a good example that severe helminth infection in frogs can lead to secondary infection of bacteria.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.518-525
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• 1992

본 연구에서는 horizontal clinostat과 원심분리 방법의 이용으로 각각 저중력 상태($\mu$G)와 고중력 상태(3G)를 유도하여, 중력장의 변화가 양서류 수정란의 초기 형태 형성에 미치는 영향을 북방산개구리(Rano dybows비름를 대상으로 조사하였다. 중력장의 변화는 첫번째 수평 분열인 제3분열면의 위치에 영향을 미쳤다. 즉 저중력 상태에서는 분열면이 적도면 근처에서, 또 고중력 상태에서는 분열면이 동물극 근처에서 형성되었다. 이와 같은 변화는 포배기로 이어져 할강의 위치와 동물극 정단 세포층 수에 영향을 미쳤다. 즉 저중력에 노출된 포배는 정상배(1G)에 비해 할강이 중앙에 위치했으며 동물극 정단의 세포층 수가 증가하는 반면 고중력에 노출된 포배는 할강이 보다 동물극 폭에 위치했으며 동물극 정단의 세포층 수도 감소하였다. 그러나 낭배기에 도달하면 동물극 정단 세포층 수의 차이는 정상 상태로 조절되었다. 한편 중력장의 변화는 낭배기에 이르는 발생 속도와 원구상순부의 위치를 변경시켰다. 낭배기 이후의 발생 단계에서 중력에 의한 변화로는 tail fin circulation(stage 22)시기의 머리크기의 변화를 들 수 있다. 이상의 결과로 무미 양서류의 초기 형태 형성은 중력장에 의해 변형될 수 있으며 이러한 변화는 발생이 진행됨에 따라 조절되는 것으로 보인다.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 1994

Using in situ hybridization, we have mapped the anatomical localization of perikarya containing myNA that codes for sonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in the brains of female frogs, R. dybowskii. DNA olisomers, with sequences complementary to the GnRH portion of pro-GnRH myNA sequence, were synthesized and hybridized to paraformaldehvde-fixed, sagittal sections of the whole brain stem. The distribution of the GnRH mRNA containing cell bodies was similar to that described for GnRH peptide by immunohistochemistrv. That is, cells containing GnRH mRNA were observed in the medial septal area, anterior preoptic area, ventromedial hvpothalamus and infundibular regions. However, another cell groups which contains GnRH mRNAs were also detected by in situ hybridization in the bed nucleus of hippocampal commissure, preoptic area, nucleus infundibularis dorsalis, mesencephalic nuclei and intermediolateral cell column of spinal cord areas. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using in situ hybridization as a strategy to study the distribution of GnRH neurons and the detection of GnRH gene expression in the vertebrates.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.272-280
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• 2018

Existing toxicity assessment researches were rarely studied on assessment of the abnormal behavior that affecting survival. Therefore, the study used anti-predator response of amphibians larvae, based on behavioral understanding, to assess toxicity in fullerene nanowhisker(FNW) and fullerene nanowhisker-silver nanoparticle composites(FNW-Ag). The experiment was conducted by dividing the groups not exposed to nanomaterials and exposed to nanomaterials at five concentrations(FNW: $10{\mu}g/ml$, FNW: $100{\mu}g/ml$, FNW: $500{\mu}g/ml$ FNW-Ag: $10{\mu}g/ml$, FNW: $50{\mu}g/ml$). As a result, there were no differences in normal activity except those exposed to concentrations of FNW-Ag $50{\mu}g/ml$, but there were statistically significant differences in anti-predator response except those exposed to concentrations of FNW $10{\mu}g/ml$. That is, exposed of nanomaterials does not affect ordinary movements, but analyses based on behavioral understandings have shown that it has an influence on the anti-predator response. It is therefore considered necessary to have animal behavioral analysis method performed in the assessment of eco-toxic experiment.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.257-265
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• 1996

Previously, we demonstrated that estradiol (E$_2$) was produced by medium sized follicles of Rana nigromaculata and Rana dybowskii in vitro. Present experiments were carried out to determine when the growing follicles have obtained the ability to produce E$_2$. Follicles in different growth stages were isolated and cultured for 6 hours in the presence or absence of frog pituitary homogenates (FPH, 0.1 pituitary/2m1) or various steroid precursors (200 ng/2m1). levels of progesterone (P$_4$), 17 -hydroxyprogesterone (17$\alpha$-OHP), androstenedione (AD), testosterone Cr) or E$_2$ in the medium were measured by RIA. The smallest follicles failed to produce steroids, whereas the smaller follicles produced considerable amounts of steroids (211 pg/follicle), and the medium sized follicles produced a large amounts of steroids (1653 pg/follicle) in response to FPH. Addition of pregnenolone (P5) resulted in a marked increase in P$_4$ but not in other steroids by the smallest follicles whereas the treatment resulted in a marked increase in P$_4$, 17$\alpha$-OHP, AD, T and E$_2$by the smaller and medium follicles. When the amounts of steroids are calculated on the basis of unit surface area (pg/mm$_2$), the ability of the smallest follicles to produce P$_4$ from P5 was similar to those of smaller and medium sized follicles. However, the smallest follicles failed to metabolize P$_4$ to other steroids whereas the smaller and medium follicles did. Taken together, the data suggest that the smallest follicles do not response to FPH in terms of steroid production but they have capacity to convert P5 to P$_4$ and that the smaller follicles have potential to produce E$_2$ although much less efficient than medium sized follicles.