• Title/Summary/Keyword: small organisms

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Feeding Habit of Rhynchocypris kumgangensis (Cyprinidae) from the Hongcheon River, Korea (홍천강 상류에 서식하는 금강모치, Rhynchocypris kumgangensis (Cyprinidae)의 식성)

  • Choi Jae-Seok;Lee Kwang-Yeol;Jang Young-Su;Park Jung-Ho;Kwon Oh-Kil
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.24 no.1 s.61
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    • pp.29-37
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    • 2006
  • We investigated the feeding habits of Rhynchocypris kumgangensis in Hongcheon River of Saenggokri, Seoseokmyeon, Hongcheongun, Gangwon-do, Korea from April 2002 to March 2003. The fish is korean endemic species upper streams in Korea. It was asscertained that R. kumgangensis is a carnivore and consumes mainly Ephemeroptera, Diptera, Terrestrial insects and Trichoptera. The most important prey was chironomids: Chironomus sp. Their feeding habits changed according to growth. Small fish fed mainly on small prey organisms such as Diptera, while larger fish fed much more on Ephemeroptera and Terrestrial insects. There were also seasonal changes in the relative proportion of their food items.

Cloning and Characerization of the Ribosomal RNA Gene from Gonyaulax polyedra

  • Lee, Hee-Gyun;Lee, Ji-Yeon;Lee, Dong-Hee
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.515-523
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    • 2001
  • The dinoflagellates have some primitive nuclear features and are evolutionarily intermediate between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The small subunit ribosomal RAN gene, the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of Gonyaulax polyedra were cloned, and their sequences were analyzed to better understand their evolutionary position. The small subunit ribosomal RNA gene was 1,794 nt long, the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene was approximately 3,500 nt long, and the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene was 159 nt long. The first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) was 191 nt long, and the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) was 185 nt long. The intergenic spacer of the ribosomal RNA gene (IGS) was about 2,200 nt long, indicating that 5,800 nt of transcribed sequences were separated by roughly 2,200 nt of intergenic spacer. The ribosomal RNA genes were repeated many times and arranged in a head-to-tail, tandemly repeated manner. The repeating unit of ribosomal RNA gene of G. polyedra was proposed to be 8,000 nt long. Based on the lengths of ribosomal RNA, sequence alignments with representative organisms, and phylogenetic analysis on ribosomal RNA, G. polyedra appears to be one of the alveolates branched from the eukaryotic crown and, among dinoflagellates, it seems to not have emerged early.

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Seasonal Variations in Species Composition and Abundance of Fish and Decapods in an Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Bed of Jindong Bay

  • Kwak, Seok-Nam;Park, Joo-Myun;Huh, Sung-Hoi
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.259-269
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    • 2014
  • The objectives of this study to determine seasonal changes in species composition and abundance of fish and decapod assemblage, and the relationships between environmental factors and their abundance in an eelgrass bed of Jindong Bay. A total of 26 fish species and 29 decapod species were collected by a small beam trawl from an eelgrass bed in Jindong Bay in 2002. The dominant fish species were Hexagrammos otakii, Pholis neulosa and P. fangi and these accounted for 48.4 % in the total number of individuals. Dominant decapod taxa were Palaemon macrodactylus, Charybdis japonica, Pagurus minutus and C. bimaculata. These were primarily small species or early juveniles of larger species. Species composition and abundance varied greatly showing a peak in the number of individuals in April and May, and peak biomass in fish in July and decapods in August. Catch rate was low in winter months both in fish and in decapod. Seasonal changes in the abundance of fishes and decapods corresponded with eelgrass biomass and abundance of food organisms indirectly.

Utility of taxon-specific molecular markers for the species identification of herbarium specimens: an example from Desmarestia japonica (Phaeophyceae, Desmarestiales) in Korea

  • Lee, Sang-Rae;Lee, Eun-Young
    • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.8.1-8.6
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    • 2018
  • Desmarestia japonica (Phaeophyceae, Desmarestiales) was recently established from the Japanese ligulate Desmarestia and is morphologically similar to D. ligulata. This species has been reported only from Japan. However, the taxonomic reports based on additional regional distributions are needed to clarify this taxonomic entity and its species boundaries. Because Desmarestia species have restricted distributions in Korea, we reexamined herbarium specimens of D. ligulata deposited at the National Institute of Biological Resources (South Korea). To improve the amplification efficiency of the polymerase chain reaction and avoid contamination by the DNA of other organisms, we developed taxon-specific molecular markers suitable for DNA barcoding of Desmarestia species. Nuclear ribosomal small subunit RNA (18S rDNA) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) regions were selected as target DNA. As a result, both were successfully isolated from herbarium specimens of D. japonica acquired over 10 years. These molecular markers provide useful genetic information for herbarium specimens for which conventional molecular analysis is challenging.

