Winter phenology (diapause and activity) of insects is expected to change more greatly compared with those of other seasons, because the temperature in winter increased higher than those in other seasons in the temperate regions. However, studies on changes of insect winter phenology due to climate warming are rare. It is expected that winter flights of flies (Diptera) will increase as climate warms. This study is aimed to predict the increase of fly winter flight according to temperature increase using the relationship between the flight and temperature. The survey on flies and weather (temperature and rainfall) was carried out in the Hongneung arboretum in Seoul. Flies were collected weekly from December 2012 to February 2013 using sweeping and Malaise trap. In the survey, 106 flies belonging to 28 morpho-species and 17 families were collected. Richness and abundance of flies were positively correlated with temperature. The increase of fly winter flight (richness and abundance) was projected according to temperature rise using the regression models for relationships between the fly flights and temperature.

The population of Myrmica ants, which is most abundant in high altitudinal areas in South Korea, is expected to decrease significantly due to climatic warming, whereas Aphaenogaster japonica population is expected to increase in these areas. The two ant groups are similar in shape, size, and ecology, indicating intensive competition in overlapping areas. To determine the competitions between the two groups, I investigated the ants at a high mountain (Mt. Gaebangsan) during two ant foraging seasons (2010 and 2011) using pitfall traps and bait traps along altitudinal gradients. Two Myrmica species (kotokui and kurokii) were present between 800 m to 1577 m, whereas A. japonica appeared up to 1200 m. Fights between ants were observed 22 times and fights between these two ant groups were most frequently found. Although a competitive hierarchy was not apparent, A. japonica appears to be dominant over Myrmica species in food competition when considering the more timid behavior of Myrmica species and my unpublished data. However, food discovery speed is greater in Myrmica species than in A. japonica, indicating a dominance-discovery tradeoff. The food discovery capability of A. japonica was greatly reduced at 1050 m elevation, which is around the elevational limit. This elevational suppression of food discovery capability was not found in Myrmica species.

Distribution and abundance of species are influenced by their environmental condition. Among various environmental factors, a vegetation is one of the most influential factors, because it is used as habitats as well as food resources. Arthropods including insects play a important role in forest ecosystems as grazers, scavenger, predators, etc. Deciduous and coniferous forests have different plant community composition, resulting in different environmental condition. In this study, we collected arthropod communities at two different deciduous and coniferous forest stands in the Mountain Gariwang. At each stand, three different sampling methods were used: soil core for soil macroinvertebrate, pitfall trap for wandering insects, and sweeping net for insects in the shrups. Therefore, sampling was conducted at vertical habitats in the forest. The results showed that there were no difference in the number of orders from soil at both coniferous and deciduous stands. However, the abundance was higher at coniferous stand than at deciduous stand. Collembola was the dominant taxa in soil. Meanwhile, there were no statistically significant differences of community composition between coniferous stand and deciduous stands. Multivariate analyses was conducted to characterize differences of communities at different stands as well as vertical distribution in forest.

본 연구는 개벌 후 나비군집의 변화를 파악하기 위해서 실시하였다. 조사는 2011년 개벌지, 임도, 산림에서 5월부터 11월까지 선조사법을 실시했다. 조사결과, 총 32종 398개체의 나비가 관찰되었다. 먹이생태지위 범위와 서식처 유형에서의 나비 개체수는 개벌지가 산림보다 유의하 게 높았다. 나비의 종수와 종다양도는 개벌지가 산림에 비하여 유의하게 높았다. 개벌지에서 환경부 취약종 기생나비와 은점표범나비의 많은 개 체가 확인되었다. 본 연구결과, 개벌로 인하여 형성된 초지는 산림생태계에서 나비의 다양성을 높이는 중요한 역할을 한다.

