• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.530-539
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• 2007

Genetic variation and structure of 9 subpopulations of Symplocarpus renifolius Schott ex Tzvelev on Mt. Cheonma, in Korea, were determined via starch-gel electrophoresis. The genetic diversity at 10 loci for 8 isozymes ($P_{99}=66%,\;A=2.26,\;H_o=0.212,\;H_e=0.230$) was found to be considerably higher than that seen in other long-lived perennial plants. On the whole, the genotype frequencies were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Approximately 5%($\theta=0.049$) of the total variability was among subpopulations. The high levels of observed genetic diversity in S. renifolius were attributed to a universal outcrossing system and other specific factors like differences in age classes and widely scattered individuals around the main distribution. Heterozygosity was highest at a mid-range of elevation($450m{\sim}600m$). The lowest heterozygosity at lower elevation was attributed to the possible origin of seeds transported by water from upstream regions during the monsoon season. Spatial structure in a subpopulation evidenced a strong autocorrelation between closer individuals within $3{\sim}4m$ of distance. This was assumed to be attributable to the restricted seed dispersal characteristics of S. renifolius. In accordance with the findings generated in this study, some implications regarding the conservation of S. renifolius at the Mt. Cheonma were also presented.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2000

A portion of mitochondria1 COI gene (438 bp) was sequenced from the sampls of Plutella xylostella from four localities in Korea to investigate the population genetic structure and characteristics by measuring the magnitude of genetic diversity and the degree of gene flow among populations. Thirteen haplotypes ranging in nucleotide divergence 0.3% to 1.4%, were obtained from 21 individuals. The nucleotide divergence was similar to the other related studies, but haplotype diversity was substantially higher (mean h = 0.81). The genetic distance among geographically remote Cheju Island population and the two Kimhae populations, distant 1 lkm to each other, was not statistically significant (p<0.05). Instead, a substantial or high female gene flow was detected (Nm = 2-30). One Hawaiian haplotype of the diamondback moth obtained through GenBank search also was genetically similar to the ones obtained from this study. Collectively, the genetic population structure of the diamondback moth in Korea can be characterized into two aspects. First, the diamondback moths in Korea possesses overall moderate genetic divergence based on a high number of haplotypes. Second, a high haplotype diversity within each population due to the long distance dispersal with a substantial dispersal power and the resultant genetic similarity among geographic populations is characteristic.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.525-549
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• 2022

The process of biological invasion is led by the dynamics of a population as a demographic and evolutionary unit. Spatial structure can affect the population dynamics, and it is worth being considered in research on biological invasion which is always accompanied by dispersal. Metapopulation theory is a representative approach to spatially structured populations, which is chiefly applied in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology despite the controversy about its definition. In this study, metapopulation was considered as a spatially structured population that includes at least one subpopulation with significant extinction probability. The early phase of the invasion is suitable to be analyzed in aspects of the metapopulation concept because the introduced population usually has a high extinction probability, and their ecological·genetic traits determining the invasiveness can be affected by the metapopulation structure. Although it is important in the explanation of the prediction of the invasion probability, the metapopulation concept is rarely used in ecological research about biological invasion in Korea. It is expected that applying the metapopulation theory can supply a more detailed investigation of the invasion process at the population level, which is relatively inadequate in Korea. In this study, a framework dividing the invasive metapopulation into long- and middle-distance scales by the relative distance of movement to the natural dispersal range of species is proposed to easily analyze the effect of a metapopulation in real cases. Increased understanding of the mechanisms underlying invasions and improved prediction of future invasion risk are expected with the metapopulation concept and this framework.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.4 s.84
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• pp.455-461
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• 2007

Assessments of population genetic structure and diversity can be of value in formulating management plans for threatened eelgrass(Zostera maim). Using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers, we found evidence of significant genetic structure among the populations of eelgrass sampled at three areas(Geojedo, Gaedo, and Jedo). A highly isolated(>100 km apart) population from the Geojedo had a long genetic distance(0.16), whereas the populations from the Gaedo and Jedo(<10 km apart) exhibited far less distance(0.08). The analysis of similarity within population showed that Geojedo was over 70%, which was of lower value than of Gaedo and Jedo. Based on these results, we realized that heterogeneous population was in accordance with geographic separation. This is caused by limited seed dispersal and interrupted gene flow, although the sample size is small.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2012

