• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.116-125
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• 2017

Alpine plants with a scarcity of pollinators in harsh environments have been believed to undergo selfing for reproductive assurance; however, contradictory evidence is also available. Snowmelt regimes in alpine areas function to change life history characteristics of alpine plants such as flowering time and duration; yet the effects of snowmelt regimes have never been tested in alpine plants in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the dichogamy, mating systems, and flowering characteristics of Megaleranthis saniculifolia populations [early and late snowmelt plots (ESP and LSP, respectively)] in a subalpine area of Sobaeksan Mountain in Korea. M. saniculifolia exhibited incomplete protogyny in that despite early maturation of pistils, maturation times of pistils and stamens within flowers were partly overlapped. Control and hand-outcrossing treatments produced significantly higher number of follicles and seeds per flower than autonomous and hand-selfing treatments. Based on the aggregate fruit set, the auto-fertility index (AI) and self-compatibility index (SI) were 0.33 and 0.50, respectively. Snowmelt occurred 10 days earlier in ESP than in LSP, thereby ESP and LSP showed distinct differences with regard to flower longevity and season, but showing no difference in peak flowering dates. We concluded that M. saniculifolia is an incomplete protogynous and largely outcrossing plant requiring pollinator service. Temporal variation in snowmelt time and subsequent changes in flowering characteristics under climate change may further threaten the population persistence of M. saniculifolia which has already been designated as endangered species in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

We used stable isotope analysis to investigate the hypothesis that zooplankton were not able to utilize Microcystis as a food source. We also studied seasonal variation of the zooplankton community in a eutrophic Wangsong reservoir. The dominant copepod species changed from Cyclops vicinus to Thermocyclops taihokuensis. Density of zooplankton was suppressed by high density of Microcystis in June and the density of phytoplankton and chlorophyll a concentration was lowest in July. The difference in $\delta^{13}C$ and $\delta^{15}N$ between cladocerans (Daphnia galeata and Bosmina longirostris) and copepods showed the maximum difference of $12^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$ and $4^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$, respectively, indicating different energy sources and trophic positions between two taxonomic groups. The difference in $\delta^{13}C$ between Microcystis and zooplankton ranged from $3{\sim}7^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$, supporting the hypothesis that Microcystis could not be used as food source of zooplankton.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1308-1314
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• 2017

The Chinese red-headed centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans, a member of the arthropod class Chilopoda, is a traditional medicine used for the treatment of several allergic diseases, such as atopy. S. subspinipes mutilans samples were collected from different regions of South Korea: Sancheong, Gyeongnam; Yeonggwang, Jeonnam and Jeju-do. The nutritional values of the centipedes were analyzed to extend the species' applications. The crude protein and fat contents of all samples were high and ranged from 54.9-55.8% and from 26.8-30.6%, respectively. Essential amino acids were present; lysine was the most common and accounted for 3.4-3.6% of the essential amino acids. Glutamic acid, which assists in improving concentration, memory and other cognitive abilities, was the most common non-essential amino acid at 6.8-7.1%. It had a similar content percentage in all three regions' samples. Additionally, unsaturated fatty acids were present, and oleic acid, which prevents cancer and cardiac disease, was the most common at 41.3-48.6% of each sample. Mercury, a hazardous substance, was detected at a range of 0.08-0.11 mg/kg in all samples; the amount was lower than the standard food allowance. Additionally, no pathogenic microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., were detected. There were no significant differences between the nutritional factors of the S. subspinipes mutilans samples from the three regions. Based on the nutritional analysis, Chinese red-headed centipedes have the potential to be food and medicinal ingredients due to their proteins, essential amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids and nutritive capacities.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2005