In South Korea, ants are predicted to shift their distributions northwards and upwards. It was predicted that ant fauna will be changed dramatically in highlands due to the range shifts. The Mymica ants which are most abundant in high altitudinal areas in South Korea will be nearly disappeared there in 2050s, and replaced by Aphaenogaster japonica which is abundant in lowlands. It was recently found that A. japonica shifted upwards in Mt. Hanla in Jeju island, South Korea. Interestingly, A. japonica is similar in shape and size with the Myrmica species, which indicate niche overlap and resulting intensive competition. To find elevational change of competitions between two specie, we investigated ants during two ant foraging periods (2010 and 2011) in a high mountain (Mt. Gaebang) using pitfall traps and bait traps along elevational gradients. Ten ant species were collected from a.s.l. 800 m to a.s.l. 1577 m. Myrmica sp. 1 was most abundant (35% of total ants) and collected at all elevations. Myrmica sp. 2 (19.7%) occurred from 1000 m to 1577 m. Meanwhile, A. japonica occurred up to 1200 m. Fights between ants were observed 22 times; fights between these two species were most frequently found. Although, competitive hierarchy was not recognized due to a low frequency of interspecific encounters, A. japonica is likely to be superior over Myrmica species in food competition when considering the slower and more timid behavior of Myrmica species compared with A. japonica. Therefore, it is likely that A. japonica would replace easily Myrmica species in Korean highlands when thermal barrier (i.e., cold climate in high elevations) will be removed due to climate warming.

Black fungus gnats play an important role as the decomposers in the forest ecosystem. Their larvae live on various organic matters, and the subfamily Sciarinae, in particular, have restricted habitats that feed on dead woods in the deep forest. We compared the biodiversity of family Sciaridae from two different habitats, the clear-cutting area (CA) and the pitch pine forest (PF) by the emergence traps (ET) and the pitfall traps (PT) from May to October, 2010. A total of 12 species were reliably identified to the species among 19 unique taxa belonging to 9 genera 4 subfamilies from 716 collected black fungus gnats. Taxonomic studies show that Corynoptera bicuspidata (Lengersdorf, 1926) (200 individuals, 27.9 % of total) and Cory. sinedens Hippa, Vilkamaa & Heller, 2010 (74 individuals, 10.3 % of total) dominate in the PF and the CA, respectively. Species richness and abundance of CA is lower than those of PF. Any species of subfamily Sciarinae were not collected in the CA. These findings indicate that the biodiversity of Sciaridae was influenced by forest management such as clear cutting, which leads to the changes of canopy cover, dead woods and leaf litter layer.

The present study is aimed to evaluate forest health in a fragmented urban forest using insects which are rarely used for evaluation of forest health. It is supposed that forest would be health if insect community in an urban forest is similar to that in healthy forests. Ants (Formicidae) and ground beetles (Carabidae) surveyed by pitfall trap method in the Hongneung forest located in the urban area of Seoul were compared with those in the Gwangneung forest. The Gwangneung forest is supposed to be health due to its high biodiversity and well-conserved nature. Ants of the Hongneung forest was much more abundant compared with those of the Gwangneung forest. However, ground beetles showed the opposite patterns; much more abundant in the Gwangneung forest than in the Hongneung forest. Species richness was higher in the Gwangneung forest than in the Hongneung forest, but species diversity was higher in the Hongneung forest. This dominance decreased species diversity in the Gwangneung forest. Thus, characteristics of insect community in the Hongneung forest were greatly different with that in the Gwangneung forest. This great difference of insect communities between the target and reference sites may indicate whether the Hongneung forest would not be health according to the working hypothesis, or may indicate simply the characteristic of the fragmented urban forest. In order to determine the significant decision, the repetitive studies are needed on this regard.

Distributions of ants are mainly dependent on temperature. Hence, global warming would lead to shifts of distribution and abundance in ants. We surveyed ants at 366 forest sampling sites in South Korea using pitfall traps to predict change of ant abundance. Abundances of ant species were projected on the projected temperature based on A1B climate scenario. Common species (> 10 % occurrence) were analyzed on the relationship between abundance and temperature, and 16 species of the common species were selected for projection of abundance owing to future climate warming. Abundance of the selected species were projected on 900 m2 grid cells in 2011 and 2060 using GIS tool. In the projection, 11 species are predicted to decrease in 2060, whereas 5 species are predicted to increase. Myrmica kotokui, a most dominant highland species is expected to decrease up to 2.5% of current abundance in 2060, whereas Pachycondyla chinensis is expected to increase up to 264%. This abrupt change of ants would lead to cascade effects on other organisms such as insects, plants, mushrooms, and birds, which would disturb various functions and services of forest ecosystems.

