• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.21-29
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• 2018

Riparian management has become important as stream water quality as well as riparian ecosystem gain more public attentions. The objective of this study was to determine riparian widths based on the functions of nutrient removal and wildlife habitat protection and to apply for the Jinwee stream area as a preliminary case. Nitrogen and phosphorus filtration efficiencies were considered in water quality aspect, while the habitat radii of amphibian and reptiles were used for wildlife conservation purpose. In addition, observation of endangered species and human impact on wildlife disturbance in riparian area were also taken into account in determining riparian widths. The stream confluence zone was emphasized by doubling the riparian widths as the focal point for wildlife habitat conservation. As the results, three different levels of riparian widths were proposed depending on the major riparian functions and applied to the Jinwee stream section as the case study. The proposed method can be used to determine riparian width in other stream areas based on different functional focus, ie, water quality or riparian conservation purposes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.141-145
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• 2006

Uric acid is the end product of the purine degradation pathway in humans. It is catabolized to allantoin by urate oxidase or uricase (E.C. 1.7.3.3.) in most vertebrates except humans, some primates, birds, and certain species of reptiles. Here we provide evidence that mouse transthyretin-related protein facilitates the hydrolysis of 5-hydroxyisourate, the end product of the uricase reaction. Mutagenesis experiments showed that the residues that are absolutely conserved across the TRP family, including His11, Arg51, His102, and the C-terminal Tyr-Arg-Gly-Ser, may constitute the active site of mTRP. Based on these results, we propose that the transthyretin-related proteins present in diverse organisms are not functionally related to transthyretin but actually function as hydroxyisourate hydrolases.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.102-111
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• 2015

The karyotypes of most species of crocodilians were studied using conventional and molecular cytogenetics. These provided an important contribution of chromosomal rearrangements for the evolutionary processes of Crocodylia and Sauropsida (birds and reptiles). The karyotypic features of crocodilians contain small diploid chromosome numbers (30~42), with little interspecific variation of the chromosome arm number (fundamental number) among crocodiles (56~60). This suggested that centric fusion and/or fission events occurred in the lineage, leading to crocodilian evolution and diversity. The chromosome numbers of Alligator, Caiman, Melanosuchus, Paleosuchus, Gavialis, Tomistoma, Mecistops, and Osteolaemus were stable within each genus, whereas those of Crocodylus (crocodylians) varied within the taxa. This agreed with molecular phylogeny that suggested a highly recent radiation of Crocodylus species. Karyotype analysis also suggests the direction of molecular phylogenetic placement among Crocodylus species and their migration from the Indo-Pacific to Africa and The New World. Crocodylus species originated from an ancestor in the Indo-Pacific around 9~16 million years ago (MYA) in the mid-Miocene, with a rapid radiation and dispersion into Africa 8~12 MYA. This was followed by a trans-Atlantic dispersion to the New World between 4~8 MYA in the Pliocene. The chromosomes provided a better understanding of crocodilian evolution and diversity, which will be useful for further study of the genome evolution in Crocodylia.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.121-123
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• 2006

In this study we reinvestigated the taxonomy of the collared many-toothed snake (Korean name: Bibaribem) of Jeju Island, Korea. The Bibari-bem is a colubrid indigenous to Jeju Island and was first assigned to S. collaris Gray. However, the geographic distribution of S. collaris is not continuous with the Korean peninsula, making it doubtful that Bibari-bem should be assigned to it. Some herpetologists have suggested that Bibari-bem may instead belong to the closely related S. chinensis G?nther. To resolve this conflict, we compared the diagnostic characteristics of S. collaris and S. chinensis as described in the literature with the characteristics of individuals collected on Jeju Island. We collected six individuals with one preocular, two postocular, two anterior temporal, and no lower ocular scales. Five individuals had nine (3-3-3 form) supralabials, among which fourth to sixth are touching the orbit and the ninth is the largest. One individual had eight (2-3-3 form) supralabials, third to fifth touching the orbit, with the eighth being the largest. These data suggest that Bibari-bem is not S. collaris, but S. chinensis.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.21
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• pp.271-288
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• 2010

In their everyday life, people form social phenomena and relations through the shapes and habits of animals. Therefore, animals contain the idea of the way of life of certain nations, spiritual and cultural feelings, and the symbolic meaning which can be recognized between the members of the unique nation. The symbolism of animals varies depending on different nations, because the adages are the essence of the language including their culture, thought, custom, and life. Examining their own adages can be one of the ways to find out what the animals symbolize in different nations. Another reason is that they are the dictionaries, reflecting their own way of thinking and traditional values, so to speak. The research shows that, between Korean and Chinese adages, it is in a similar frequency, using materials such as mammals, birds, fishes, reptiles, and insects. The adages are focused on the 12 animals which is familiar to both nations, a rat, an ox, a tiger, a rabbit, a dragon, a snake, a horse, a lamb, a monkey, a rooster, a dog and a boar. We compared the symbolism, the surface meanings in adages, and the figurative meanings of these animals in Korea and China. As a result, it is found that some are almost the same in usage. However, some are totally different such as expressions related to the animals, the cultural differences and clear understanding. It is necessary to do comparative researches in a detailed and various way by studying the issues derived from verbalism.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.993-1003
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• 2021

