경남 창원시의 농경지에 산란된 한국산 도롱뇽(Hynobius leechii)의 알주머니 126개를 채집하여 그 길이의 변이를 조사하고 그 속의 5330개 수정란을 대상으로 수적변이를 조사하였다. 그리고 그 중 어떤 시약의 처리 없이 자연적으로 일어난 이상발생의 패턴과 조직학적 이상을 연구하였다. 알주머니의 길이 변이 폭은 11~29 cm이었으며 평균 길이는 19 cm, 상대빈도가 가장 높은 것은 20 cm 길이였다. 배의 수는 주머니 당 19~98개의 변이 폭을 나타냈으며 39~43개 사이가 가장 빈번하게 나타났다. 84개의 알주머니에서 323의 배가 발생이상을 보였으며 23종류의 발생이상패턴이 정리되었다. 그 중 외형상 심각한 이 상을 보이는 개체들의 조직절편을 관찰한 결과 눈의 색소형성부진, 뇌신경세포의 붕괴, 갑상선종, 인두형성부진, 심장위치불명, 미분화간엽조직의 미발달 등을 포함하고 있었다. 이러한 이상은 환경의 질 저하에 따른 수중 유해물질에의 노출에 의해 양서류가 악영향을 받아 최근 급격히 그 수가 감소하는 것과 관련이 있을 것이다.

The community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates in Upo wetland was identified, and the biological water quality was evaluated. In addition, through statistical analysis of current and literature data, ecological changes over time were evaluated for each wetland. Benthos were quantitatively collected in March, June, and September of 2020 and 2021, and 4 phyla, 5 classes, 16 orders, 42 families, 81 species and 3,406 individuals were identified. In the functional feeding group of Upo wetland, predators were dominant with 34 species (45.95%) and 1,504 individuals (41.84%). In the habitual dwelling group, sprawlers and swimmers showed the highest proportion in the number of species and individuals. Average biological indices in Mokpo and Upo were the highest and lowest, respectively, and it is considered that Mokpo maintains the healthy ecosystem for benthic macroinvertebrates. Community stability was high in Upo, and other wetlands are thought to be stabilizing. The ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrate community is considered to be more suitable index among three biological water quality evaluation indices for the environmental evaluation of Upo wetland. The evaluation results on changes in environmental quality showed that Upo has stable ecosystem without significant change, Mokpo and Sajipo have significant increases in some indices.

Hwapocheon stream is located in Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, and a part was declared a protected wetland area in 2017. In 2020 and 2021, we investigated the community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates of the Hwapocheon stream to provide ecological information for the management of the wetland. As a result, 4 phyla, 6 classes, 20 orders, 51 families, 83 species, and 2,621 individuals of benthic macroinvertebrates were identified. The average indices of diversity, richness, and evenness were the highest in the midstream area, whereas the highest average index of dominance was observed upstream. Seven biological water quality evaluations based on the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates showed that the Biological Monitoring Working Party was an extremely suitable method for environmental evaluation of the Hwapocheon stream. Regarding functional feeding groups, the number of species of predators and gathering-collectors was the highest, and considering habitual dwelling groups, the number of species of clingers and sprawlers was the highest. The species number of Odonata, Hemiptera, and Coleoptera increased toward the downstream area, whereas the community loss index was the highest upstream. We also investigated relative resistance and resilience based on the distribution of aquatic insects and found that community stability was the highest downstream, whereas the lowest upstream.

To conserve the population of a hesperiid butterfly, Leptalina unicolor, inhabiting the protected areas of Jaeyaksan, we provide ecological information on their behavior and propose habitat conservation measures, such as the creation of alternative habitats based on comprehensive information. The behavioral study used a method of re-capture after releasing the butterfly with enamel marks on the wings. Adult behaviors were shown in four patterns: flying, settling on a plant, nectar absorption, and water absorption. Both males and females had the highest proportion of flight movement overall; however, males had a slightly higher proportion of flight movement. As for duration, females spent more time settling on plants to select spawning sites, and males seemed to take a longer time for water absorption activities, to absorb minerals needed to form the spermatophore. The average travel distance of butterflies was 27.5 m for females and 46.7 m for males, with daily activity ranges from 11.2 m to 43.8 m, and 21.4 to 57.6 m, respectively. The most important condition to preserve the habitat of Leptalina unicolor is to maintain the community of Miscanthus sinensis, a food plant. Additionally, because this butterfly has a high rate of water absorption activities, wetlands should be maintained.

