This study aims to systematically investigate the insect diversity within the distinct coastal grassland and mountain habitats of East Busan, Busan Metropolitan City. The objective is to gather foundational data that will inform natural environment conservation plans and contribute to policy formulation. Employing a comprehensive collection approach, we utilized trapping nets, pitfall traps, and flying insect traps to capture a broad spectrum of insect species. The investigation identified a rich diversity of 132 species across 9 orders and 52 families. Coleoptera emerged as the most prevalent order with 13 families and 41 species, followed by Diptera with 8 families and 24 species, and Lepidoptera with 9 families and 21 species. To assess the biodiversity and structure of these communities by habitat type, we applied several biodiversity indices: the Shannon-Wiener index (H'), Margalef index (R), and Pielou evenness index. Coastal grasslands exhibited an H' of 3.153, R of 11.08, and a Pielou evenness of 0.371; coastal mountains showed an H' of 2.922, R of 13.02, and a Pielou evenness of 0.202. These metrics reveal no significant differences in diversity and evenness between the two habitats. The endangered Copris tripartitus was notably observed in coastal grasslands, alongside 20 species classified as Least Concern (LC) in the National Red List across both habitats. The comparative analysis of biodiversity and evenness levels across coastal grassland and mountain areas highlights the ecological significance of both habitats in supporting a diverse insect fauna. The detection of endangered and LC species within these areas emphasizes the critical need for ongoing monitoring and the development of effective conservation strategies tailored to protect Busan's coastal ecosystems. The findings underscore the necessity of conducting periodic surveys to monitor faunal changes and inform conservation efforts actively. By ensuring the continued protection of insect diversity, these efforts will play a pivotal role in maintaining the ecological integrity of coastal areas, thereby supporting broader environmental conservation objectives.

This study aimed to collect foundational data essential for devising a natural environment conservation plan and implementing relevant policies. It underscores the significance of understanding the current state of the natural environment. Our research concentrated on surveying the biodiversity and distribution of key natural habitats within Busan Metropolitan City, with the goal of gathering crucial data to guide the development of conservation and management strategies. The focus of our investigation was on the insect populations in Ilgwang, covering two primary habitats: mountains and wetlands. The survey, conducted from July to September 2023, utilized various collection methods, including pitfall traps, fly traps, sweeping nets, and aspirators. Our findings documented the presence of 109 species across 88 genera, 50 families, and 9 orders. Specifically, the study identified two species from the order Odonata, two from Blattodea, one from Mantodea, six from Orthoptera, eleven from Hemiptera, twenty-nine from Coleoptera, twelve from Diptera, ten from Lepidoptera, and thirty-five from Hymenoptera. Through community analysis, biodiversity indices were calculated, revealing a Shannon-Wiener index (H') of 4.07 for mountain habitats and 3.92 for wetlands. The Margalef richness index (R) displayed values of 13.92 for mountains and 14.78 for wetlands, while the Pielou evenness index indicated values of 0.96 and 0.91, respectively. Among the identified species, one was classified as endangered, and thirteen were designated as of Least Concern, according to legal protection statuses.

The study of blowfly (Diptera, Calliphoridae) biodiversity and distribution is crucial for forensic investigations involving cadavers. Abiotic and biotic factors, such as seasonality and habitat type, have significant impacts on blowfly populations. However, few forensic entomology studies have been conducted in South Korea, particularly the Gyeongsangnam-do region. To address this, in this study, an extensive year-long survey was conducted to analyze the compositions, habitat preferences, distribution, and seasonal abundance of forensically relevant blowflies in urban and forested habitats in Gyeongsangnam-do, utilizing mouse carcass-baited traps set for 48 h each month. A total of 3,478 adult blowflies were recorded, encompassing six genera and 14 species, with a noted absence of specimens during the winter months. The predominant species was Lucilia porphyrina, accounting for 37.1% of the total sample, followed by Chrysomya pinguis (27.5%), Lucilia sericata (7.6%), and Lucilia illustris (7.1%). The species composition was consistent across all surveyed regions; however, seasonal variation in species diversity was evident, with a peak in spring and decline in summer. Notably, certain species exhibited clear preferences for either urban (Calliphora calliphoroides and L. sericata) or forested habitats (L. porphyrina and Ch. pinguis). This pioneering study elucidates the diverse blowfly communities in Gyeongsangnam-do, highlighting significant seasonal and habitat-dependent variations.

eDNA (environmental DNA)란 특정 환경에 서식하는 생물로부터 유래한 DNA를 의미한다. 환경 시료로부터 추출한 eDNA를 활용하면 해당 환경에 서식하는 생물들의 효율적이고 정확한 모 니터링을 수행할 수 있다. 해수 시료로부터 얻은 eDNA를 기반으로 해양생물 다양성 연구를 수행할 수 있다. 해수 시료를 채집하고 이로부터 eDNA를 추출한 뒤, metagenome 분석을 통 해 서식하는 해양생물의 종 동정과 다양성 분석이 가능하다. 본 리뷰에서는 이처럼 해수의 eDNA를 활용하여 해양 지역의 생물 다양성 연구를 수행하는 전체적인 과정을 제시하고 있다. 아직 국내에는 해양생물 다양성 연구를 위해 eDNA를 적용하는 방법이 보편화 되어있지 않으 며, 본 리뷰를 기반으로 이와 같은 eDNA 연구 방법을 정립하는데 도움을 줄 수 있을 것이다.

