This study evaluated the risk of single and combined exposure to microplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio) through biomarkers, such as survival rate, excretion rate, and histological alterations of organ systems. The experimental groups were the control (Cont.), single microplastics exposure group (MPs, 1.83%/fish total weight (g)), the copper group (Cu, 21.6 μg L-1), and a group with combined exposure to MPs and copper (MPs*Cu). The experiment was conducted with individual exposure (7 days) for MP excretion rate analysis and group exposure (14 days) for biomarker analysis. The daily excretion rate of MPs tended to decrease in a time-dependent manner. The copper concentration in the body was not significantly different between single and combined copper exposure. The degeneration of mucous cells in the skin, capillary dilation of the gill lamella, increased intestinal mucous, hepatocyte hypertrophy, and the degeneration of glomeruli and renal tubules were observed in all exposure groups. These histological alterations showed the highest tendency in the MPs*Cu group. In this study, the changes in biomarkers were attributed to the single effect of copper or the combined effect of copper and MPs rather than being solely influenced by MPs.

Labidocera pavo Giesbrecht, 1889 and L. sinilobata Shen and Lee, 1963, belonging to the detruncata group in the genus Labidocera were collected from the southwestern coastal waters of Korea, using a Norpac net (0.2 mm mesh size). Labidocera sinilobata, known to be endemic species in estuary of Chinese rivers, is the first record in Korean waters. In Chinese waters, this species has only been briefly documented and illustrated. In the study, their morphological characteristics were fully redescribed with careful examination of the fine epidermal structure using a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) in addition to their illustrations and compared with species of the detruncata species-group.

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are members of the family Orthomyxoviridae and genus Orthomyxovirus. Avian and mammalian species are the host of IAVs, which includes humans and dogs. Canine influenza virus (CIV) is an emerging pathogen that causes severe and acute respiratory diseases in dogs. This study monitored the antigen and antibody against CIV in dogs in the Republic of Korea (ROK) from 2016 to 2021. One thousand and seventy-two nasal swabs and 1,545 blood samples were collected from animal hospitals and animal shelters. Five nasal swabs in 2017 and seven in 2018 from stray dogs were positive for CIV according to RT-PCR. The prevalence of H3N2 CIV ranged from 9.5% to 24.8%, according to the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. On the other hand, none of the serum samples from 2018 to 2021 showed seropositivity against the avian H5, H7, and H9 viruses. The HI titers for H3N2 ranged from 16 to 512. The distribution of HI titer 16–32 was 57.6% in seropositive samples. The pet dogs were vaccinated against CIV, but the stray and military dogs were unvaccinated. In 2017 and 2018, the seroprevalence of CIV in stray dogs was higher than in the other years, and viral RNA was detected in nasal swabs. It may mean previous exposure of stray dogs to CIV. With the increasing number of pet dogs and the close contact between humans and dogs, canines could serve as an intermediate host for transmitting IAVs to humans. Therefore, continuous surveillance of CIV is needed for public health and the potential emergence of novel zoonotic viruses.

계절에 따른 정원의 경관 변화 특성을 알아보고자, 우수 정 원 4개소를 대상으로 계절별 식재 특성과 색채 변화를 분석하 였다. 대상 정원에서 계절별로 조사된 식재 종수 합은 346분 류군이었고, 교목:관목:초본의 식재 백분율(%)은 8:21:71로 나 타났다. 초본은 봄을 기준으로 여름과 가을에 각각 6%와 15% 증가하였다. 관목은 봄에서 가을까지 계절 변화에 따라 64-100% 증가하였다. 계절에 따라 정원의 포인트 식물이 달라 졌으나, 꽃이 만발하는 초본과 관목으로 나타났다. 색채 분석 결과, 정원의 주조색은 식물 생육이 왕성한 봄과 여름에는 녹 색에서 짙은 녹색으로 나타났고, 가을에는 갈색으로 확인되었 다. 강조색은 계절에 따라 분명하게 달라졌으며, 주로 계절별 특징적인 화색이나 잎무늬로 결정되었다.

We investigated the effect of habitat environment and colony characteristics on floral bud development in Rhododendron brachycarpum native to Ulleung Island of Korea. Two habitats were considered. Habitat B had a remarkably higher altitude and steeper slope than habitat A. Therefore, fewer types of trees existed on the upper layers, and the density was low. Hence, the degree of light transmission within the community was higher in habitat B. Additionally, flowering ratio of shoots was higher in habitat B, and the amount of light was also relatively higher. The lower the amount of light, lesser the floral development, the higher the leaf area and the specific leaf area, lower the dry weight and chlorophyll content. The total carbohydrate (T-C) and nitrogen (T-N) in shoots are more important than the relative T-C and T-N ratios per leaf. Finally, this study revealed that the floral bud development and flowering of native rhododendrons are strongly associated with the degree of assimilate accumulation in shoots, and that sufficient assimilate accumulation in shoots is essential for stable flowering.

Halla horse is crossbreed between Jeju and Thoroughbred horses and is used for riding, racing and meat production. Thus, molecular genetic studies are needed to establish and preserve the industrially valuable Halla horses. This study aimed to analyses the genetic diversity and population structure through 12 microsatellite (MS) markers for Halla and putatively related 3 breeds (Jeju, Mongolian and Thoroughbred horses). On average, the number of alleles, observed heterozygosity (Hobs), expected heterozygosity (Hexp), and polymorphic information content (PIC) among all horses were 10, 0.767, 0.799, and 0.771, respectively. Neighbor-joining tree and STRUCTURE analysis showed that Halla horses were between Thoroughbred and Jeju horses, tend to more influenced by Thoroughbred horses. Therefore, these results could be considered for use as the basic genetic breed relationships resource among the horse breeds (Jeju, Mongolian, and Thoroughbred horses) related to the origins of the Halla horse.