In this study, we investigated the spatial range, distribution pattern, temporal appearance, sex ratio, seasonal pattern, and size of the population of Leptalina unicolor locally inhabiting the wetland protection area in the Jaeyaksan Mountain. We found that the butterfly was distributed across four areas at 750 m above sea level and in an area of 96,000 . in the southeastern slope of the mountain. The discontinuous distribution of the butterflies in the meadow. According to our survey conducted from 2012 to 2014, L. unicolor occurred in May (spring) and July (summer) each year, with the male population more than three times higher than that of the female population. The population size estimated using the mark and recapture method on the back of the hind wing in the two years was as follows: 877±502 and 1243±800 individuals in the spring and summer of 2012, respectively, and 783±429 and 506±365 individuals in the spring and summer of 2014, respectively, suggesting no specific seasonal pattern. The findings of this study are expected to be useful for the conservation of the populations and habitats of L. unicolor, which are currently distributed locally due to a decrease in population size.

The changes on community structures of benthic macroinvertebrates, relevance to the environment and interrelationship between benthos were studied over two years in stream with large environmental disturbance, which caused by localized heavy rain during Typhoon Chaba in October 2016. As a result, the number of species and individuals were increased after localized heavy rain, especially numbers of individuals of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera were greatly increased. On the contrary, those of Semisulcospira libertina and Semisulcospira forticosta of Mesogastropoda were greatly decreased. Dominant species was Baetis fuscatus of Ephemeroptera, numbers of species and individuals of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera(EPT group) were dramatically increased from 26 species, 110 individuals to 32 species, 365 individuals respectively. This suggests that the change of river bed and flow velocity due to heavy rain provided a suitable environment for the EPT group that preferred the rift of a stream. In the functional feeding group, only gathering collectors and filtering collectors were identified in autumn of 2017 because some functional groups preferentially adapted to the changed environment. The interspecific competition and environmental condition were the worst in autumn after heavy rain due to the increase individuals of some species. The ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrate community(ESB) was higher after the heavy rain than before. Results of the Group Pollution Index(GPI), Korean Saprobic Index(KSI) and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Index(BMI) were similar to those before and after heavy rainfall. Therefore, ESB was the most discriminating method for estimating the biological water quality in this study. Some species that are sensitive to water quality changes still appear or increase individuals in the area under investigation after the heavy rain. On the other hand, the individuals of some pollutant species decreased. This is thought to be because the habitat fluctuation caused by heavy rainfall has improved the water environment.

In the present study, the community distribution, functional feeding groups, and habitat groups of the benthic macroinvertebrates from Gayasan National Park were investigated at eight different sites from 2015 to 2016. The correlation between habitat altitude and each group type was analyzed statistically. Biodiversity indices, including dominance, diversity, richness, and evenness indices, were calculated. The results showed a total of 4,216 individual benthic macroinvertebrates were collected, including 4 phyla, 6 classes, 16 orders, 40 families, and 100 species. Gammarus sobaegensis was dominant with 0.141% dominance, and the subdominant species was Epeorus nipponicus with 0.088% dominance. The EPT group(Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Tricoptera) accounted for 71.00% of the total species and 67.69% of the total individuals. The number of scraper species was highest, and the number of gathering collector individuals was highest among functional feeding groups. The individual number of scrapers(r=-0.358, p ˂ 0.05) and gathering collectors(r=-0.343, p ˂ 0.05) decreased with increasing altitude. The numbers of species and individuals of clingers and sprawlers were highest among the habitat groups. The individual number of clingers(r=-0.547, p ˂ 0.01) and burrowers(r=-0.331, p ˂ 0.05) significantly decreased with increasing altitude. The diversity and richness indices were higher in St. 3 than in the other sites. The dominance index was highest in St. 2, and the evenness index was highest in St. 7. We evaluated the biological water quality with several known methods, and concluded that ESB(Ecological score of benthic macrovertebrates community) and GPI(Group polution index) were more suitable than KSI(Korean saprobic index) and BMI (Benthic macrovertebrate index) to assess the biological water quality of Gayasan mountain stream water.