Feeding Ecology of Endangered Cottus hangiongensis in the Hosan Stream, Korea (호산천에 서식하는 멸종위기종인 한둑중개 Cottus hangiongensis의 섭식생태)

  • Baek, Hyun-Min;Sim, Ha-Sik;Youn, Hee-Nam;Song, Ho-Bok
    • Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.279-284
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    • 2008
  • The feeding ecology of endangered Cottus hangiongensis was studied in the Hosan stream from September 2006 to August 2007 by collecting them seasonally. The stomach contents of C. hangiongensis consisted mainly of aquatic insects and Nematoda, small fish, fish eggs, snails (Semisulcospira libertina), and small stones were also observed. The main aquatic insects in the order of relative importance were Diptera, Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera. The most important prey items were Chironomidae sp.1 and Hydropsyche kozhantschikovi. Change in the main prey organisms by season were Trichoptera in the spring and the summer, Diptera in the autumn, and Plecoptera in the winter by ratio of dry weight.

Analysis of the Globular Nature of Proteins

  • Jung, Sung-Hoon;Son, Hyeon-Seok
    • Genomics & Informatics
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.74-78
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    • 2011
  • Numerous restraints and simplifications have been developed for methods that anticipate protein structure to reduce the colossal magnitude of possible conformational states. In this study, we investigated if globularity is a general characteristic of proteins and whether they can be applied as a valid constraint in protein structure simulations with approximated measurements (Gb-index). Unexpectedly, most of the proteins showed strong structural globularity (i.e., mode of approximately 76% similarity to the perfect globe) with only a few percent of proteins being outliers. Small proteins tended to be significantly non-globular ($R^2$=0.79) and the minimum Gb-index showed a logarithmic increase with the increase in protein size ($R^2$=0.62), strongly implying that the non-globular characteristics might be more acceptable for smaller proteins than larger ones. The strong perfect globe-like character and the relationship between small size and the loss of globular structure of a protein may imply that living organisms have mechanisms to aid folding into the globular structure to reduce irreversible aggregation. This also implies the possible mechanisms of diseases caused by protein aggregation, including some forms of trinucleotide repeat expansion-mediated diseases.

Versatile Roles of Microbes and Small RNAs in Rice and Planthopper Interactions

  • Mansour, Abdelaziz;Mannaa, Mohamed;Hewedy, Omar;Ali, Mostafa G.;Jung, Hyejung;Seo, Young-Su
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.38 no.5
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    • pp.432-448
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    • 2022
  • Planthopper infestation in rice causes direct and indirect damage through feeding and viral transmission. Host microbes and small RNAs (sRNAs) play essential roles in regulating biological processes, such as metabolism, development, immunity, and stress responses in eukaryotic organisms, including plants and insects. Recently, advanced metagenomic approaches have facilitated investigations on microbial diversity and its function in insects and plants, highlighting the significance of microbiota in sustaining host life and regulating their interactions with the environment. Recent research has also suggested significant roles for sRNA-regulated genes during rice-planthopper interactions. The response and behavior of the rice plant to planthopper feeding are determined by changes in the host transcriptome, which might be regulated by sRNAs. In addition, the roles of microbial symbionts and sRNAs in the host response to viral infection are complex and involve defense-related changes in the host transcriptomic profile. This review reviews the structure and potential functions of microbes and sRNAs in rice and the associated planthopper species. In addition, the involvement of the microbiota and sRNAs in the rice-planthopper-virus interactions during planthopper infestation and viral infection are discussed.

