• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2016

With the continuous expansion of highway network and its traffics, neighboring wildlife habitats are splitted into smaller and more isolated patches. The infrastructures contribute to the wildlife-vehicle collision by creating barriers to animal movement. This kinds of traffic accidents are dangerous factors to the drivers' safety and the facilities on the highway as well as to the wildlife themselves. One of the most common ways to prevent habitat fragmentation are fauna crossings and fences. The cost of the mitigation measures to prevent wildlife-vehicle collision could be monetized. However their economic benefits are difficult to be measured. Using contingent valuation method, this study tries to estimate the economic valuation of wildlife collision prevention projects on the Korean highways. The result shows that 43.88% of Korean household had the positive willingness pay to the projects. Moreover, we found that the recognition of the project or the favourable attitude to the environmental issues could raise the willingness-to-pay. Therefore, active public relation on the project could make the friendly public opinion and increase the number of the household which has the positive willingness-to-pay on the project.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2014

Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) infections affect domestic dogs, cats, and various wild mammals with increasing incidence in temperate and tropical areas. More sensitive antibody detection methodologies are required to diagnose asymptomatic dirofilariasis with low worm burdens. Applying current transcriptomic technologies would be useful to discover potential diagnostic markers for D. immitis infection. A filarial homologue of the mammalian translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) was initially identified by screening the assembled transcriptome of D. immitis (DiTCTP). A BLAST analysis suggested that the DiTCTP gene shared the highest similarity with TCTP from Loa loa at protein level (97%). A histidine-tagged recombinant DiTCTP protein (rDiTCTP) of 40 kDa expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) showed immunoreactivity with serum from a dog experimentally infected with heartworms. Localization studies illustrated the ubiquitous presence of rDiTCTP protein in the lateral hypodermal chords, dorsal hypodermal chord, muscle, intestine, and uterus in female adult worms. Further studies on D. immitis-derived TCTP are warranted to assess whether this filarial protein could be used for a diagnostic purpose.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.64-70
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• 2013

To examine the proportion of secondary seed dispersion by wildlife and to identify the related wildlife, We measured seed removal rates and related wildlife at the natural mixed broadleaved forest in mountain Jungwang, Pyeungchang-gun in middle part of Korean peninsula, seed-tray contained four kind of tree seeds were setted from mid-september to late-October for three years. Mean seed removal rates(MSRR) of acorn(Q. mongolica)is shown the highest values 87.2%, next MSRR of samara(A. pseudosieboldianum) does 33.1%, MSRR of samara(A. pictum subsp. mono) does 29.2%. and then SRR of samara(A. mandshuricum) does only 13.6%. Acorns are removed more faster than samaras. Among the related wildlife, Siberian chipmunks most freqently visit seed tray, and ordered Korean squirrel, Wild boar, and Yellow-throated marten. Most secondary dispersed acorns might be consumed by Wild boar, and small portions does comsumed or scatter-hoarded by rodents. Most secondary dispersed samaras might be consumed by rodents, and small portions does scatter-hoarded by rodents. A few sound seeds are remained on the forest floor in late October owing to the seed consunption and seed hoarding by wildlife. We observe seedling establishment of four broadleaved tree species. From these results, We proved Wild boar is seed comsummer, and rodents are seed consummer and seed disperser. Further studies on secondary seed dispersion, seed consumption and hoarding and related wildlife should be needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.1180-1186
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• 1999

A wide ranges of chemicals released into the environment have potential to interfere with physiological and development process by disrupting endocrine pathways. Endocrine system embraces a multitude of mechanisms of action, including effect on growth, behavior, reproduction and immune function. These environmental endocrine disruptors are present in environment and pose potential health consequences to human and wildlife. The best known form in endocrine distruptors involves substances which mimic or block the action of natural hormone in the body. Endocrine disruptor have been variously defined as exogenous agents that interfere with the synthesis, secretion, transport, metabolism, binding action or elimination of the natural hormones in the body which are responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis, reproduction developmental and/or behavior. Many compounds polluted into the environment by human activity are capable of disrupting the endocrine system of animals, including fish, wildlife, and humans. Among these chemicals are pesticides, industrial chemicals, and other anthropogenic products. It has been alleged that several adverse effects on human health are linked with exposure to chemicals which are claimed to be endocrine disrupters, that is, increased incidence of testicular, prostate and female breast cancer, time dependent reductions in sperm quality and quantity, increased incidence of cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) and hypospadias(malformation of the penis), altered physical and mental de velopment in children. This observation is currently the only example of chemically mediated endocrine disruption which has resulted in a clear effect at the population level.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.104-104
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• 2006