Leptalina unicolor is a hesperiid butterfly with a restricted distribution in Korea, Japan, China, and Russia. Recently, the number of individuals is rapidly decreased in their natural habitat. This skipper has been classified as an endangered species in the ‘Red Data Book’, and according to an IUCN report, is under threat of extinction. Therefore, the conservation and restoration of this species both locally and globally are urgently needed. A population of L. unicolor was found in an unknown habitat in Jaeyaksan, Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea in 2011, and these individuals were used in the present study. Here, the life cycle, characteristics of each instar larva and breeding information were determined by breeding L. unicolor in the laboratory from 2012 to 2015. The results indicated that L. unicolor occurs twice a year and over-winter as a fifth instar larva. A springform female individual laid 17.25±5.52 eggs, and summer form laid 29.00±5.86 eggs; it takes 53.79±0.73 days for L. unicolor to develop from eggs to adults. After spawning, the eggs developed in 6.16±0.18 days, and larvae developed in 33.71±0.58 days; the pre-pupal stage to emergence required 14.22±0.31 days. Based on these results, we presented effective breeding information for the restoration and proliferation of the species. Several candidate plants species have been reported in the literature as a food source for L. unicolor, but we found that the preferred diet this butterfly was Miscanthus sinensis. The larvae could move easily when their preferred diet was planted in 80% the cage floor area Year-round breeding was achieved by placing overwintering individuals in low temperatures in autumn. To our knowledge, this is the first study to the biology of L. unicolor in Korea, and the results of this study could be used as preliminary information for the conservation and restoration of this species in its natural habitat.

The distribution characteristics of functional feeding groups and biological evaluation of water quality with benthic macroinvertebrates were investigated from 2013 to 2014 in the mountain streams of Jirisan National Park. Both quantitative and qualitative collection had been performed six times during study periods in twelve sites located at upstream, midstream and downstream of four valleys, Chilsungol, Baemsagol, Daesunggol and Piagol of freshwater ecosystem in Jirisan National Park. As results, the total collected benthic macroinvertebrates were 3 phyla, 4 classes, 11 orders, 37 families, 107 species and 4,028 individuals. In 2013, 3 phyla, 4 classes, 10 orders, 32 families, 89 species and 1,829 individuals were collected. And in 2014, 3 phyla, 4 classes, 9 orders, 31 families, 80 species and 2,199 individuals were identified. The total dominant species was Ecdyonurus kibumensis, and EPT groups occupied 80.39% of total species number. Biotic indices were also compared to site and to season. The dominant index (DI) was highest at the downstream of Baemsagol in the spring of 2013, and the evenness index (J') was highest at the downstream of Daesunggol in the summer of 2013. Both diversity index (H') and richness index (RI) were highest at the upstream of Baemsagol in the summer of 2014. The correlation between altitude above sea level and functional feeding groups of benthic macroinvertebrates was also researched in this study. As a result, the species number of shredders and predators have significantly increased according to the increase of the altitude of their habitat. On the other hand, individuals of gathering collectors have increased according to the increase of altitude. The biological water quality was evaluated and compared with several methods in this study, and we suggest that ESB and GPI are more appropriate than KSI and BMI to evaluate biological water quality of mountain stream water.

An exotic parasitic wasp Anisopteromalus apiovorus of Pteromalidae was newly recorded in Korea. Specimens of this species have been collected in Gimhae of Korea since 2012. External morphology of this species was described in detail and diagnostic differences of this species from the related species and the host insect were also given. The funicle segments of female antennae are 1.2 to 1.5 times longer than those of Anisopteromalus calandrae, an sister species. Body color is gold-glossy black and with dense creamy-white hairs on the surface. This exotic species has been originated from the African continent including Democratic Republic of Congo and Cote d'Ivoire, and then intruded into other countries, for instance, Korea. This is the first distribution record of this species except the country of origin after original description as a new species. Although little is known about the life history or ecology of this species, we found that a new host of this small parasitic wasp is Lasioderma serricorne of coleoptera through present study. And this species possibly be a new agent of biological control for economic pests. It was presumed that the invasion of Anisopteromalus apiovorus into Korea was prior to November of 2012.

