• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.569-579
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• 2013

To identify the characteristics of the dropping habits and to provide improved methods for sign survey of Siberian flying squirrels Pteromys volans, an investigation was carried out in Jirisan National Park from April 2012 to May 2013. The latrines of study area were checked once a month and the characteristics of dropping behavior were camera trapped. The feces of Siberian flying squirrel were found on the point which tree forked, mostly from November to May. The squirrel actively presents in forked tree mainly on the September to April. The Siberian flying squirrel is found to be a typical nocturnal animal as it actively move between 6p.m. to 7a.m.. The study found that squirrel does feeding and dropping in the winter time on forked tree. On the point which tree forked could be a good place for the squirrel to hide from their predator when there is no leaf on the tree. Conducting the sign survey is advisable from November to May, as well as with the careful approach to the animals. As Siberian flying squirrel is an endangered species, adjusting the survey period is mandatory, especially when doing environmental impact assessment and a research on its dwelling areas.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.1
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• pp.133-137
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• 2019

This study was conducted to clarify the morphological characteristics of Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans). We investigated 6 morphological characteristics from April, 2014 to March 2016 at Mt. Baekwoon, Wonju, Gangwon province. We found that Siberian flying squirrel showed female-biased sexual dimorphism. This result would be related to reproductive strategy of the species which female nurse offspring alone. As results of comparison of morphological characteristics from Korea, Finland and Japan, both body weight and head-body length appeared heavier and longer from high-latitude to low-latitude. This result suggest that morphological difference between different latitudes would be related with climate and habitat environment. The more researches would be needed with other morphological characteristics of Siberian flying squirrel.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.269-277
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• 2008

Siberian flying squirrel, an endangered species in South Korea, is distributed through major mountain regions of South Korea. The number of Siberian flying squirrel(Pteromys volans) in South Korea has decreased and their habitats are fragmented and isolated because of anthropogenic activities. So far no molecular genetic data has, however, been available for their conservation and management. To obtain better information concerning genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the Siberian flying squirrel in South Korea, we examined 14 individuals from South Korea, 7 individuals from Russia, and 5 individuals from northeastern China along with previously published 29 haplotypes for 1,140 bp of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene. The 14 new individuals from South Korea had 7 haplotypes which were not observed in the regions of Russia and Hokkaido. The level of genetic diversity(0.616%) in the South Korean population was lower than that in eastern Russia(0.950%). The geographical distribution of mtDNA haplotypes and reduced median network confirmed that there are three major lineages of Siberian flying squirrel, occupying; Far Eastern, northern Eurasia, and the island of Hokkaido. The South Korean population only slightly distinct from the Eurasia, and eastern Russian population, and is part of the lineage Far Eastern. Based on these, we suggest that the South Korean population could be considered to belong to one partial ESU(Far Eastern) of three partial ESUs but a different management unit. However, the conservation priorities should be reconfirmed by nuclear genetic marker and ecological data.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.180-183
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• 2018

Fecal sites of the Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans were found in the 16 tree species, and 11 species (46.4%) of them were used as fecal sites in winter and only 3 tree species (5.6%) were used for their fecal dropping in summer. In winter and spring, 11 and 10 tree species were used as fecal sites, respectively, indicating that various species of trees are used in those seasons for food sources or resting sites of the flying squirrels. Of total 16 species, the flying squirrels' fecal sites were most frequently found in Quercus mongolica (46.4%) and then followed by Prunus sargentii (25.6%). In winter, Prunus sargentii was preferred more than Quercus mongolica, although trees of Prunus sargentii are less distributed compared with those of various trees of the genus Quercus. In summer and autumn, high productivity of trees makes the flying squirrels use only one or two species they prefer. In winter and spring, however, they should extend their food source to various tree species because of low productivity and less food sources.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.184-187
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• 2018

Characteristics of fecal sites of the Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans was analyzed based on 132 sites of total 19 places. The fecal sites were more frequently found in winter (43.9%), and then followed by autumn (27.3%), spring (23.5%), and summer (5.3%). With the exception of summer, the fecal sites were more frequently found at the root collar than on the forked tree (p<0.01). Among 132 fecal sites, 88 sites (66.7%) were found on the rood collars and the other 44 sites (33.3%) were posited in the forked trees. Brown or red clay pellets were found at 44 fecal sites (33.4%) and 43 fecal sites (32.6%), and then black and yellow pellets were at 22 fecal sites (16.7%) and 19 fecal sites (14.3%), respectively. Green pellets were rarely found only at 4 sites (3.0%). Feces tend to have bright colors (brown, red clay and yellow) in winter and black in summer. Fecal sites with yellow pellets were much less found in all of the three seasons with the exception of winter, but highly increased in 25.4% in winter. The fecal sites with brown (33.4%) and red clay pellets (32.6%) were most frequently found through the four seasons.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.169-172
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• 2008

Sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b gene (1,140 bp) and control region (803 bp) of Siberian flying squirrels from Korea (Pteromys volans aluco) and Mt. Changbai of northeast China (P. v. arsenjevi) were obtained to reexamine the taxonomic status of the Korean subspecies. In the cytochrome b gene, six haplotypes of P. v. aluco formed a clade with six haplotypes of P. v. arsenjevi, and in control region, seven haplotypes of P. v. aluco formed a clade with six haplotypes of P. v. arsenjevi. Furthermore, six haplotypes of cytochrome b gene of P. v. aluco from this study formed a clade with four haplotypes of P. v. arsenjevi in far-east Russia obtained from GenBank. We also investigated the research papers previously published that reported the length of tail vertebrae of P. volans, and found that the length was not sufficiently large as to be a key character of P. v. aluco. This result is not consistent with morphological description for its haplotype. Therefore, we conclude that P. v. aluco from Korea might possibly be a synonym of P. v. arsenjevi from northeast China and nearby Russia.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.163-169
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• 2021

Background: Understanding the habitat characteristics of the endangered Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans is the first step in conserving and managing the forests it requires for nesting, gliding, and feeding. Therefore, in the present study, we characterized the habitats of P. volans using GIS analysis of 411 forest sites in South Korea where fecal droppings were found. Results: Fecal signs of P. volans were found in various regions in South Korea, including the Baekdudaegan Mountains. GIS analysis with six environmental layers (vegetation type, wood-age class, diameter at breast height [DBH], crown density, elevation, and distance from stream) revealed that fecal signs of P. volans were more frequently found in broad-leaved deciduous forests (42%) located 200-399 m above sea level (43.1%) and 0-199 m from the nearest stream (53%), with 5th class wood-age (35.3%), middle size class DBH (51.1%), and high crown density (71%). Conclusions: The present study provides information on the biotic and abiotic characteristics of P. volans habitats. In South Korea, the fecal droppings of P. volans were found predominantly old deciduous broadleaf forests. Further studies are needed to reveal whether the more frequent occurrence of P. volans dropping in broadleaf forests may be due to a particular preference of this species for the forests or to a simple reflection of the area of the broadleaf forests occupying a much larger area than other forest types in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.544-549
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• 2013

We studied the habitat sites of Siberian flying squirrel in Guhak-ri, Sillim-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do from March to April in 2009. We were found total 30 points of inhabitation trace types; nests 15 points(Tree nest types were 13 points, used Tree hole types hole types were 2 points) and droppings 15 points. We observed 3 individuals of Siberian flying squirrels and founded that 2 individuals of them used tree holes, and another individual used tree nest which were located in branches of Pinus densiflora. Most utilized nest trees of Siberian flying squirrel were Larix leptolepis, and also used Pinus densiflora, Betula davurica, Styrax japonica, Cornus controversa, Acer mono. Droppings trees were Prunus sargentii, Cornus controversa, Quercus xmccormickii, Acer palmatum, Acer palmatum, Betula davurica. Through the observation, we defined that flying squirrels mainly used Conifer trees as nest sites, and decideous trees as droppings.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2013

This study investigated mammal fauna in the sabbatical area of Mt. Unmun, Kyungsangbuk-do from December, 2007 to September, 2009. A total of 24 species belonging to 11 Families, 6 Orders, were identified in the survey area. Dominant species were as follows: Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis), Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus), Korean mole (Mogera wogura), and East Asian field mouse (Apodemus peninsulae). Especially, four Legal Protection Species specified as National Monument (NM) and Endangered Species (ES) found in this survey were as follows: Flying squirrel (Petromys volans; NM #328 and ES level II), Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra; NM #330 and ES level I), Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis; ES level II) and Marten (Martes flavigula; ES level II). These results on the geographical distribution of various mammal species and Legal Protection Species indicate that this area is a valuable ecosystem for native mammal species. On the other hand, many feral cats were also found and specified as a management species. The results of this study show that further long-term investigation and management plan are needed to protect against harmful species and maintain the native ecosystem of Mt. Unmun.