곤충호텔은 곤충이 서식할 수 있도록 인위적으로 만든 구조 물로서 정원이나 텃밭 등 다양한 곳에서 활용되고 있다. 하지만 식생유형, 재료, 설치 방식 등에 따른 곤충 유입 효과에 대한 검증은 부족하며, 국가 또는 지역에 따른 곤충의 종류와 생육환 경이 다름에도 불구하고 곤충호텔에 대한 국내 연구는 전무한 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 국립수목원을 대상으로 구체적 인 식생유형 및 재료에 따른 유입 곤충 특성을 확인하고, 국내 실정에 맞는 효과적인 곤충호텔 설치 및 관리방안에 대한 기준 을 제시하고자 하였다. 조사구는 세 가지 식생유형(초지, 침엽수 림, 활엽수림)으로 구분하였으며, 각 식생의 조사구에 두 가지 재료(참나무, 잣나무)를 활용한 곤충호텔을 설치하였다. 조사는 2년동안(2022~2023) 진행되었으며, 매년 4~9월까지 주 1회 씩(총 48회) 곤충호텔의 유입 곤충을 직접 채집하였다. 곤충호 텔에서 채집된 곤충은 총 9목 46과 129종 3,057개체로, 2022 년에는 7목 34과 85종 1,750개체, 2023년에는 8목 35과 77종 1,307개체가 출현하였다. 연도별로 비교하면 1차년도에 유입 된 곤충의 개체수가 2차년도 보다 약 1.3배 많았고, 재료의 부식 에 따른 곤충의 구성도 달라졌다. 식생유형에 따라 구분하면 기간에 상관없이 활엽수림에서 유입 곤충이 가장 많았고, 침엽 수림에서 가장 적었다. 또한 재료에 따른 구분에서는 참나무가 잣나무보다 유입 곤충이 많았다. 참나무의 경우 유입 곤충의 연도별 차이가 적은 반면, 잣나무는 1년차에 비해 2년차에 약 2.3배 줄었다. 상관분석과 계층적 군집분석을 통한 곤충의 유입 특성은 식생유형보다는 재료의 영향이 큰 것으로 확인되었고, 식생유형만 비교했을 경우 초지에 비해 활엽수림과 침엽수림의 유사성이 높았다. 결론적으로 생물 다양성 증진을 목적으로 곤 충호텔을 설치하고자 한다면 초지나 활엽수림에 참나무 재료를 사용하는 것이 유리하며, 잣나무 재료를 이용한다면 1년 주기로 재료 교체가 필요할 것으로 판단된다. 하지만 특정 재료를 선호 하는 곤충의 기주특이성이 확인되었기 때문에 다양한 종류의 재료를 같이 사용하는 것도 하나의 방법이라고 사료된다. 향후 이를 기반으로 전시원에서 실질적으로 활용할 수 있는 곤충호텔 모델 개발로 확대해 나갈 예정이다.

Recently, it is demonstrate that the invertebrates have a immune memory, called Immune priming (IP). It was partially studied that the IP is mainly regulated by epigenetic modification. Here, to understand the IP on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production, we investigated larval mortality and time-dependent expression patterns of AMP genes in T. molitor larvae challenged with E. coli (two-times injection with a one-month interval). Interestingly, the results indicate that the higher and faster expression levels of most AMP genes were detected compared to the non-primed T. molitor larvae. Our results may used to improve the understanding of mechanisms of invertebrate immune memory.

Pellino, a highly conserved E3 ubiquitin ligase, is known to mediate ubiquitination of phosphorylated Interleukin-1 receptor-related kinase (IRAK) homologs in Toll signaling pathway. To understand the immunological function of TmPellino, we screened the knockdown efficiency of TmPellino by injecting TmPellino-specific dsRNA into T. molitor larvae. Subsequently, we investigated the larval mortality and the tissue-specific expression patterns of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes against microbial challenges. Interestingly, the results indicate that the expression of many AMP genes was upregulated in the Malpighian tubules of TmPellino-silenced T. molitor larvae. This study may provide basic information to understand how Tmpellino regulates AMPs production in T. molitor.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) is known to regulate antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production in mammals. Here, to understand the immunological function of TmTRAF against microbial challenge, the induction patterns of TmTRAF against microbial infection was investigated by qRT-PCR in the whole-body and tissue of young larvae. In addition, the effects of TmTRAF RNAi on larval mortality and expression of 15 AMP genes in response to microbial infection were investigated. Our studies may help to understand the basic role of AMP production.