It is known that the effect of traditional agricultural techniques of burning farmland such as paddy fields and fields gradually declines and affects both the fauna and flora of the rice paddy as well as pests. Therefore, in this study, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of burning rice paddy fields and rice paddy fields levee on the control effect of winter pests inhabiting agricultural land and the amount of pests generated and damaged during the growing season. As a result of this study, the pest control effect of incineration reduces not only the density of pests, but also beneficial insects (natural enemies) and non-reptiles. It is judged that burning has a very low insect control effect. It is expected to be used as basic data to create a sustainable agricultural environment, such as minimizing various negative effects such as pest control effects, wildfires, and air pollution caused by incineration, and suppressing unnecessary incineration and fine dust generation.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.55-59
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• 2024

The remarkable economic growth achieved in the modern era has revitalized various industries, including pet trade. More than 2,000 species of non-native species have been introduced to South Korea and approximately 7.7 tonnes of alien turtles are imported annually. Turtles belonging to the family Kinosternidae. They are mostly small and popular pets, although they are designated as Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) species. In the present study, we present the first two species of musk turtles found in the wild in South Korea. On April 5, 2023 and July 8, 2023, an eastern musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) and a razorbacked musk turtle (Sternotherus carinatus) were captured in Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do and Jung-gu, Daejeon, respectively. The carapace length was 88.6 mm for S. odoratus and 105.68 mm for S. carinatus. They were identified based on their morphological characteristics and mtDNA cytochrome b gene. These turtles were found in waterfront areas with over 1.4 million annual visitors. Both sites were found to have threatened amphibians and reptiles. There is an urgent need to continue monitoring and conducting risk assessments for the protection of endemic species in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.65-77
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• 2014

The ecosystem of Jaemin stream, flowing into the center of Gongju-si, had been damaged by low water quality and lack of water quantity of the steam. However, after applying the SSB (Sustainable Structured wetland Biotop) system to the flood plain and the upstream of Jaemin stream, the efficiency of ecological water purification and ecological restoration are as follows. Through the constant maintenance and monitoring from year 2009 to year 2013 after restorative design and construction the average influent concentration of BOD5 was 4.2 mg/L, and the average effluent concentration was 1.8 mg/L, reaching ecological water purification rate of 57%. As for the T-N, the average influent concentration was 9.983 mg/L, and the average effluent concentration was 6.303 mg/L, showing the rate of 37%. For the T-P, the average influent concentration was 0.198 mg/L, and the average effluent concentration was 0.098 mg/L, being the rate of 51%. The vegetation of Jaemin stream monitored for 2 years after the restoration was composed of 51 species in 28 families which show high ratio of planted native species. As for the animals in the site, 5 species in 3 families of reptiles and amphibians, 34 species of 23 families of birds, and 3 species in 2 families of mammals were monitored, indicating that the bio-diversity of the site has improved, as well.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.997-1007
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• 2012

This study was performed to assess functions of 10 man-made wetlands in Gunsan City, Jeollabuk Province by means of RAM (Rapid Assessment Method), a technique recommended by Ramsar Convention to appraise wetlands. The assessment of the wetlands value found Gunsan reservoir to have the highest function points while Bukchosan reservoir was estimated to have the lowest function among the wetlands surveyed. By detailed factors of valued 10 man-made wetland, the wetlands were found to function most favorably in terms of vegetational variety and as habitat for wild animals. They need to have more improved functions as habitats for fish and amphibians reptiles, for preservation and betterment of water quality as well as for supplement of underground water, though. From the assessment of vegetational naturalness of the surveyed reservoirs, Gunsan reservoir turned out to be the most favorable wetland from the viewpoint of vegetation science whereas, however, Anjeong wetland was rated as the lowest in the assessment of vegetational value due to simplicity in its vegetation and lots of dangers in its neighborhood threatening its vegetation and ecology. The assessment of vegetational values for Gunsan, Gongchang, Daewi, Bukchosan, Anjeong, Geumgul, Changan and Chuksan reservoirs showed the same orextremely similar results as RAM function assessment. Geumsan reservoir only, however, featured the opposite result.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.23-35
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• 2010

A Sustainable Structured wetland Biotop (SSB) system was constructed on the floodplain of Kyungan stream in December, 2006. It purifies polluted water of Keumeo stream which flows into the stream. Water were sampled once a month at inlet and outlet from December, 2007 to December, 2008. $BOD_5$, SS, T-N and T-P were analyzed. Plant and fish species of the system were monitored twice during the period. Average influent and effluent BOD5 concentration was 6.2 and 2.2 mg/L, respectively and BOD5 removal was 50.8%. SS concentration of influent and effluent was averaged 10.1mg/L and 1.5mg/L, respectively and SS abatement amounted to 77.0%. Average influent and effluent T-N concentration was 4.9mg/L and 2.9 mg/L, respectively and T-N retention was 50.8%. T-P concentration of influent and effluent was averaged 0.386mg/L and 0.107mg/L, respectively and T-P removal amounted to 77.0%. Twenty two 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. Dominant plant species were in the following order; Phragmites communis > Typha latifolia > Iris pseudoacorus > Persicaria thunbergii. Five families and 15 species of fish were observed in the system including Chinese minnow (Moroco oxycephalus) which inhabits in clean water. Six more fish species were monitored in the system compared with ones living in Kyungan stream. Amphibia and reptiles accounted for 11 species of 4 orders and 7 families including Korean Salamander (Hynobius leechi) which also lives in cleanwater.