Studies on Piroplasmosis Infection and Morphological Development of Piroplasma in Experimental Animals (피로풀라스마병(病)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究) 실험동물(實驗動物)에 대(對)한 감염시험(感染試驗) 및 그 형태학적(形態學的) 변화(變化)에 대(對)하여)

  • Han, T.W.
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.98-109
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    • 1968
  • The small type piroplasma which is known to be prevailing in Korean cattle was injected to un-susceptible hosts such as mice, guinea pigs, rats, rabbits, fowls and developing chicken eggs by i.v., i.p, and intra C.A.M. routes, and its morphological development in each animal species was observed. 1. The small type piroplasma of cattle did not produce any pathogenicity in the experimental animals such as mice, guinea pigs, rats, rabbits, fowls and developing chicken embryos. However, only a partial sign for developing cycle of the organism was observed in the peritoneal fluid. The schizogony of protozoa was not detected in any organs of the inoculated animals. 2. In the animals inoculated, the parasites of I-III types, relative to the process of time in the host, have changed their shapes into IV-VI types and then VI-X types however, the type X was not restored to the type I. In guinea pigs, more grape type was detected then X type in number, and in process of time, the shape was changed from round to elliptic, and the pointed end of the organism appeared in flesh color. 3. None of the organisms were found from the blood stream of inoculated animals excepts only a few piroplasma as were found in the experimental mice shortly after inoculation or i.v. route, No protozoa was also found in the organs of the animals autopsied. 4. The form change of protozoa was more clear in these animals than that in susceptible host. The most piroplasmas have changed their forms into VI-X types 30 hours after inoculation and were dispersed from R.B.C. Tracing of piroplasrna beyond this stage was not attempted. 5. The small type piroplasma comprises in I. X types and it is further believed that VII-X types which were freed from one cell proceeded to invade others. The from of development resembles to the small type of piroplasma which is prevailing in Japan.

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Transcriptomic Analysis of Genes Modulated by Cyclo($\small{L}$-Phenylalanine-$\small{L}$-Proline) in Vibrio vulnificus

  • Kim, In Hwang;Son, Jee-Soo;Wen, Yancheng;Jeong, Sang-Min;Min, Ga-Young;Park, Na-Young;Lee, Keun-Woo;Cho, Yong-Joon;Chun, Jongsik;Kim, Kun-Soo
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.23 no.12
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    • pp.1791-1801
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    • 2013
  • Diketopiperazine is produced by various organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and animals, and has been suggested as a novel signal molecule involved in the modulation of genes with various biological functions. Vibrio vulnificus, which causes septicemia in humans, produces cyclo($\small{L}$-phenylalanine-$\small{L}$-proline) (cFP). To understand the biological roles of cFP, the effect of the compound on the expression of the total mRNA in V. vulnificus was assessed by next-generation sequencing. Based on the transcriptomic analysis, we classified the cFP-regulated genes into functional categories and clustered them according to the expression patterns resulted from treatment with cFP. From a total of 4,673 genes, excepting the genes encoding tRNA in V. vulnificus, 356 genes were up-regulated and 602 genes were down-regulated with an RPKM (reads per kilobase per million) value above 3. The genes most highly induced by cFP comprised those associated with the transport and metabolism of inorganic molecules, particularly iron. The genes negatively regulated by cFP included those associated with energy production and conversion, as well as carbohydrate metabolism. Noticeably, numerous genes related with biofilm formation were modulated by cFP. We demonstrated that cFP interferes significantly with the biofilm formation of V. vulnificus.

Structure Changes of Macrobenthic Community on Rocky Shores After the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill (Hebei Spirit 유류유출 사고 이후 암반 조간대 대형저서동물 군집 변화)

  • Jung, Yun-Hwan;Park, Heung-Sik;Yoon, Kon-Tak;Lee, Hyung-Gon;Ma, Chae-Woo
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.35 no.3
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    • pp.219-228
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    • 2013
  • In Korea, more than 300 oil spill accidents occur every year. Despite the frequency, only a small pool of data is available on the initial effect of oil spill on macrobenthic fauna inhabiting rocky shores. The aim of this study was to analyze the variation of macrobenthic fauna composition and community structure on rocky shores, and understand the impact of oil on rocky shore organisms after the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Field surveys were carried out in five regions dose to the wreck site in January, April and September 2008. Polluted sites after the Hebei Spirit oil spill showed that biological index consistently decreased for 9 months limited to breeding and recruitment of organisms by spilled oil. Macrobenthic community was subdivided into 3 groups by species elimination and differences between density of major dominant species: enriched biota community under a relatively stable environment, the second with relatively low ecological index and the last with poor community. In this study, species number did not clearly reflect the effect of oil on the rare and mobile species. However, mean density, biomass and community structure showed the effect of oil by considering breeding activity, decline in recruitment and variation pattern with time.