Tube, an intracellular protein of the Toll-pathway, forms a complex with Pelle and MyD88, and regulates a signal transduction to activate NF-κB in Drosophila. To understand the antimicrobial function of TmTube, the induction patterns of TmTube were investigated at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h-post injection of pathogens into 10th to 12th instar larvae. In addition, we investigated the effects of TmTube RNAi on larval mortality and tissue specific AMP expression in response to microbial challenge. Our results will provide a basic information to elucidate the immunological function of TmTube

Pelle, a serine/threonine kinase, is an intracellular component of the Toll pathway and is involved in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production due to pathogenic infection. It is known that the Pelle phosphorylates Cactus and activates the NF-κB signaling pathway in Drosophila, but it is not studied in Tenebrio molitor. In this study we investigated the tissue-specific expression patterns of the Pelle following pathogenic infection at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours. Additionally, larval mortality and AMP expression against microbial injection were investigated in dsPelle-treated T. molitor larvae. Our results may help to understand the antimicrobial function of TmPelle.

In insects, the glutathione S-transferase is initiated in both the detoxification process and the protection of cellular membranes against oxidative damage. In this study, we identified the open reading frame (ORF) sequence of GST-iso1 and 2 from Tenebrio molitor (TmGST-iso1 and 2). To investigate the expression patterrns of TmGST-iso1 and 2 in response to herbicide, 0.06, 0.6, and 6 ㎍/㎕ of butachlor (FarmHannong, Seoul, South Korea) was challenged into T. molitor larvae, resulting that the TmGST-iso1 were highly induced at 3 and 24 h-post injection. Whereas, the highest expression of TmGST-iso2 was detected at 24 h after treatment. This study may contribute to basic information about the detoxifying activities of T. molitor.

It is well known that the JNK pathway regulates AMP production against pathogenic infection in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Tenebrio molitor hep (Tmhep) is an homolog of MAP kinase kinase in mammals. Here, we investigate the immunological function of Tmhep in responses in microbial infection using RNA interference technology. The results showed that silencing of Tmhep increased the larval mortality against microbial challenge, as well as reduced AMP production compared to the control group (dsEGFP-treated group). Conclusively, Tmhep plays an critical role in antimicrobial defense in T. molitor larvae.

Islands often have relatively well-preserved ecosystem and an abundance of bioresources with a high conservation value, with unrecorded species continuing to be reported (Hong, 2011). Approximately 1,000,000 species of insect known worldwide (Costello et al., 2012), and 20,710 species are known in Korea (NIBR, 2023). Among these, there are 6,117 species in Korean islands (HNIBR, 2022). Native insect Bio-scan project for Korean islands is to estimate the number of insect species on Korean islands. We attempted to estimate the number of insect species on Korean islands using Barcode Index Number (BIN), and also found unrecorded species. The samples were collected four times from April to July at five locations in the Amtedo, an island located in Shinan-gun Jeollanam-do. We tried to obtain a minimum of one to usually a maximum of four samples per morphospecies to enable DNA barcoding.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is one of the economically important agricultural pests globally, as it attacks a wide range of vegetable and horticultural crops. In this study, we evaluated spatial repellent and oviposition deterrent activities of T.urticae in response to fifteen compounds derived from ester-containing natural products. To evaluate the tests, we used bridge two-choice test and host two-choice test in laboratory conditions. Among the eight compounds showed spatial repellent and oviposition deterrent activities against T. urticae at the 20 mg dose and some compounds had the activities at lower dose. We also conducted two-choice test with a blend and single compounds to determine which showed stronger spatial repellent and oviposition deterrent activities. In host two-choice test, we evaluate repellence between distance of compounds. This study concluded that series compounds from ester-containing natural products have the potential to be used managing T. urticae in the field.

The series compounds from natural products are an effective repellent and deterrent against various kinds of pests. In this study, we evaluated the spatial repellency of fifteen compounds from natural products on the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), in the laboratory and field by using two-choice and no-choice bioassays. In laboratory two-choice tests, six compounds displayed active spatial repellency against female adult mites at a 2mg dose. The repellency of each compound was also as effective as the 6-compound blend. Three of the six compounds showed the predominant repellent activity (over 90%) that lasted for at least 3 days in laboratory no-choice tests. In a field test, we found that the number of T. urticae was fewer in strawberry seeding treated lure with 2mg of these compounds than in strawberry seeding treated lure with solvent control. Given that the findings are efficacious, economical, and natural products, they can be used in the sustainable management of T. urticae in greenhouse.

