The past and current status of endangered butterflies in Korea

Here we review the current situation of endangered butterflies in Korea and describe the causes of their decline. Because no details regarding the changes in butterfly populations across the country were available, we selected candidate butterfly species based on a score sheet sent to six specialists in Korea. Twenty species were finally selected and assessed. As a result, 3 critically endangered, 14 endangered and 3 vulnerable species were identified. We attempted to identify the possible causes of decline by addressing habitat loss (grassland or riparian grassland), forest succession, warmer temperature, over‐collecting and loss of symbiont ants. We discuss the causal factors with the current situation of butterfly populations in Korea.     

Morphology and Infraciliature of Three Species of Eutintinnus (Ciliophora; Tintinnina) with Guidelines for Interpreting Protargol-Stained Tintinnine Ciliates

ABSTRACT. The infraciliatures of three Chesapeake Bay species of Eutintinnus conforming in lorica morphology to E. angustatus, E. pectinis , and E. tenuis were compared following Protargol silver impregnation. The kinetome of these species had a number of shared attributes including: 1) a right and left field that were of similar length and kinetal spacing; 2) two, rarely three, long dorsal kineties composed of monokinetids; 3) a ventral kinety; and 4) the absence of a true posterior kinety. Nonetheless, the specific organization of infraciliary components varied considerably among species. For example, the organization of the ventral kinety and several kineties along the border of the left field was different in all three species. In addition, the dorsal kineties of E. angustatus differed positionally from those of E. pectinis and E. tenuis . Some divergence in oral infraciliature was also noted, with the arrangement of infundibular oral polykinetids in E. pectinis and E. tenuis being distinct from that of E. angustatus . The amount of variation in the infraciliature of Eutintinnus spp. was much greater than previously noted for congeneric species of tintinnines and supports the separation E. angustatus, E. pectinis , and E. tenuis at the generic or subgeneric level.     

Change of Haemolymph Ferritin of Sweet Potato Hornworm, Agrius convolvuli by Heavy Metals

Agrius convolvuli haemolymph ferritin was purified by KBr density gradient ultracentrifugation and anion exchange column chromatography. The 670 kDa ferritin was composed of two subunits of 26 kDa and 31 kDa. It was also shown that the protein had an isoelectric point (pI) of pH 7.4. The N‐terminal amino acid sequences of the two subunits were NH2‐DNXYQDVSLDXSQAXNXL (26 kDa subunit) and NH2‐TQXHVNPVNIQRDXVTMHXS (31 kDa subunit). The sequential analysis showed that they had high similarity to lepidopteran ferritin subunits, S‐ and G‐type, respectively. Using electron microscope, it was observed that the protein had a core whose size was about 7 nm. In the amino acid composition of the protein, Glu (13.22%), Asp (10.43%), Pro (9.69%), Leu (9.63%), Ala (9.55%) and Gly (8.49%) were in relatively high contents while Tyr (1.21%), His (2.58%) and Arg (3.10 %) were in low. It was shown that the amount of ferritin in A. convolvuli haemolymph was increased by injection of eight different heavy metal ions, FeCl₃, HgCl₂, CuSO₄, ZnSO₄, MnCl₂, MgCl₂, CrCl₃ and CdCl₂. Among the ions, Fe³⁺, Hg²⁺, Zn⁴⁺, Mn²⁺ and Cd.²⁺ significantly induced the amount of the protein.