• Journal of KIISE
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.1584-1589
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• 2015

With the advancement of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, various genome browsers have been introduced. Because existing browsers focus on comparison of the genomic data of extant species, however, there is a need for a genome browser for ancestral genomes and their evolution. In this paper, we introduce a genome browser, AGB (Ancestral Genome Browser), that displays ancestral genome data reconstructed from existing species. With AGB, it is possible to trace genomic variations that occurred during evolution in a simple and intuitive way. We explain the capability of AGB in terms of visualizing ancestral genomic information and evolutionary genomic variations. AGB is now available at http://bioinfo.konkuk.ac.kr/genomebrowser/.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.165-179
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• 2002

In spite of dramatic change of environmental condition since Cambrian big-bang (explosion occurred ca.540 mya, the phylum Arthropoda retains a great diversity, and it is estimated approximately that 1-10 million arthropod species are extant on the earth. Except for an extinct arthopod subphylum Trilobita, extant arthropods could be divided into five subphyla: Hexapoda, Crustacea, Myriapoda, Chelicerata, and Pycnosonida. During the last century, systematists have disputed about interrealtionships among Arthropoda and its relatives (Onychophora, Tardigrada, and Pentastomida), arthropod phylogenetic position within protostome animals, monophyly or polyphyly of the phylum Arthropods, and interrelationships among five arthropod subgroups (subphyla) etc. Recently, new animal phylogeny was reported that protostomes could be clustered into two groups, Lophotrochozoa and Ecdysozoa, and molting animals such as Nematoda and Arthropoda were included within the Ecdysozoa. On the basis of the new animal phylogeny, first of all, I would mention phylogenetic positions and relationships of Arthropods and its relatives to introduce controversies of arthropod phylogeny in phylum level of animals. After that, I focused mainly on the controveries related to arthropod monophyly and phylogenetic relationships among four major arthropod groups except Pycnogonida. In this work, Pycnogonida which is a relatively small group and one of the five arthropod subphyla was not handled significantly although there are some controversies if it is a sister taxon of chelicerates or the most primitive arthropod group (namely, a sister of four remains arthropod groups).

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.197-207
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• 2016

This study aims at providing basic data to objectively evaluate the areas suitable for reintroduction of the species of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in order to effectively preserve the Asiatic black bears in the Korean protection areas including national parks, and for the species restoration success. To this end, this study predicted the potential habitats in East Asia, Southeast Asia and India, where there are the records of Asiatic black bears' appearances using the Maxent model and environmental variables related with climate, topography, road and land use. In addition, this study evaluated the effects of the relevant climate and environmental variables. This study also analyzed inhabitation range area suitable for Asiatic black and geographic change according to future climate change. As for the judgment accuracy of the Maxent model widely utilized for habitat distribution research of wildlife for preservation, AUC value was calculated as 0.893 (sd=0.121). This was useful in predicting Asiatic black bears' potential habitat and evaluate the habitat change characteristics according to future climate change. Compare to the distribution map of Asiatic black bears evaluated by IUCN, Habitat suitability by the Maxent model were regionally diverse in extant areas and low in the extinct areas from IUCN map. This can be the result reflecting the regional difference in the environmental conditions where Asiatic black bears inhabit. As for the environment affecting the potential habitat distribution of Asiatic black bears, inhabitation rate was the highest, according to land coverage type, compared to climate, topography and artificial factors like distance from road. Especially, the area of deciduous broadleaf forest was predicted to be preferred, in comparison with other land coverage types. Annual mean precipitation and the precipitation during the driest period were projected to affect more than temperature's annual range, and the inhabitation possibility was higher, as distance was farther from road. The reason is that Asiatic black bears are conjectured to prefer more stable area without human's intervention, as well as prey resource. The inhabitation range was predicted to be expanded gradually to the southern part of India, China's southeast coast and adjacent inland area, and Vietnam, Laos and Malaysia in the eastern coastal areas of Southeast Asia. The following areas are forecast to be the core areas, where Asiatic black bears can inhabit in the Asian region: Jeonnam, Jeonbuk and Gangwon areas in South Korea, Kyushu, Chugoku, Shikoku, Chubu, Kanto and Tohoku's border area in Japan, and Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Fujian border area in China. This study is expected to be used as basic data for the preservation and efficient management of Asiatic black bear's habitat, artificially introduced individual bear's release area selection, and the management of collision zones with humans.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.466-473
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• 2008

This study deals with the morphological characteristics and structure of organ fossils of Neocalamites carrerei such as rhizomes, aerial leafy stems, and cones collected in situ from the Amisan Formation of Nampo Group. Judging from the size of some extant Equisetum and paleoclimate of Daedong flora, it is considered that the size of Neocalamites carrerei was probably very large. The cone of Neocalamites takahashii (Kon'no) is closely associated with the leaves of Neocalamites carrerei. It indicates that two organ fossils mentioned above probably belong to the same species. Comparing with very abundant occurrence of aerial leafy stems and rhizomes in the Amisan Formation, cones are very rare. This fact implies that Neocalamites reproduce not only by spore reproduction, but also by asexual reproduction. Neocalamites largely differ in the leaf form and size from Equisetum.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.451-455
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• 2015