Spodoptera litura is an omnivorous pest that damages more than 120 types of crops. It is widely distributed throughout the tropics, subtropics, and temperate zones. It is a major pest that causes damage by explosively increasing in density in a short period of time due to its excellent mobility and reproductive ability. S. litura was studied at five constant temperatures (15.0, 20.0, 25.0, 30.0, and 35.0℃), 65±5% relative humidity (RH), and 14L:10D photoperiods. The development period for eggs and larvae tended to become shorter as temperature increased. The growth period of egg, larva, and pupa by 25℃ temperature was 4.0, 32.3, and 12.6 days, respectively.

We investigated the behavioral attractive responses of a lepidopteran larva parasite, Exorista japonica to 10 synthetic herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). These synthetic HIPVs have been revealed the attractive effect on several parasites. For each of the HIPVs, we asked the following two questions : (1) Which volatiles show the attractiveness to this parasitoid, (2) Whether the attractant directly or indirectly affects the host settlement and parasitism of the parasitoid. To experimentally address these questions, we performed 2 and 4 choice indoor cage tests. E. japonica adults were significantly attracted to benzaldehyde and (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol showing higher settlement and parasitic rates on Spodoptera litura of treatments. Compared to the untreated plots, the average parasitism of E. japonica on S. litura larvae in the benzaldehyde treatments increased by approximately 20%.

Blockchain is an immutable ledger that records transactions and tracks assets using a common communication protocol. It stores a copy of the blockchain and implements a consensus function to verify transactions. Blockchain is applied to industries beyond finance, such as retail, to maintain security and transparency. Consumers with knowledge of blockchain technology are likely to be affected when evaluating products with blockchain embedded, impacting their product evaluation. The study investigates the impact of blockchain technology on consumers' product evaluation and how knowledge of blockchain and product quality moderate its effects.

This research proposes a novel approach to tackle the challenge of categorizing unstructured customer complaints in the automotive industry. The goal is to identify potential vehicle defects based on the findings of our algorithm, which can assist automakers in mitigating significant losses and reputational damage caused by mass claims. To achieve this goal, our model uses the Word2Vec method to analyze large volumes of unstructured customer complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). By developing a score dictionary for eight pre-selected criteria, our algorithm can efficiently categorize complaints and detect potential vehicle defects. By calculating the score of each complaint, our algorithm can identify patterns and correlations that can indicate potential defects in the vehicle. One of the key benefits of this approach is its ability to handle a large volume of unstructured data, which can be challenging for traditional methods. By using machine learning techniques, we can extract meaningful insights from customer complaints, which can help automakers prioritize and address potential defects before they become widespread issues. In conclusion, this research provides a promising approach to categorize unstructured customer complaints in the automotive industry and identify potential vehicle defects. By leveraging the power of machine learning, we can help automakers improve the quality of their products and enhance customer satisfaction. Further studies can build upon this approach to explore other potential applications and expand its scope to other industries.

본 연구에서는 남극 로스해 연안에 서식하는 아델리펭귄(Pygoscelis adeliae)과 황제펭귄 (Aptenodytes forsteri)의 분변 시료를 기반으로 펭귄 장내 미생물 메타지놈 연구를 수행하였 다. Taxonomy 분석 결과, 아델리펭귄과 황제펭귄의 장내 미생물에는 주로 7개의 문(phylum), 18개의 과(family)가 존재하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 미생물 다양성을 평가하기 위해 Alpha diversity 및 OTU abundance 분석을 수행한 결과, 전반적으로 아델리펭귄의 장내 미생물 다양 성이 황제펭귄보다 높은 것을 확인하였고, PCoA를 기반으로 한 Beta diversity 분석을 통해 두 개체군 간 장내 미생물 군집에 차이가 존재함을 확인하였다. PICRUSt를 활용한 기능적인 차원의 KEGG pathway 분석을 통해서는 아델리펭귄과 황제펭귄 시료에서 nucleoside and nucleotide biosynthesis pathway가 가장 많이 존재하는 것을 확인하였다. 본 연구를 통해 남극 아델리펭귄과 황제펭귄의 장내미생물 구성과 다양성을 비교분석 할 수 있었다. 본 연구 결과 는 향후 펭귄의 먹이 섭식 관련 연구에 활용될 수 있으며, 더 나아가 다양한 남극 생물의 장내 미생물 메타지놈 분석에 대한 기초가 될 수 있을 것이다.