A male Spheropistha melanosoma Yaginuma, 1957 from Korea in the family Theridiidae Sundevall, 1833 is described with measurements and morphological photos of the diagnostic characteristics. This species was collected with a sweep net around arable lands in a mountainous mixed forest during the investigation of spider fauna on Ulleungdo Island in 2019.

Two species of the genus Oxytate L. Koch, 1878 have been recorded in Korea to date. The spider fauna was surveyed in the mountainous terrain of Mt. Hallasan National Park in 2019. A female of Oxytate lobia sp. nov. was collected with a sweep net between shrubs in mixed forests during a seasonal spider survey and is described with measurements, morphological illustrations, and a diagnosis. The new species can be easily distinguished from similar species within the genus by the long copulatory duct conjugated with a spermatheca, a pair of triangular pits at the bottom, and no ditches.

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) serve as a unique source for cell therapy. We investigated whether exosomes from iMSCs promote the proliferation of human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). iPSCs were established from human Wharton’s jelly MSCs and were allowed to differentiate into iMSCs. Exosomes were collected from the culture supernatant of MSCs (MSC-exo) and iMSCs (iMSC-exo), and their characteristics were investigated. Both exosome types possessed basic characteristics of exosomes and were taken up by skin cells in vitro and in vivo. A significant increase in HaCaT proliferation was observed with iMSC-exo, although both exosomes increased the viability and cell cycle progression in HaCaT and HDFs. No significant difference was observed in the closure of wound scratch and the expression of reparative genes between cells treated with the two exosome types. Both exosomes enhanced the secretion of collagen in HaCaT and HDFs; however, an increase in fibronectin level was observed only in HaCaT, and this effect was better with iMSC-exo treatment. Only iMSC-exo increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1/2. Our results indicate that iMSC-exo promote the proliferation of skin cells by stimulating ERK1/2 and highlight the application of iMSCs for producing exosomes.

Community and guild structures were investigated in 5 regions (Cheorwon, Icheon, Buan, Haenam, Ulsan) in 2016.A total of 4,806 spiders were collected and identified as 73 species of 48 genera in 17 families. Species compositionand abundance were high in Linyphiidae, Tetragnathidae and Lycosidae. Average species richness index was 28.27±0.72,abundance was 320.40±28.41 and diversity index was 2.49±0.06. Guild of rice field spiders were categorized 8 ecologicallyfunctional groups; Space web builders, Wandering sheet weavers, Orb weavers, Ground runners, Ambushers, Stalkers, Sheetweb builders and Foliage runners. Their abundance was high in ground runners with 167.00±24.12 and low in sheet webbuilders with 0.73±0.23. In species diversity, ground runners was high with 1.30±0.07 and stalkers was low with 0.31±0.09.

Spider community was surveyed at Nakdonggang River which is the longest river (525 km and 23,384 km2) located East-south part of Korea. Nakdonggang river is developing for water management and environmental conservation including restoration of river ecosystem under “The Four-River Restoration Project”. Sampling was made 3 occasions from June to August in 2009. Eight survey sites were selected from both sides of river in Andong, Sangju, Gumi and Seongju prefectures. Spiders were collected with sweep net for on the plants above ground and pitfall traps for on the ground. A total of 94 species of 71 genera in 24 families were identified from 805 collected spiders. Species richness was high in Salticidae (18 species, 19.1%), Araneidae (12 species, 12.8%), Lycosidae (9 species, 9.6%) in order. Wandering spiders (55 species occupied 58.5%, 493 individuals occupied 61.2%) were higher than webbing spiders (39 species occupied 41.5%, 493 individuals occupied 61.2%) in species richness and abundance. Dominant species were Tetragnatha praedonia (Tetragnathidae) and Neoscona adianta (Araneidae) in webbing spiders, and Anahita fauna (Ctenidae), Pirata procurvus (Lycosidae) and Gnaphosa kompirensis (Gnaphosidae) in wandering spiders with abundance. Collectively, most spiders collected from this study were water preferring spiders and showed different community structure compared to other reports from terrestrial spider fauna. Present result will bevaluable to compare the effect of development on the arthropod fauna after completion of the project.

Field survey was conducted to determine the differences of spider community between traditional farming and environmental friendly farming at 17 localities, Korea in 2008. In guild structure, The occupancy rate of pest group, general group and natural enemy group was 37.3%, 41.0% and 21.6% respectively in environmental friendly farming, and 36.9%, 35.6% and 27.5% respectively in traditional farming. Among natural enemy group, parasitoids and predators were 15.8% and 84.2% respectively in environmental friendly farming, and 28.1% and 71.9% respectively in traditional farming. Among natural enemy group, rice field spiders were 74.4% and 62.2% in environmental friendly farming and traditional farming respectively. Among predators, rice field spiders were 86.7% in environmental friendly farming and 84.9% in traditional farming. Rice field spider community comprises 28 species of 24 genera belonging to 10 families and 30 species of 24 genera belonging to 10 families in environmental friendly farming and traditional farming respectively. Dominant families were Lycosidae, Linyphiidae and Tetragnathidae and dominant species were Pirata subpiraticus, Ummeliata insecticeps, Tetragnatha maxillosa, Gnathonarium dentatum and Packygnatha clercki in both agricultural practices. The ratio of hunting spiders and webbing spiders was similar between agricultural practices.