This study was carried out to clarify the response of butterfly communities on forest degradation in the Gwangneung Forest, Korea. We monitored butterfly communities with varying degrees of human activities by conducting line transect twice a month in 2011. A total of 70 species and 4,676 individuals butterflies were observed in four sites: natural forest, plantation forests, and Korean National Arboretum. Species richness increased with increasing open land. The result on niche breadth and habitat type of butterfly was consistent with our predictions; specialist species and forest interior species were abundant in natural forest, whereas generalist species and grassland species were abundant in Korea National Arboretum, the most modified area. Also, habitat breadth of butterflies clearly indicated the difference on the degree of forest degradation. Butterfly diversity associated with landscape patterns based on aerial photographs supported mosaic concept which indicates that species diversity increases as habitat heterogeneity and variability increase. Forest management plan that maintains various habitats and ensures grasslands is necessary to increase butterfly diversity in forest.

In the Northern Hemisphere, northward shifts due to global warming are apparent in various organisms such as butterflies, birds, and plants. In South Korea, ranges of butterflies are expected to shift northwards. We tested whether distribution limits of Korean butterflies shift northwards. We used two Korean butterfly atlases (1938-1950, 1977-2011) for analysis of the range shifts. Northern limits of southern species moved significantly northward (ca. 60 km) for 50 years, whereas southern limits of northern species did not significantly move northwards nor southwards. This finding parallels with other studies on butterflies and birds in Europe and North America.

녹색 섬의 형태로 존재하는 도시숲은 대도시에 서식하는 생물들의 주 서식공간이다. 도시숲은 면적이 적고, 임연부의 비율이 높다. 이러한 특성 때문에 도시 외곽의 산림의 나비군집에 비해 도시숲의 나비군집는 종다양성이 낮고, 초지종, 숲가장자리종과 생태지위 범위가 더 넓은 일반종의 비율이 높을 것으로 예상된다. 이러한 사실을 밝히기 위해 전형적인 도시숲인 홍릉숲에서 나비를 선조사법으로 주별로 조사하였다. 홍릉숲의 나비군집은 도시외곽의 산림에 사는 나비군집에 비해 종다양성이 월등히 낮았고, 초지종, 숲가장자리종과 일반종의 비율이 높아 예측되는 것과 동일한 결과를 얻었다. 홍릉숲에서 멸종위기 2급종인 쌍꼬리부전나비가 관찰됨으로서, 도시숲은 희귀종의 보존에 중요한 역할을 한다고 할 수있다

본 연구는 김포시에서 모기성충의 계절적 발생소장과 얼룩날개모기류 유충의 발생을 파악하기 위해서 실시되었다. 성충모기는 6지점에서 유문등을 이용하여, 2008년 5월부터 9월까지 조사되었다. 조사결과 8속 16종 48,919마리가 채집되었다. 금빛숲모기(Aedes vexans nipponii)가 43%로 가장 많았고, 중국얼룩날개모기(Anophels sinensis)가 34%, 작은빨간집모기(Culex tritaeniorhynchus)가 14%로 이 3 우점종이 전체의 91%를 차지했다. 얼룩날개모기류의 계절적 발생소장은 작은빨간집모기와 비교하여 다른 피크를 보였다. 얼룩날개모기류 유충은 203지점 중 138지점(63%)에서 확인되었다. 지점당 정량조사 결과에서 평균유충밀도는 연꽃 재배지가 6.9개체로 가장 높았으며, 다음으로 수로가 4.5개체, 미나리꽝이 3.4개체, 유수지가 3.2개체, 휴경논이 3.1개체, 논이 1.8개체, 습지가 1.4개체, 하천이 0.2개체 순이었다. 유충밀도와 용존산소량, 산도, 염분도, 흡밀원(축사, 돈사, 계사) 사이에 유의한 관계성은 없었다. 최근린평균거리분석(ANNA)의 결과에서, 유충 조사지점간 분포패턴은 전체 조사지점간과 4.0개체 이상 확인된 지점간에서 각각 밀집분포와 불규칙분포였다. 하성면에서는 유충이 3.0 개체 이상 확인된 지점간 분산분포를 나타냈다.