The ultrastructure of submandibular gland was examined in the lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens. The submandibular gland of C. suaveolens was a mixed gland composed of serous and mucous acinar cells. Secretory granules from the acini were discharged through the salivary ducts into the oral cavity. Serous and mucous acinar cells had well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria and large amount of granules. In case of serous acinar granules, an immature granule was formless and had only dense specks, and a matured granule was a complete round type delimiting by a single membrane and had a homogeneous dense center with dense specks on the border. In case of mucous acinar granules, while an immature granule was a round type and had an only homogeneous matrix and an indistinct limiting membrane, a mature granule was an even round type having a variety of pattern with several dense bands into the homogeneous matrix and had a distinct membrane. Therefore, a mature mucous acinar granule of C. suaveolens was not only distinct from those of the other mammalian species to have a variety of pattern but also from those of C. lasiura to have an even round type. A great serous-like secretory granules and Myelin-like body were observed in the cytoplasm and lumen of granular duct cells. Myelin-like body, a characteristic structure only reported in salivary gland of three shrews, was discharged from secretory cell into lumen by the manner of exocytosis which has little differences from discharging manner of secretory granules.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2002

Based on accumulated data during 1977-2001, seasonal fluctuations of migrated aphids at Daegwallyeong highlands were analyzed. In addition, rates of PLRV transmission by migrated aphids were investigated by inoculation on indicator plant, Physazis floridana, and ELISA in 2000-2001, and the change of PLRV transmission rates by aphids was compared with that of 1989-1991. The average migrated aphid population densities in 1976-1980, 1991-1995, and 1996-2000 were 575.2, 2959.4 and 2281.6, respectively, showing gradual increase in recent years. The average peak time of aphid migration was from early to mid June during 1977-2001, showing any significant differences over the years. The dominant species, however, changed slowly; before mid 1980s M. persicae flied dominantly, but after mid 1980s Aphis gossypii did. Hahm et al. (1991) reported that PLRV transmission rate of migrated aphids during 1989-1991 was 6.7-10.0%. In 2000-2001, however, migrated aphids at Daegwallyeong highland showed 10.1-11.0%. Although present PLRV transmission rate was slightly higher than that of 10 years ago, taking increased population densities and diversity of migrated aphids into account, there was no significant change of PLRV transmission rate over the years.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.193-198
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• 2016

Objective: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzyme defect. G6PD plays a key role in the pentose phosphate pathway, which is a major source of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). NADPH provides the reducing equivalents for oxidation-reduction reductions involved in protecting against the toxicity of reactive oxygen species such as $H_2O_2$. We hypothesized that G6PD deficiency may reduce the amount of NADPH in sperms, thereby inhibiting the detoxification of $H_2O_2$, which could potentially affect their motility and viability, resulting in an increased susceptibility to infertility. Methods: Semen samples were obtained from four males with G6PD deficiency and eight healthy males as a control. In both groups, motile sperms were isolated from the seminal fluid and incubated with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and $120{\mu}M$ concentrations of $H_2O_2$. After 1 hour incubation at $37^{\circ}C$, sperms were evaluated for motility and viability. Results: Incubation of sperms with 10 and $20{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$ led to very little decrease in motility and viability, but motility decreased notably in both groups in 40, 60, and $80{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$, and viability decreased in both groups in 40, 60, 80, and $120{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the G6PD-deficient group and controls. Conclusion: G6PD deficiency does not increase the susceptibility of sperm to oxidative stress induced by $H_2O_2$, and the reducing equivalents necessary for protection against $H_2O_2$ are most likely produced by other pathways. Therefore, G6PD deficiency cannot be considered as major risk factor for male infertility.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2007

We investigated to understand the differences in the karyotypes and the reproductive characteristics between the diploid clam, Corbicula japonica in the brackish water and the triploid clam, C. fluminea in the freshwater. The number of chromosomes of the diploid C. japonica were 38, which can be grouped into 19 pairs of two homologues. These can be divided into 11 pairs of telocentric, 4 pairs of subtelocentric, 3 pairs of submetacentric and one pair of metacentric chromosomes. C. japonica is oviparous and dioecious. The clam has two pairs of gills, with the inner and outer-demibranchs, however, they do not act mainly as marsupia. External fertilization occurs in the brackish water. The triploid marsh clam, C. fluminea has 54 chromosomes, which can be grouped into 18 sets of three homologues. These 18 sets can be divided into one metacentric group, five submetacentric groups and 12 subtelo- or telocentric groups. C. fluminea is ovoviviparous and functional hermaphrodite. The triploid condition may be closely related to hermaphroditism. This species has the inner-demibranchs acting mainly as marsupia. The depletion of ripe eggs occurred in the inner-demibranchs of the gill during the incubatory periods, and ripe eggs produced in the hermaphroditic follicles in the gonad during the non-incubatory periods. The gonad developmental stages of two marsh clams (C. japonica and C. fluminea) can be divided into five stages: early active stage, late active stage, ripe stage, partially spawned stages, and spent/inactive stage.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.231-238
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• 2015