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.50-52
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• 2020

Twenty-four cinereous vultures that had been taken to a wildlife center due to starvation and exhaustion were studied to evaluate approaches for determining sex. Coelioscopy was performed to identify sexes of two vultures, whereas, DNA testing was performed to identify the sexes of the 24 vultures. Testes and ovaries could be unambiguously identified with an endoscope and DNA analyses could identify sex sex in most, but not all of the specimens. Although the coelioscopy examination can unambiguously confirm sex, the approach is invasive and requires anesthesia. Thus, coelioscopic examination should only be performed when sex cannot be determined through DNA analysis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2021

Avian haemosporidia, including malarial parasites, are geologically and biologically widespread. The protozoal pathogen has been a subject of intensive research in the past, which has resulted in major medical progress. Haemosporidia infection in avian species in South Korea has been studied in wild birds and layer flocks, but not in pet birds. At the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Chungbuk National University, 75 birds that presented for health check-up were tested to evaluate the infection rate of Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon in birds without clinical symptoms. Haemoproteus spp. and Leucocytozoon spp. were simultaneously detected in a Major Mitchell's cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) by polymerase chain reaction, representing 1.33% of the tested birds. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the infective Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon strains were similar to those detected in foreign countries rather than those detected in the wild birds of Korea. Although the infection rate may not be indicative of a substantial infection in healthy pet parrots, the import of infected birds can pose a threat by allowing foreign pathogens to infect the local wild flocks or livestock. This is the first surveillance study of avian haemosporidia in pet parrots in South Korea.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.274-278
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• 2021

Road structures play an important role in collisions involving vehicles and wildlife. Our study aimed to determine the effect of various types of road structures on the risk associated with roadkill. We surveyed 50 previously identified roadkill hotspots, ranked from one to five according to roadkill density. We collected nine types of road structure data on each hotspot road section. Structures with similar characteristics were grouped together, resulting in five categories, namely, median barrier, high edge barrier, low edge barrier, speed, and visibility. We examined the existence of each road structure category at each hotspot rank. The cumulative link model showed that the absence of bottom blocked median barrier increased the roadkill hotspot rank. Our study concluded that a visual obstacle in the middle of roads by the median barrier decreases wildlife road crossing attempts and roadkill risk. We suggest that future roadkill mitigation plans should be established considering these characteristics.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2011

This study was carried out to analyze ecological characteristics and select target species for effective restoration plans of wildlife corridors at Galmachi of Sungnam City. The actual vegetation in study area was physiognomically mixed with deciduous broad leaved forests dominated by oaks and artificially planted species. And it is a secondary forest formatted by sprout originated stand and being on early succession stage as a young stand. So study site was regarded as not suitable for the habitats for wildlife. The number of mammal species at study site was total 22 species, but most of these species were found as not so many in individual numbers. The individual number of hare was approximately 4 to 8, while the raccoon dog and water deer with 2 to 3 and 1 to 2, respectively. As such, it was estimated as a low population density due to discontinuation of ecosystem and the man-made impacts. In this study, raccoon dog and water deer were selected as the target species because of their migration patterns and ecological value in local ecosystem. It was suggested to establish a wildlife corridors of an over-bridge type at the peak area of Galmachi, known to be the mostly-used migratory route for 2 target species.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.513-520
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• 2014

Three echinostome species, i.e., Patagifer bilobus, Petasiger neocomense, and Saakotrema metatestis, are newly recorded in the trematode fauna of the Republic of Korea. They were recovered from 3 species of migratory birds (Platalea minor, Podiceps cristatus, and Egretta garzetta), which were donated by the Wildlife Center of Chungbuk (WCC) and the Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife (CGRB). Only 1 P. bilobus specimen was recovered from the intestine of a black-faced spoonbill (P. minor), and characterized by the bilobed head crown with a deep dorsal incision and 54 collar spines. Twenty P. neocomense were recovered from the intestine of a great crested grebe (P. cristatus), and they had a well-developed head crown with 19 spines and 2 testes obliquely located at the posterior middle of the body. Total 70 S. metatestis were collected from the bursa of Fabricius of 1 little egret (E. garzetta). It is characterized by stout tegumental spines covered in the entire leaf-shaped body, posterior extension of the uterus, presence of the uroproct and a well-developed head crown with 12 pairs of collar spines on each side. By the present study, these 3 echinostome species are newly added to the trematode fauna in Korea.