The buffalo is an important livestock resource in several countries of South Asia and the Mediterranean regions. However, reproductive efficiency is compromised due to known problems of biological and management origins, such as lack of animal selection and poor nutrition. Under optimal conditions puberty is attained at 15 to 18 months in river buffalo, 21 to 24 months in swamp buffalo and is influenced by genotype, nutrition, management and climate. However, under field conditions these values deteriorate up to a significant extant. To improve reproductive efficiency, several protocols of oestrus and ovulation synchronization have been adopted from their use in commercial cattle production. These protocols yield encouraging pregnancy rates of (30% to 50%), which are comparable to those achieved in buffaloes bred at natural oestrus. The use of sexed semen in buffalo heifers also showed promising pregnancy rates (50%) when compared with conventional non-sexed semen. Assisted reproductive technologies have been transferred and adapted to buffalo but the efficiency of these technologies are low. However, these latest technologies offer the opportunity to accelerate the genetic gain in the buffalo industry after improving the technology and reducing its cost. Most buffaloes are kept under the small holder farming system in developing countries. Hence, future research should focus on simple, adoptable and impact-oriented approaches which identify the factors determining low fertility and oestrus behaviour in this species. Furthermore, role of kisspeptin needs to be explored in buffalo.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2004

“The Regional complex long-term program of restoration (reintroduction) of Primoryes ginseng population up to 2005” elaborated by Primorye governor administration, Regional Committee of Natural Resources and Russian Academy of Sciences operates in Russian Primorye. The Institute of Biology and Soil Science (IBSS) provides the scientific implementation of the program including the genetic analysis of extant ginseng populations, plant reproduction and off-spring identification. According to our investigations, the genetic resource of P. ginseng in Primorye is represented by three populations of wild-growing ginseng and a few pritate plantations. The results obtained by RAPD allowed concluding that the resource is dispersed among the wild and cultivated ginseng sub-populations in such a way that each of sub-populations studied has to be represented as a stock material to maintain species genetic variability. The allozyme analyses also showed that the small sub-populations of wild ginseng are characterized by unique genetic diversity and, therefore, they all need to be represented in reintroduction centers. Additionally the allozyme analysis discovered that the Blue Mountain and Khasan populations possess the most genetic diversity. So, at least one more reproductive ginseng unit has to be created besides two already existing reintroduction centers representing the Sikhote-Alin and the Blue Mountain populations.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.509-521
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• 2002

'The Regional complex long-term program of restoration (reintroduction) of Primoryes ginseng population up to 2005' elaborated by Primorye governor administration, Regional Committee of Natural Resources and Russian Academy of Sciences operates in Russian Primorye. The Institute of Biology and Soil Science (IBSS) provides the scientific implementation of this program including the genetic analysis of extant ginseng populations, plant reproduction and offspring identification. According to our investigations, the genetic resource of P. ginseng in Primorye is represented by three populations of wild-growing ginseng and a few private plantations. The results obtained by RAPD allowed concluding that this resource is dispersed among the wild and cultivated ginseng sub-populations in such a way that each of sub-populations studied has to be represented in living plant collection as a stock material to maintain species genetic variability. The allozyme analyses also showed that the small sub-populations of natural ginseng are characterized by unique genetic diversity and, therefore, they all need to be represented in reintroduction centers. Additionally the allozyme analysis discovered that the Blue Mountain and Khasan populations possess the most genetic diversity. So, at least one more reproductive ginseng unit has to be created besides two already existing reintroduction centers representing the Sikhote-Alin and the Blue Mountain populations.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.1-20
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• 2023

