• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.20-30
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• 2009

To study reproductive dynamics of a Gold-spotted pond frog (Rana chosenica) population located at Gangnae, Cheongwon, Chungbuk, Korea, we monitored the population over 207 days between April 17$^{th}$ 2007 and December 18$^{th}$ 2008 using a drift fence accompanied with 20 pitfall traps. The population was located in an agricultural wetland, compromising three small ponds. Gold-spotted pond frogs immigrated into the wetland between April 16$^{th}$ and June 17$^{th}$ and emigrated from the wetland between September 21$^{st}$ and November 12$^{th}$. Precipitation showed a positive correlation with the number of migrated frogs in Autumn 2007 and Spring 2008, but other environmental factors such as air and water temperatures and relative humidity did not show any significant relationships. In general, small frogs first migrated into and from the wetland, but the trend was not strong. Female gold-spotted pond frogs were bigger than males. During the autumn migration, small frogs of which snout-vent length was smaller than 20 mm were found, indicating that successful breeding occurred in the population. Our results could be useful to conserve this endangered species in Korea.

• Mycobiology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.10-12
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• 2008

In recent years, there has been a rapid decrease in amphibian populations worldwide, and infectious diseases have been associated with this decline. Diseased frogs inhabiting Korea were collected from fields, and the diseases were identified by morphological and molecular analyses. Two fungal diseases-saprolegniasis and chromomycosis-were detected in the frogs. Saprolegniasis caused by Saprolegnia spp. was found in Rana plancyi chosenica from Gangwon-do and Rana huanrenensis from Chungbuk. Chromomycosis, which is caused by infection with Cladosporium cladosporioides, was detected in Rana catesbeiana from Busan.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.425-432
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• 2006

The tadpoles of 12 Korean anuran species, including Bombina orientalis, Bufo gargarizans, B. stejnegeri, Hyla japonica, Kaloula borealis, Rana dybowskii, R. huanrenensis, R. coreana, R. nigromaculata, R. chosenica, R. rugosa, and R. catesbeiana, were classified based on their morphological characteristics. We collected eggs or tadpoles of the 12 Korean anuran species from Gangwon, Incheon, Chungcheong, and Gyeonggi districts in 2005 and 2006 breeding seasons. When the tadpoles reached at $27{\sim}37$ Gosner's developmental stages, we described morphological characteristics of the tadpoles of each anuran species and measured their physical parameters such as total length, body length, and body mass. After that, we chose 12 morphological characteristics to identify each species and to use them as classification keys such as eye location, caudal musculature pattern, spiracle location, oral disc morphology, and labial tooth row formula. In this paper, we presented classification keys, morphological characteristics, and drawings for the tadpoles of 12 anuran species.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.145-159
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• 2010

A Sustainable Structured wetland Biotop (SSB) system was planned, designed, and finally constructed, and maintained in the An-teo Reservoir ecological park, which is the habitat of the endangered Gold-spotted Pond Frog. The system purifies polluted water of An-teo Reservoir which flows from up to bottom within the system. Water was sampled once a month at the inlet and at the outlet from December, 2009 to August, 2010. BOD5, SS, T-N and T-P were analyzed. Average influent and effluent BOD5 concentration was 2.9 and 1.0 mg/L, respectively, and BOD5 removal was 67%. SS concentration of influent and effluent averaged 18.1 mg/L and 2.5 mg/L, respectively, and SS abatement amounted to 86%. Average influent and effluent T-N concentration was 0.426 mg/L and 0.147 mg/L, respectively, and T-N retention was 66%. T-P concentration of influent and effluent averaged 0.071 mg/L and 0.022 mg/L, respectively, and T-P removal amounted to 68%. Plant and frog species of the system were monitored during the period. Amphibia and reptiles provided 7 species and 4 families including the Endangered Gold-Spotted Pond Frog (Rana chosenica ) which also lives in the system. Twenty-six plant species were naturally introduced into the system, however, they didn't make up a significant portion of the plant populations compared with the planted species. The endangered plants, Bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris var. japonica ) and Euryale ferox were observed in An-teo Reservoir as well as in the system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-17
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• 2015

Ecological reservoir is a multifunctional space where provides the functions of retention, animal habitat and improvement of ecosystem health and landscape. The ecological reservoir of Anteo Eco Park located in Gwangmyeong-si has established to functions for water purification, maintenance of healthy aquatic ecosystem. Because the Anteo Eco Park is located in the site where nonpoint pollutant materials flow in, Anteo Eco Park has potential factors which aquatic ecosystem health deteriorates and damages the habitat of golden frog(Rana plancyi chosenica) which is restoration target species. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to suggest the plan to manage the variables which impede the right functions of aquatic ecosystem by understanding the causal loop diagram for the change of water quality environment and the interaction of predator-prey through system thinking. The results are as follows. First, the study showed that the individual number of golden frog which is an indicator species of Anteo Eco Park is threatened by snakeheaded fish, which is an upper predator. Therefore, balanced food chain should be hold to protect golden frog by capturing the snakeheaded fish which is individual number's density is high, and the monitoring management of the individual number for predator(snakeheaded fish)-prey(golden frog) should be performed. Second, the study represented that water pollution and carnification is caused by the sediment as the dead body of the large emergent vegetation in the winter cumulates as sediment. Ecological reservoir in Anteo Eco Park has been managed by eliminating the dead body of the large emergent vegetation, but the guideline for the proper density maintenance of vegetation community is additionally needed. Lastly, the study showed that aquatic ecosystem of Anteo Eco Park where is contaminated from the inflow of nonpoint pollutants affects the individual number's decline of golden frog and snakeheaded fish. Accordingly, the creation of a buffer area and a substitution wetland is needed in the periphery of the Anteo Eco Park to control the inflow of nonpoint pollutants including organic matters, nutrients and heavy metals. This study will be helpful that Anteo Eco Park improves the regional landscape and maintain healthy aquatic ecosystem space for the park visitors including local residents.