Earticle

I surveyed the Korean amphibians to adjust their taxonomic list and their distribution in South Korea. It was confirmed 18 species, 8 genera, 7 families of 2 orders, and the distribution charts of each species were made.

In order to investigate elevation distribution of Korean amphibians, we analyzed position of each species. As a result, Rana nigromaculta appeared below 400 m, Hyla. japonica, Kaloula borealis, Rana plancyi chosenica and Rana rugosa appeared > 500 m, Hynobius. leechii, Bufo gargarizans, Bombina orientalis, Rana coreana and Rana dybowskii appeared > 600 m, Onychodactylus fischeri appeared > 700 m, Bufo stejnegeri and Rana huanrenensis appeared > 800 m. Also, We thinks that it need to survey about several species such as Hynobius quelpaertensis, Hynobius yangi, Kasenia koreana, Hyla suweonensis and Rana catesbeiana.

The Rana plancyi chosenica, a vulnerable species by IUCN Red list and an endangered species in South Korea, has only a limited distribution through western South Korea. Anthropogenic activities have restricted habitat homogeneity. Though the species urgently needs a conservation plan, few studies have been conducted. To establish conservation units for R. p. chosenica, we investigated genetic diversity and population structure using mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (99 samples), control region (77 samples), and 12S rRNA (63 samples), which had 17, 34, and 6 haplotypes, respectively. The mean sequence diversity within the population was less than 1%, which is low compared to other Rana species. Sequence diversity of Pyeongtaek, Paju, and Ongjin populations were relatively high compared to other populations. Most populations have unique haplotypes, particularly Cheongwon and Taean populations. These results suggest that each population is isolated, resulting in reduced gene flow. Based on these results, we suggest that Pyeongtaek, Paju and Ongjin populations, which have the highest genetic diversity or Cheongwon and Taean populations, which have unique haplotypes, should be considered as conservation population units of R. p. chosenica. More detailed genetic data such as microsatellites and ecological studies would assist conservation planning for this species.

To understand the age structure of a wrinkled frog (Rana rugosa) population located at Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do South Korea and individual physical characteristics, we measured the snout-vent length (SVL) and body weight of 28 male and 69 female adults and 64 subadult frogs, determined their ages, and obtained the growth curve of the frogs. The present or absence of secondary sexual characteristics such as nuptial pads, vocal sacs, and ovulation eggs were used to determine the sex and maturity of the frogs. The mean SVL was 41.34±}7.38 mm in males and 50.69±}4.89 mm in females. Male ages ranged from 3 to 5 years (mean=4.29±}1.05, n=28) and female ages from 3 to 8 years (mean=4.51±}1.30, n=69). The difference between the sexes in age structure was not significant. We estimated the growth curve for wrinkled frogs using von Bertalanffy growth model. The growth coefficient (K) was 1.89 in males and 1.26 in females. The asymptotic size was 40.97 mm in males and 51.11 mm in females.

Herpetofauna in Odaesan National Park was investigated from March to October in 2004. We identified 11 species, 6 genus, 5 families, 2 orders of amphibians and 8 species, 4 genus, 3 families, 1 order of reptiles from our surveys. Dominant species was Rana huanrenensis in amphibians and Takydromus amurensis in reptiles. Species diversity, species richness and species evenness indices were followed: 1.57, 0.63, 1.48 in amphibians and 1.55, 0.75, 1.64 in reptiles, respectively. Grasslands were the most preferred habitats and used by 15 species. In addition, amphibians were mainly found at the mountain valley and streams and, reptiles were at the lower parts of mountains where adjoin the crop fields and grasslands. In this survey, there was no confirmation of any endangered species assigned by the Minister of Environment of Korea in Odaesan National Park.

The herpetofauna of Mt. Unmun, located in Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, was surveyed from December 2007 to August 2008. During the survey period, 2 orders, 5 families, and 11 species of amphibians were observed, as well as 1 order, 2 suborders, 4 families, and 8 reptiles species. Some species, Bufo stejnegeri, Rana huanrenensis, and Amphiesma vibakari ruthveni, were first recorded in Mt. Unmunan and the adjacent mountain. However, we observed no Natural Treasure or Endangered wild animals nor invasive alien-species listed by the Korean Ministry of Environment. In comparing two areas with similar environments, interference by human activity, such as climbing and traffic, appears to exert an effect on the biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles.

We have reconfirmed the documented records that have been published until now in order to arrange current status of Amphibians on Jeju Island and done fieldwork of wetlands in Jeju Island from February, 2004 to October, 2008. The result of the survey have shown that Bufo gargarizans, Rana plancyi chosenica, and Rana rugosa, which have been known to inhabitant Jeju Island, are no longer present and that 2 orders, 5 families, and 7 species (Hynobius quelpaertensis, Bombina orientalis, Kaloula borealis, Hyla japonica, Rana nigromaculata, Rana dybowskii, and Rana catesbeiana, an introduced species) inhabit in Jeju Island.

Chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd ), is one of the most serious causes of amphibian decline in the world. We report the infection of an exotic frog (White's tree frog Litoria caerulea) imported as a pet to South Korea from the United States. The frog displayed typical signs of chytridiomycosis and eventually died. Bd -specific polymerase chain reaction assay, histopathological and immunohistopathological examinations using Bd -specific polyclonal antibody proved that the frog was infected with Bd. This is the first report in Korea of an imported amphibian that was suspected to have died from chytridiomycosis. The case demonstrates that Bd can enter Korea on imported amphibians. All imported amphibians should be regarded as infected with Bd and isolated until they are proven negative by PCR testing. The impact of imported Bd on wild populations of Korean amphibians is unknown and requih B investigation.

Many types of ecological studies require the identification of individuals, which is frequently achieved by marking. The identification of individuals in the field can determine life history parameters of individuals, including the age at maturity, growth rates and longevity, etc. and can estimate the population size, rates of increase and survival, reproductive output, and recruitment levels. Methods for the identification of lizards involve a variety of marking techniques, such as toe clipping, scaled clipping, photographic identification, banding, painting, tagging and radio transmitter tagging. Due to the relatively small body size of lizards in the Republic of Korea, techniques such as toe clipping or painting are generally more appropriate for the identification of lizards than are techniques such as radio transmitter tagging, PIT tagging, and photographic identification.