We have studied characteristics of community structure on the benthic macro-invertebrates at twelve selected sites in upstream, midstream and downstream of Paemsagol, Piagol, Chilseongol and Daeseonggol, major streams of Jirisan Mountain, for three years from April 2008 to September 2010. As a result, 2 phyla, 3 classes, 11 orders, 41 families, 119 species and 4,449 individuals of benthic macro-invertebrates have been collected and classified in this study. Among them EPT group (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera), commonly appearing taxa in clean stream ecosystem, was found most frequently. The highest species number of benthic macro-invertebrates were collected in 2008, the year with lower climatic influence including heavy rain. In almost all of survey sites 80% or over of EPT group were counted, and St. 1 scored highest rate of EPT group at 92.59%. Most dominant species was Ecdyonurus kibumensis at 12.83% of dominance index, and subdominant species was Goerodes KUb at 6.81% of dominance index. The investigation of the feeding function group indicated that gathering-collectors were dominant with 26 species and 1,334 individuals, while the number of filtering-collectors was lowest with 11 species and 230 individuals. This result represents that the feeding function group of Jirisan Mountain is mountainous stream-specific one. Both diversity index and richness index were lowest at the midstream of Chilseongol (St. 5), while the midstreams of Daeseonggol (St. 11) and Piagol (St. 8) were highest in diversity and richness indices respectively. The analyses of linear regression and correlation were performed in order to investigate and to predict the appearance aspect of EPT group by altitude. The results showed that the ratio of Plecopteran species number has increased by the elevation of the altitude at 0.05 significance level. Cluster analysis was also carried out for evaluating environmental similarities among survey sites. As a result, upper regions of Paemsagol (St. 1) and Piagol have clustered as most similar sites each other, while the midstream of Piagol (St. 8) has separated with lower similarity value than other sites in species composition.

Corythucha marmorata Uhler was newly recorded in Korea as a invasive species at Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea in 2011 and at Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea in 2012. Adults of this species show reticular forewings with a lot of transparent membranes and also show pterigoid process of paranotum with strong processes. This invasive species was originated from North America, and then intruded into Europe and Japan. This species is presumed became an epidemic horticultural pest at present and it is injuring almost of Asteraceae leaves. It was presumed that the invasion of Corythucha marmorata into Korea was prior to September of 2011.

Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann, 1910 was newly recorded in Korea as a invasive species at Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea in 2010 and 2011. Leptoglossus Guérin-Méneville, 1831 is also newly recorded Coreid genus in Korea. The diagnostic shape is expanded leaf-like hind tibiae. The origin of this species is North America and it has been rapidly propagated around the world as a pest. This bug recognized as a pest on almost of Pinaceae plants and they suck on developing cones, so the monitoring on the present invasion of this species in Korea is urgent. It was presumed that the invasion of Leptoglossus occidentalis into Korea was before 2010 with present study.

We investigated the toxic effects of difenoconazole on the development in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. To test the toxic effects, frog embryo teratogenesis assays using Xenopus were performed. Embryos were exposed to various concentrations of difenoconazole (0-30 μM). LC100 for difenoconazole was 30 μM, and the LC50 determined by probit analysis was 27.19 μM. Exposure to difenoconazole concentrations ≥5 μM resulted in 10 different types of severe external malformation. Histological examinations revealed dysplasia of the eye, heart, liver, somatic muscle, and swelling of the pronephric ducts. The tissue-specific toxic effects were investigated with an animal cap assay. Blood cells were normally induced at a high frequency by mSCF and activin A. However, the induction of blood cells was strongly inhibited by the addition of difenoconazole. Electron micrographs of tested embryos showed the degeneration of somatic muscle and the shrinkage of microvilli on pronephric duct. The gene expression of cultivated animal cap explants was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). It revealed that the expression of the blood-specific marker(β -globin Ⅱ) and muscle-specific marker (XMA) were more strongly inhibited than the neural-specific marker(XEn2) by the addition of difenoconazole.

