• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.8-15
• /
• 2007

In order to develop an efficient feed for successful growth of Golden frog, Rana plancyi chosenica, larvae, we compared and analyzed the growth of the frog larvae, supplying four different food types. The growth of Golden frog larvae fed a vegetable food of spirogyra and cabbages and a mixture of vegetable and animal foods, TetraMin, a commercial fish food, or eel feed, was faster than that of the larvae fed only organic matters and vegetables collected from natural habitats. Among artificial food types, the mixture of vegetable and animal foods was more efficient for larval growth than the vegetable food. For the successful metamorphosis, the mixture of vegetable food and Tetramin was the most efficient food, comparing other types of food. These results suggest that a mixture of vegetable and animal food mixed in an appropriate proportion would be the most efficient artificial feed for the successful growth and metamorphosis of Golden frog larvae.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.110-113
• /
• 2009

In recent years, there has been a rapid global decline in amphibian populations, and infectious diseases have been associated with this decline. Diseased Gold-spotted pond frogs (Rana plancyi chosenica) were collected from a frog farm in Korea and identified using morphological and molecular analysis to identify the disease. The typical symptoms of ranaviral infection were observed in the tadpoles and adults frogs. The nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the sequences showed the closest similarity with sequences to Frog virus 3, which belongs to the genus Ranavirus.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.357-361
• /
• 2007

To determine the feeding sites preferred by adult gold-spotted pond frogs, Rana plancyi chosenica, and the foods that induce favorable growth of the frogs in the laboratory, we conducted two separate experiments between 27 May and 12 July 2007 in a vivarium. In the first experiment, we counted the number of crickets eaten by four gold-spotted pond frogs in a 60 min period at four different feeding sites within the experimental arenas: on the water surface, at the edge of a pond, and at two terrestrial sites. Adult gold-spotted pond frogs ate more crickets on the water surface and at the edge of the pond than the terrestrial sites. In the second experiment, we measured the growth of SVL (snout-vent length) and body mass of adult gold-spotted pond frogs fed crickets, mealworms, maggots, or earthworms in individual experimental boxes over a one month period. The SVL and body mass of the adult gold-spotted pond frogs fed crickets, mealworms, or maggots were greater than those of the frogs that were fed earthworms. These results indicate that providing crickets, mealworms, or maggots on the water or at the edge of a pond should induce favorable growth of captive-reared adult gold-spotted pond frogs.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.121-126
• /
• 2007

We monitored gold-spotted pond frog (Rana chosenica) populations near the Korea National University of Education in Chungbuk, Korea, from 19 May to 8 August, 2006 to examine the spatial distribution of populations in local areas and to investigate patterns of migration of adult gold-spotted pond frogs from terrestrial hibernation sites to breeding sites, We captured individuals from the largest population using a drift fence with 22 pitfall traps surrounding the breeding site. A total of 22 individuals (19 males and 3 females) were captured between 23 May and 15 June. No peak in breeding migration was detected, but the onset of the breeding migration may correspond with increased humidity. Male body weights were negatively correlated with sampling dates. Seven of 22 individuals were captured at the 4th pitfall trap, which was placed between two culverts. The capture rate per pitfall trap was higher in traps close to the rice field banks (1.44, traps $1{\sim}9$) than in traps facing hilly land (0.33, traps $13{\sim}18$). Comparative data from the Korean frog (Rana coreana), a sympatric species in the study area, were also collected and compared with those of the gold-spotted pond frog.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.73-81
• /
• 2009

Population viability analysis of a Gold-spotted pond frog (Rana chosenica) population at Cheongwon-gun, Chungbuk, in South Korea was conducted and we proposed several suggestions for effective conservation and re-introduction of the species. Simulating a developed model over 1,000 times predicted that the population will exist over 30 years with a relatively low growth rate of 0.113, but with a high probability of extinction as 81.1%. Population growth and extinction probability were the most greatly depended on the rate of successful metamorphosis. In the case of outbreak of amphibian diseases such as Chytridiomycosis and Ranavirus, the population will be easily extinct within 4 years with 100% probability. In a habitat of which carrying capacity is 200, to successfully re-introduce an extinct population, it is initially needed to put 100 individuals of which 83% is males and its age structure is normal-distributed. If we additionally conducts artificial supplementation of 10% individuals every 2 years from 4 years to 10 years after initial reintroduction, the population will become a stable with 0.297 growth rate and 0.290 extinction rate. Our results are the first case of amphibian population viability analysis in Korea and could be used to develop effective conservation and re-introduction plans for endangered Gold-spotted pond frog.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.94-99
• /
• 2007