Genome-wide reanalyzed data of 25 Flammulina strains were compared against the reference genome (KACC42780) to establish a genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The rate of mapping differences between the strains reflected in the strain variation in its result. Genome-wide SNPs distribution divided into types of homozygous SNP and heterozygous SNP moreover all of the strains demonstrated a wide variation in all of the regions. In the further study of topological relationship between the collected strains, phylogenetic tree was separated into 3 major groups. Group I contained F. velutipes var. related strains of ASI 4062, 4148, 4195. Group 2 contained strains that are different species of ASI 4188 F. elastica, ASI 4190 F. fennae, and ASI 4194 F. rossica. The other 19 strains F. velutipes were classified as a single group. However, further experiment to discriminate its genetic relationship between the white group and brown group did not verify its validity. The inferred tree exhibited a phylogenetic relationship between Korea white fruitbody forming strains of ASI 4210, 4166, 4178 and Japan white fruitbody forming strains of ASI 4209, 4167 confirmed to be genetically closely related.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.353-361
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• 2015

Spatio-temporal variation in fruit set in orchids would affect long-term population viability and will influence genetic diversity over many generations. The aim of this study was to examine the breeding system of the nectariferous terrestrial orchid Epipactis thunbergii, to specifically determine levels of fruit set in terms of time and space under natural conditions. We examined pollination under natural conditions and conducted hand pollination experiments during a 2-year survey in four populations located along 1.5 km of coastal line in Jinguiri (rual village) [Jeollanam-do (province), southern Korea]. We found that, over a 2-year period, levels of percentage of fruit set were similar within patches of the four populations. By contrast, we detected significant differences in the percentage of fruit set among patches. We also found that plants with larger inflorescence size produced significantly more fruits than plants with fewer flowers. Over a 2-year period, the percentage of fruit set for E. thunbergii was similar but low (14.1%) compared to that averaged for eighty-four rewarding species (37.1%). However, an increase in fruit set was achieved by hand-pollinations: artificial self-pollination (90.5-95.2%), artificial geitonogamy (94.7-95.0%), and cross-pollination (artificial xenogamy, 91.3-91.4%). No emasculated flowers produced fruits and no automatic pollination was found in E. thunbergii. Our findings suggest that E. thunbergii is a self-compatible terrestrial orchid that depends on pollinators (insects) to achieve fruit set in natural habitats, and that local environmental conditions were similar over a period of 2 years in the study area. Our results also highlight the cryptic variation of fruit production in time, but more pronounced variability in space.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.336-341
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate geographic variation in needle characteristics of Pinus densiflora, one of the most economically important tree species in Korea. Needles were collected from 35 natural populations and their morphological and anatomical characteristics were studied. ANOVA showed statistically significant differences among populations as well as among individuals within populations in needle length, needle width, number of stomata row, density of stomata in $0.25mm^{2}$, number of serrations in 0.5mm, and number of resin ducts. In all these traits, variance components among individuals within populations were larger than those among populations. The density of stomata in $0.25mm^{2}$ increased as the latitudes and elevations of the populations increased, while the number of serrations in 0.5mm decreased as the decrease of latitudes and elevations. The number of resin ducts was higher in inland populations than in coastal populations. The resin duct index appeared to be higher in western populations than in eastern populations. Cluster analysis based on morphological characteristics divided populations into three groups. The third group was composed of populations selected from the Taebaek mountains. The number of serrations in 0.5mm of this group was lower than that of other two groups, while the density of stomata in $0.25mm^{2}$ was higher.