It is expected that the successful nationwide reforestation and the increased temperature would greatly change butterfly fauna in South Korea. We compared current data (2002~2007) regarding abundance and presence of butterfly species at two sites in the central portion of the Korean Peninsula to data from late 1950s and early 1970s for the same sites. The expected changes were documented by abundance change of butterflies at two study sites in the previous study. Using the same data, the greatly changed species and the change of species presence were analyzed. Population changes of 99 butterfly species which occurred at both sites were significantly correlated between two sites. The greatly increased species included three Southern (S) species and one Northern (N) species. However, the greatly declined species included five N species and no S species. This change is coincided with the expectation from the northward movements of butterfly species due to global warming. The current status of the greatly changed species was discussed on the review with other studies. The binary data(presence/absence) in present study support the expected changes of butterfly species based on global warming and reforestation. The interactive effect of two environmental changes was also recognized as like the change of abundance in the previous study.

The present study investigated the effects of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) on the nuclear maturation of canine oocytes. Oocytes were recovered from mongrel female ovaries in various reproductive states; follicular, luteal or anestrous stage. Oocytes were cultured in serum-free tissue culture medium (TCM)-199 supplemented with various concentrations of FSH (Exp. 1: 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 10 IU) or hCG (Exp. 2: 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 10 IU) or both (Exp. 3: 1 IU FSH + 1 IU hCG) for 72 hr to determine the effective concentration of these hormones, and to examine their combined effect. After maturation culture, oocytes were denuded in PBS containing 0.1% (w/v) hyaluronidase by gentle pipetting. The denuded oocytes were stained with 1.9 μM. Hoechst 33342 in glycerol and the nuclear state of oocytes was evaluated under UV light. More (p<0.05) oocytes matured to MII stage when follicular stage oocytes were supplemented with 1 IU FSH (6.2%) compared with the control, 0.1 or 10.0 IU FSH (0 to 1.2%). Significantly higher (p<0.05) maturation rate to MII stage was observed in follicular stage oocytes supplemented with 1.0 IU hCG (7.2%) compared with the control or other hCG supplemented groups (0 to 1.5%). However, the combination of FSH and hCG did not improve the nuclear maturation rate of canine oocyte (2.4 %) compared with FSH (6.2%) and hCG alone (7.2%). In conclusion, FSH or hCG alone significantly increased the maturation of canine oocytes to MII stage.

This study investigates the concentration distribution of aldehydes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the archive of the National Library in Korea and evaluates the health risks to workers from hazardous chemicals. Acetaldehyde had the highest concentration among the nine species of aldehydes present in the archive and the concentration of toluene was the highest among the six species of VOCs. Most of the detected substances showed that their indoor concentrations were higher than the outdoor ones, suggesting the possibility of indoor sources of aldehydes and VOCs. The evaluation of health risks for workers based on these measurement results showed that not all substances were hazardous to the human body. However, considering the possibility of the presence of indoor sources and the potential limits of our study owing its short period, it is necessary to conduct long-term studies on the concentration distribution of indoor pollutants in the archive environment.

The purpose of this study was to predict occurrence of earthquakes in Korea by measuring the concentration of radon radioactivity in the air and in the underground water. Two monitoring systems of radon concentration detection in the air were installed in Seoul, East Coast area, whereas of radon concentration in the underground water in Kyungju area during December, 1999 to June, 2001. The distribution of radon concentration in the air in Seoul is as follows : winter(10.10±2.81Bq/m3), autumn(8.41±1.35Bq/m3), summer(5.83±0.05Bq/m3) and spring(5.34±0.44Bq/m3), whereas the distribution of radon in the air in the East Coast area showed some difference as follows : autumn(14.08±5.75Bq/m3), summer(12.04±0.53Bq/m3), winter(12.02±1.40Bq/m3) and spring(8.93±0.91Bq/m3). In the meanwhile, the distribution of radon in the water is as follows : spring(123.59±16.36count/10min),winter(93.95±79.69counter/10min),autumn(68.96±37.53counter/10min) and spring(34.45±9.69counter/10min). The daily range of the density of radon concentration in Seoul and East Coast area was between 5.51Bq/m3-9.44Bq/m3, 7.15Bq/m3-15.27Bq/m3, respectively. Correlation of the distributions of radon concentrations in the air and in underground water with earthquake showed considerable variations of radon concentration before the occurrence of the earthquake. The results suggested that radon radioactivity seemed to be helpful for the prediction of the occurrence of earthquake.