본 연구는 주변 환경의 차이에 따른 화분매개곤충의 유입 특성을 파악하기 위하여 국립수목원 내 진화속을걷 는정원과 부추속전문전시원에 식재된 울릉산마늘의 화분매개곤충을 조사하였다. 2023년 5월 22일부터 6월 2일 까지 꽃이 70% 이상 개화하였을 때 포충망을 활용하여 8일간 곤충을 채집하였고, 각 전시원 별 식생(피도), 기후 (온도·습도·조도)를 조사하였다. 조사 결과 진화속을걷는정원에서 피도 60% 온도 26.4℃, 습도 31.5%, 조도 40953.6lx, 화분매개곤충 20과 450개체, 부추속전문전시원은 피도 90%, 온도 25.6℃, 습도 31.6%, 조도 6387lx, 화분매개곤충 15과 196개체로 나타났다. 온도와 조도가 상대적으로 높은 진화속을걷는정원이 채집된 곤충의 다양성과 방문 빈도가 높았다. 시간대별 곤충의 방문 빈도를 비교해본 결과 온도와 조도는 개체수가 증가할 때 같이 증가하는 경향을 보였으며, 습도는 반대의 경향을 보였다.

Neoporphyra kitoi Ma. Abe, N. Kikuchi, Tamaki, Tom. Sato, Murase, Fujiyoshi & Mas. Kobayashi has been known as an endemic species in Japan. Its high temperature tolerance suggests that it could be advantageous for cultivation. In this study, we collected it from the Ulleungdo island, Korea and transferred it into Pyropia for a new combination, identified as Pyropia kitoi (Ma. Abe, N. Kikuchi, Tamaki, Tom. Sato, Murase, Fujiyoshi & Mas. Kobayashi) D.J. Kim, T.O. Cho & B.Y. Won comb. nov. based on morphological and molecular analyses. Pyropia kitoi is also reported as a new record species in the list of Korean macroalgal flora. Although we didn’t observe the emergence of new blades from the rhizoidal cells, which is a key character for this species, our molecular analysis of rbcL revealed that our samples from Korea were congruent with “Neoporphyra kitoi” from Japan and were nested within the clade of Pyropia. The gene sequence divergence between the Korean and Japanese samples was 0-0.2%.

In the event of a radioactive release, it is essential to quickly detect and locate the source of the release, as well as track the movement of the plume to assess the potential impact on public health and safety. Fixed monitoring posts are limited in their ability to provide a complete picture of the radiation distribution, and the information they provide may not be available in real-time. This is why other types of monitoring systems, such as mobile monitoring, aerial monitoring, and personal dosimeters, are also used in emergency situations to complement the information provided by fixed monitoring posts. Also, the monitoring system can be improved by using the Kriging technique, which is one of the interpolation methods, to predict the radiation dose in the relevant districts. This can be achieved by utilizing both the GPS information and the radiation dose measured at a particular point. The Kriging method involves estimating the value between different measurement points by considering the distance between them. The model used GPS and radiation data that were measured around the Hanbit NPP. The data were collected using a radiation measuring detector on a bus that traveled around the NPP area at 2-second intervals for one day. From the collected data, 200 data points were randomly selected for analysis, excluding the data measured at the bus garage out of a total of 16,550 data points. The average dose of the daily measurement data was 117.94 nSv/h, and the average dose of the 200 randomly extracted data was 119.17 nSv/h. The GPS and radiation dose data were utilized to predict the radiation dose around the Yeonggwang area where the Hanbit NPP is located. In the event of an abnormal release of radioactive material, it can be difficult to accurately determine the dose unless a monitoring measurement point is present. This can delay the rapid evacuation of residents during an emergency situation. By utilizing the Kriging model to make predictions, it is anticipated that more accurate dose predictions can be generated, particularly during accident scenarios. This can aid in the development of appropriate resident protection measures.

Republic of Korea (ROK) is operating the Integrated Environmental Radiation Monitoring Network (IERNet) in preparation for a radioactive emergency based on Article 105 of the Nuclear Safety Act (Monitoring of Nationwide Radioactive Environment). 215 radiation monitoring posts are monitoring a wide area, but their location is fixed, so they can’t cover areas where the post is not equipped around the Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). For this, a mobile radiation monitoring system was developed using a drone or vehicle. However, there are disadvantages: it is performed only at a specific cycle, and an additional workforce is required. In this study, a radiation monitoring system using public transportation was developed to solve the above problems. Considering the range of dose rates from environmental radiation to high radiation doses in accidents, the detector was designed by combining NaI (TI) (in the low-dose area) and GM detector (in the high-dose area). Field test was conducted by installed on a city bus operated by Yeonggwang-gun to confirm the performance of the radiation monitoring system. As a result of the field test, it was confirmed that data is transmitted from the module to the server program in both directions. Based on this study, it will be possible to improve the radiation monitoring capability near nuclear facilities.