The present study has monitored the changes in the biodiversity of Dunchon-Dong ecological and landscape conservation area after the restoration of the wetland, identified and analyzed the threats to the ecosystem, and presented a management plan accordingly. In this area which was forests and rice paddies in the past, apartment reconstruction is currently underway, with some hinterland forests and wetlands remaining. When we look into the change in the floras, the total number of species was 193 in 2000 before the restoration, it decreased from 2004 to 2006, and as of 2019, it was 149, showing an increasing trend. The result of comparing the species that emerged before and after the restoration showed an increase in Cyperaceae herbs such as Carex maximowiczii and Carex dispalata growing in wetland areas within forests and Schoenoplectiella juncoides and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani growing in areas within wetlands where shallow water is maintained. As a result of analyzing the change in the area ratio of each type of extant vegetation, the wetland native herbs formed the power at the highest ratio after the restoration. The change in the power of the wetland native herbs was on an increasing trend until 2007, after which it decreased much in 2010 and then gradually increased, showing values of 26.6% in 2000, 44.6% in 2002, 49.0% in 2005, 53.3% in 2007, 28.7% in 2010, and 37.3% in 2019. The cause of the decrease in 2010 was judged to be due to the vegetation management conducted to secure open water and remove organic matter in freshwater reservoirs. The amphibia which emerged from 2000 to 2019 was a total of 9 species including Hynobius leeshii, Bufo gargarizans, Kaloula borealis, and Rana uenoi. As a result of the changes in the emerging wild birds, the species diversity index before the restoration was 0.9922 in 2000, and the species diversity index after the restoration gradually increased to 1.2449 in 2005, 1.2467 in 2010, and 2.2631 in 2019. The amphibia and wild birds inhibiting in the Dunchon-Dong forest and wetland were judged to have increased through continuous wetland maintenance such as naturalized plant removal management, native plant maintenance, and open water securing management. For the ecosystem preservation management of the Dunchon-Dong ecological and landscape conservation area, it was suggested to minimize the impact of the Dunchon-Dong reconstruction project, reorganize the indiscriminate access roads adjacent to the wetland, and reorganize the main entrance to the wetland. For ecosystem restoration management, systematic restoration and ecological buffer planting were suggested to be carried out at the time of construction fence demolition.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.12-23
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to develop and study an experiential natural education program that could emphasize the importance of the natural environment by providing natural experience opportunities using the natural resources of the urban forest parks using Youngheung Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province as a target site. The research target was limited to Suwon Yeongheung Park, which had the potential to become a place for education, where urban forest conservation and sustainable use already coexist. The natural education resources derived by surveying and analyzing the basic environment and the ecology of plants and animals in Suwon Yeongheung Park were organized to establish program goals, directions, and themes. Suwon Yeongheung Park is a water-rich forest that forms an ecological system of wetlands, including rice paddies, muknon wetlands, and dungbun, near a valley area. The U-shaped walkway was smoothly formed along the ridge and includes Doran-gil, which is among the Palochrome Road, designated by the city of Suwon. The soil is acidic, with a pH 4.40, due to urban pollution and acid rain, and is not good for plant growth. Most of the artificial forests, natural forests, and arable land were found using land use and extant life surveys. Old trees were distributed in artificial forests, the oak clusters in natural forests, and the fields and darrinones were distributed in the arable areas. As the forest vegetation declined, the cedar forest was underway, and the cedar trees and red bean pear trees were cultivated due to their adaptability to the urban environment. There are 13 large of 180 sacks, one being 109 centimeters in diameter, the largest silvery tree, and 105 oak trees, provide food and shelter for animals. Six species of waterfowl that used the 22 kinds of forest wetlands, while four species of amphibians and two species of reptiles reside in the wetlands. Natural Monument No. 327, Mauryuk, Class II Endangered Wildlife, was also observed in the wetlands. Eight other species of surface dragonflies and three species of butterflies were observed. By systemizing the resources, members, and characteristics of the forest ecosystems in Suwon Yeongheung Park based on five criteria, the program for a hands-on natural education was presented with the aim of understanding the urban forest ecosystem in Suwon Yeongheung Park, having an affinity with the city, and recognizing its relationship with the community and society. However, further research is needed as there are limitations of research on programs characterized by different ages and classes.

• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1213-1223
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• 2018

Pelagic larval dispersal habits influence the population genetic structure of marine mollusk organisms via gene flow. The genetic information of the clam Gomphina aequilatera (short larval stage, 10 days) which is ecologically and economically important in the China coast is unknown. To determine the influence of planktonic larval duration on the genetic structure of G. aequilatera. Mitochondrial markers, cytochrome oxidase subunit i (COI) and 12S ribosomal RNA (12S rRNA), were used to investigate the population structure of wild G. aequilatera specimens from four China Sea coastal locations (Zhoushan, Nanji Island, Zhangpu and Beihai). Partial COI (685 bp) and 12S rRNA (350 bp) sequences were determined. High level and significant $F_{ST}$ values were obtained among the different localities, based on either COI ($F_{ST}=0.100-0.444$, P<0.05) or 12S rRNA ($F_{ST}=0.193-0.742$, P<0.05), indicating a high degree of genetic differentiation among the populations. The pairwise $N_m$ between Beihai and Zhoushan for COI was 0.626 and the other four pairwise $N_m$ values were >1, indicating extensive gene flow among them. The 12S rRNA showed the same pattern. AMOVA test results for COI and 12S rRNA indicated major genetic variation within the populations: 77.96% within and 22.04% among the populations for COI, 55.73% within and 44.27% among the populations for 12S rRNA. A median-joining network suggested obvious genetic differentiation between the Zhoushan and Beihai populations. This study revealed the extant population genetic structure of G. aequilatera and showed a strong population structure in a species with a short planktonic larval stage.