The studies on community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates and environmental survey in selected four sites were performed on wetland Upo from 2008 to 2009. The lowest water temperature was measured at Upo and Mokpo showing 7℃ in February of 2008 and 2009 respectively. The highest water temperature was measured at Upo showing 32℃ in August of 2009. The lowest pH was measured at Topyeong with 5.3 in August of 2009, and the highest pH was measured at Mokpo with 10.1 in August of 2008. Generally the levels pH of 2008 were higher than those of 2009. The range of electric conductivity to the sites was big. Overall, the higher electric conductivity was seen at Sajipo and the lower one was seen at Mokpo. The level of Dissolved oxygen was lowest at Upo with 5.53㎎/ℓ in August 2008, and it was highest at Upo with 14.76㎎/ℓ in February of 2008. The investigation was performed with both quantitative and qualitative collecting methods from four surveying sites, Upo, Mokpo, Sajipo and Topyeong. Through the eight times of seasonal survey, 6 classes, 17 orders, 59 families, 131 species and 5460 individuals of benthic macroinvertebrates were collected. 6 classes, 17 orders, 53 families 106 species and 2439 individuals were identified in 2008, and 6 classes, 16 orders, 44 families, 93 species and 3021 individuals were collected in 2009. The number of species was decreased in 2009 comparing that of 2008, however, the number of individuals were increased in 2009. The dominant species and the subdominant species was Plea (Paraplea) indistinguenda and Diplonychus esakii with 20.16% and 11.90% of dominant indices respectively. From the community analysis, both the species diversity index and the species richness index were highest in Topyeong showing 4.743 and 9.054 respectively. The similarity evaluation to the investigation sites with the species in there showed very high similarity among Upo, Mokpo and Sajipo showing 5 or lower levels of distance cluster combine.

We investigated the toxic effects of tebuconazole on development in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. To test the toxic effects, frog embryo teratogenesis assays using Xenopus were performed. Embryos were exposed to various concentrations of tebuconazole(0-100 μM). LC100 for tebuconazole was 100 μM, and the LC50 determined by probit analysis was 82.35 μM. The exposure to tebuconazole concentrations ≥40 μM resulted in 11 different types of severe external malformations including gut dysplasia. Histological examinations revealed various dysplasia in the eye, heart, liver, intestine, somatic muscle, and in the pronephric ducts. The tissue-specific toxic effects were investigated with an animal cap assay. Blood cells are generally induced at a high frequency by the combination of mSCF and activin A, however, the induction of blood cells was strongly inhibited by the addition of tebuconazole. Electron micrographs of tested embryos showed many of multivesicular bodies and dysplasia of photo-receptive cell, however, the somatic muscle degeneration was not severe. The gene expression of cultivated animal cap explants was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and revealed that expression of the blood-specific marker, β globin Ⅱ and muscle-specific marker, muscle actin were more strongly inhibited than the neural-specific marker, XEn2.

The study on community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates from wetland Woopo was conducted for the long-term ecological monitoring. The wetland Woopo is located in Changnyeong-Gun, Gyeongsangnam - Do of Korea. In 2006, we investigated the seasonal variation of benthic macroinvertebrates with quantitative and qualitative collecting methods. The collection was performed monthly at four surveying region, Woopo, Sajipo, Mokpo and Topyong stream. In this study, 6 classes, 16 orders, 48 families, 95 species were identified on group of benthic macroinvertebrates. The species diversity index and the species richness index were the highest in Topyung region and it was 3.222 and 10.216 respectively. The two species, Cercion calamorum and Cloeon dipterum were quantitatively collected for 9 months. The changes of body lengths of 50 individuals were recorded and the advanced growth on the two species was expected from present study.

We investigated the toxic effects of carbaryl on early embryo development in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. To test the toxic effects, frog embryo teratogenesis assays using Xenopus were performed. Embryos were exposed to various concentrations of carbaryl (5∼320 μM). LC100 for carbaryl was 320 μM, and the LC50 determined by probit analysis was the concentration of 235.68 μM. Exposure to 160 μM of carbaryl resulted in 10 different types of severe external malformations. Histological examination revealed dysplasia of the eyes, heart, guts, somatic muscle, dorsal, liver, blood vessel and swelling of the pronephric ducts. Malformation of neural tissue and brain was not severe even in the high dose of carbaryl. Benzidine blood stain showed distinct inhibition of inducing erythrocytes in embryos and animal cap explants. Electron micrographs of embryo revealed retinal detachment, loose photoreceptor lamella and the degeneration of sarcomeres in the carbaryl-treated group. The mitochondrial degeneration was also observed in the test group.