Homing behavior is a fundamental ecological trait influencing site fidelity and the success of translocation programs for endangered species. This study evaluated the homing ability and effective homing range of the Reeves’ turtle (Mauremys reevesii), a Class II Endangered Wildlife species and a Natural Monument in South Korea. Six adult turtles were captured from reservoirs in Gurye-gun, attached with GPS transmitters, and artificially displaced to terrestrial release sites at distances ranging from 200 to 600 m from their original habitats. Monitoring from May 2023 to July 2024 revealed a distance-dependent homing response: individuals displaced by 200 m and one of two displaced by 300 m successfully returned to their original reservoirs. However, all turtles displaced by distances greater than 300 m (400~600 m) failed to return. These results suggest that while M. reevesii possesses homing instincts, its effective homing range on land is relatively limited compared to other freshwater turtles. This study provides the first empirical evidence of the spatial limits of homing in Korean M. reevesii populations. Technical challenges, such as signal loss due to mud accumulation on solar-powered tags in wetland environments, were also identified as a factor to consider in future telemetry studies. For successful translocation, we recommend selecting release sites within 300 m of core habitats to maximize settlement success.

Honey bee plays an important role in pollinating plants. Recently, however, declines in honey bee populations have been reported in many countries, and pesticides have been pointed out as one of the factors contributing to honey bee loss. To determine the effects of pesticides on honey bee behavior, we investigated the homing ability of honey bee exposed to four pesticides (acetamiprid, imidacloprid, fenitrothion, and carbaryl). In addition, the changes in expression levels of genes associated with ‘learning and memory’ (cGMP-dependent protein kinase foraging, Kruppel homolog 1, Adenlyate cyclase 3, Early growth response protein 1, Hormone receptor 38) were examined after pesticide treatment in forager bee. The four pesticides tested in this study generally reduced the homing ability of foragers. In the examination of gene expression, learning and memory-related genes were induced by the exposure to acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and carbaryl, whereas fenitrothion decreased the expression of these genes in honey bee. Although further studies are needed, this suggests that pesticides may have negative effects on honey bee behavior and behavior-related gene expression.