To investigate the spatial distribution and daily calling pattern of the Gold-spotted pond frog, Rana chosenica, in Chungju city and Chungwon gun, Chungbuk province, Korea, we divided the study area into 226 plots with a $2{\times}2km^2$ plot on the map, of which we assigned 32 plots for monitoring populations. Call monitoring on whether the species are present or not were conducted for 5 minutes in between sunset and the midnight from at the end of May to July in 2006. Gold-spotted pond frogs were detected at least once four out of 32 plots. Using program Presence, we obtained site occupancy rate as 0.170 which was quite low compared with other species, while detection probability was 0.66 that propose at least three times to visit the monitoring site to confirm the absence of the frogs. The frogs were actively calling from 21:00 to 02:00, and the number of calling male was significantly and highly correlated with water temperature and humidity. This study shows the present status of the Gold-spotted pond frogs in Chungju city and Chungwon gun and we suggests various effective monitoring methods based on the this study.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.263-272
• /
• 1980

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the patterns of LDH and MDH isozymes in the embryo and adult of amphibia; Rana nigromaculata, Rana plancyi chosenica and Hynobius leechii. Rana nigromaculata is considered to be heterozygous for the gene specifying the "B" subunit of LDH, and Hynobius leechii to be heterozygous for the gene specifying the "A" subunit of LDH. The LDH isozyme paatern of embryos of the above three species is characterized by a gradual increase in the activity of LDH-5 (muscular form)during development. Two or three molecular forms of MDH is present steadily from early embryos and in adult. Of the MDH isozymes, the more cathodic one (MDH-m) appears weakly in early developing stages, but increases slowly in the activity as the embryo develops.the embryo develops.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.103-107
• /
• 2009

We investigated colonization and extinction patterns in a meta population of the gold-spotted pond frog (Rana planeyi ehoseniea) near the Korea National University of Education, Chungbuk, Korea, by surveying the frogs in the nine occupied habitat patches in the study area four times per breeding season for three years (2006$\sim$2008) and recording whether the patches were occupied by frogs as well as how many frogs were calling in the patches. We then developed five a priori year-specific models using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). The models predicted that: 1) probabilities of colonization and local extinction of the frogs were better explained by year-dependent models than by constant models, 2) there are high local extinction and low colonization probabilities, 3) approximately 31% number of patches will be occupied at equilibrium, and 4) that considerable variation in occupation rate should occur over a 30-year period, due to demographic stochasticity (in our model, the occupation rate ranged from 0.222 to 0.889). Our results suggest that colonization is important in this metapopulation system, which is governed by mainly stochastic components, and that more constructive conservation effects are needed to increase local colonization rates.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.57-62
• /
• 2007

To obtain demographic information on threatened gold-spotted pond frog (Rana chosenica Okada, 1931) populations, we determined the ages of 45 male and 13 female frogs (20 males and 9 females from Cheongwon and 25 males and 4 females from Tae-an) and compared the age structures and growth patterns of the two populations in 2006. The snout-vent length (SVL) and body weight of female frogs were greater than those of male frogs in both populations. Male frogs' ages ranged 2 to 7 years old and females' ages ranged 3 to 6 years old. In both populations, 4 years old male frogs were the most abundant age-sex class. The age structures of the two populations were significantly different and the growth coefficients of male frogs from the Cheongwon population were greater than those from the Tae-an population. The mean age of males from the Tae-an population was higher than that from the Cheongwon population. However, the SVL and body weights of male frogs were not different between two populations and there was no difference between the two populations in the mean male SVL at any age. The results could increase our understanding of the life-history of this threatened frog and may be useful in conservation planning.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2008

The Gold-spotted pond frog, Rana plancyi chosenica, designated as a vulnerable species by IUCN Red list. This species is a typical example facing local population threats and extinction due to human activities in South Korea. A strategic conservation plan for this endangered species is urgently needed. In order to provide information for future conservation planning, accurate information on the genetic diversity and taxonomic status is needed for the establishment of conservation units for this species. In this study, we used a molecular genetic approach using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and control region sequences to find the genetic diversity of gold-spotted pond frogs within South Korea. We sequenced the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene and control region of 77 individuals from 11 populations in South Korea, and one from Chongqing, China. A total of 15 cytochrome b gene haplotypes and 34 control region haplotypes were identified from Korean gold-spotted pond frogs. Mean sequence diversity among Korean gold-spotted pond frogs was 0.31% (0.0-0.8%) and 0.51% (0.0-1.0%), respectively. Most Korean populations had at least one unique haplotype for each locus. The Taean, Ansan and Cheongwon populations had no haplotypes shared with other populations. There was a sequence divergence between Korean and Chinese gold-spotted pond frogs (1.3% for cyt b; 2.9% for control region). Analysis of genetic distances and phylogenetic trees based on both cytochrome b and control region sequences indicate that the Korean gold-spotted pond frog are genetically differentiated from those in China.