The tiger population that once inhabited the Korean peninsula was initially considered a unique subspecies (Panthera tigris coreensis), distinct from the Amur tiger of the Russian Far East (P. t. altaica). However, in the following decades, the population of P. t. coreensis was classified as P. t. altaica and hence forth the two populations have been considered the same subspecies. From an ecological point of view, the classification of the Korean tiger population as P. t. altaica is a plausible conclusion. Historically, there were no major dispersal barriers between the Korean peninsula and the habitat of Amur tigers in Far Eastern Russia and northeastern China that might prevent gene flow, especially for a large carnivore with long-distance dispersal abilities. However, there has yet to be a genetic study to confirm the subspecific status of the Korean tiger. Bone samples from four tigers originally caught in the Korean peninsula were collected from two museums in Japan and the United States. Eight mitochondrial gene fragments were sequenced and compared to previously published tiger subspecies' mtDNA sequences to assess the phylogenetic relationship of the Korean tiger. Three individuals shared an identical haplotype with the Amur tigers. One specimen grouped with Malayan tigers, perhaps due to misidentification or mislabeling of the sample. Our results support the conclusion that the Korean tiger should be classified as P. t. altaica, which has important implications for the conservation and reintroduction of Korean tigers.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2011

Black-billed magpies (Pica pica) are a highly sedentary species due to their short and round wings, which are not adequate for long distance flights. We investigated geographic variation in the vocal signals of magpies residing in South Korea and Japan (subspecies sericea). Based on the magpie's limited dispersal ability, we predicted that the variation in vocal signals of black-billed magpies could be explained by geographic barriers such as mountain ranges and straits. We analyzed four-syllable chatter calls of magpies from five localities in South Korea, which are separated by mountain ranges (Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, and Busan), and two island localities separated from the mainland by straits (Jeju in Korea and Saga in Japan). We found significant differences in the characteristics of magpie chatter calls recorded in the seven localities, and the variation pattern was independent among the variables. Mainland-island differentiation and north-south differentiation were observed. In general, magpies on Saga were the most distinctive. North-south differentiation was observed among the Korean mainland localities. However, the pattern was not related to the presence of putative geographic barriers. We hypothesize that the patterns of geographic variation in the structure of magpie chatter calls residing in South Korea might have been shaped by a sudden expansion of magpies followed by low level of local isolation, which may have led to vocal differentiation. Along with elucidating the vocal environment of Korean magpie populations, more extensive sampling is needed to clarify the functional aspects of geographic variation in the vocal signals of Korean magpies.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2015

To elucidate the origin and patterns of establishment of insular plants on Ulleungdo Island, maternally inherited chloroplast DNA, which is useful for tracing seed movements, was used. Fagus multinervis, an endemic species that dominated broadleaf deciduous forests on Ulleungdo Island, is an excellent model for such a study. To understand the diversity and spatial distribution of the chloroplast haplotypes of F. multinervis, nucleotide sequences of the psbA-trnH region were determined from 144 individuals sampled throughout the island. Results of a phylogenetic analysis of the region with close relatives of F. multinervis suggest that F. multinervis is sister to a clade of F. japonica and F. engleriana. No haplotype variation was found within F. multinervis. This remarkably low cpDNA haplotype diversity is in contrast to the findings of previous allozyme studies of F. multinervis populations that showed high genetic diversity on Ulleungdo Island. Repeated colonization during the early stage of establishment via birds that migrated from a source area where the F. multinervis cpDNA haplotype was geographically structured may have resulted in the observed pattern of haplotype diversity. Alternatively, long-distance dispersal of seeds of the progenitor of F. multinervis via birds or typhoons to Ulleungdo may have been a single event, whereas the immigration of pollen from the mainland likely occurred frequently. Comparative phylogeographic studies of other species endemic to Ulleungdo Island and their close relatives on the neighboring mainland are necessary for a more complete understanding of the evolution of the island's native species.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.1
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• pp.107-114
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• 2007

Establishments of the seedlings inside the natural forest from adjacent artificial forests would be an important factor in forest stand dynamics. This study was conducted to see the invasion of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) seedlings which is not native in this region, into the natural deciduous broad-leaved forest in Gwangneung, Korea. There is no mother tree at the I ha study site while the number of naturally regenerated P. koraiensis seedlings was 345 trees and 56% of them were clumped with more than two seedlings at each point. Applying the image segmentation method to IKONOS satellite image of January, 2003, the distance from the center of 1 ha study site to the nearest mother tree and plantation of Korean pine were 200 m and 270 m, respectively. The average height and root-collar diameter of the seedlings were 34 em and 7 mm, respectively and the age of 207 seedlings (60%) were below 5 years old. Most abundant range of soil moisture gradient and LAl (leaf area index) were from 16 to 20% and those of LAI were from 3.1 to 3.5. To understand the dynamics and seed dispersal pattern of Korean pine in the Gwangneung natural deciduous broad-leaved forests, additional studies not only long-term monitoring of growth and mortality of naturally regenerated Korean pine seedlings but also application of stable isotope analysis and molecular genetic techniques was recommended.