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Borzée A, Litvinchuk SN, Ri K, Andersen D, Nam TY, Jon GH, Man HS, Choe JS, Kwon S, Othman SN, Messenger K, Bae Y, Shin Y, Kim A, Maslova I, Luedtke J, Hobin L, Moores N, Seliger B, Glenk F, Jang Y. Update on Distribution and Conservation Status of Amphibians in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea: Conclusions Based on Field Surveys, Environmental Modelling, Molecular Analyses and Call Properties. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2057. [PMID: 34359183 PMCID: PMC8300379 DOI: 10.3390/ani11072057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining the range, status, ecology and behaviour of species from areas where surveys and samplings are uncommon or difficult to conduct is a challenge, such as in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPR Korea). Here, we used genetic samples, field surveys, call recordings, photographic identification and a literature review to estimate the presence, range and status of amphibians in the DPR Korea. From our combined results and based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, we were able to estimate the national threat levels for most species. Our results demonstrated the presence of 18 native species and the suspected presence of Karsenia koreana and two Onychodactylus species. We reported the first record for Rana uenoi in the vicinity of Pyongyang using molecular tools and similarly confirmed the presence of Dryophytes japonicus at the same location. Based on distribution and modelling, we can expect the contact zone between species within the Rana and Onychodactylus genera to be located along the Changbai Massif, a mountain range that marks a shift in ecoregions and acts as a barrier to dispersion. The species richness was higher in the lowlands and at lower latitudes, with such areas populated by up to 11 species, while more northern regions were characterised by species richness of about half of that value. The combination of ecological models and known threats resulted in the recommendation of ten species as threatened at the national level following the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. This high number of threatened species was anticipated based on the high threat level to amphibians in bordering nations and globally. While the ecology of species in the DPR Korea is still understudied, we argue that species relying on agricultural wetlands such as rice paddies are not under imminent threat due to the enduring presence of extensive agricultural landscapes with low rates of chemical use and mechanisation. The maintenance of such landscapes is a clear benefit to amphibian species, in contrast to more industrialised agricultural landscapes in neighbouring nations. In comparison, the status of species dependent on forested habitats is unclear and threat levels are likely to be higher because of deforestation, as in neighbouring nations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaël Borzée
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing 210037, China; (Y.B.); (Y.S.)
- Amphibian Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, Toronto, ON L5A, Canada; (J.L.); (L.H.)
| | - Spartak N. Litvinchuk
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretsky pr. 4, 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia;
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, Dagestan State University, Gadzhiyev str. 43-a, Makhachkala, 3367000 Dagestan, Russia
| | - Kyongsim Ri
- Department of International Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Land and Environment Protection, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
| | - Desiree Andersen
- Interdisciplinary Program of Eco Creative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (D.A.); (S.K.); (S.N.O.); (A.K.)
| | - Tu Yong Nam
- Institute of Zoology, State Academy of Science, Daesong-dong, Daesong District, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang Hyok Jon
- Department of Ecology, State Academy of Science, Daesong-dong, Daesong District, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Song Man
- Department of Ecology, Life Science College, Kim Il Sung University, Ryongnam-dong, Daesong-dong, Daesong District, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Sik Choe
- Department of Ecology, Life Science College, Kim Il Sung University, Ryongnam-dong, Daesong-dong, Daesong District, Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
| | - Sera Kwon
- Interdisciplinary Program of Eco Creative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (D.A.); (S.K.); (S.N.O.); (A.K.)
| | - Siti N. Othman
- Interdisciplinary Program of Eco Creative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (D.A.); (S.K.); (S.N.O.); (A.K.)
| | - Kevin Messenger
- Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing 210037, China;
| | - Yoonhyuk Bae
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing 210037, China; (Y.B.); (Y.S.)
- Interdisciplinary Program of Eco Creative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (D.A.); (S.K.); (S.N.O.); (A.K.)
| | - Yucheol Shin
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing 210037, China; (Y.B.); (Y.S.)
| | - Ajoung Kim
- Interdisciplinary Program of Eco Creative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea; (D.A.); (S.K.); (S.N.O.); (A.K.)
| | - Irina Maslova
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia;
| | - Jennifer Luedtke
- Amphibian Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, Toronto, ON L5A, Canada; (J.L.); (L.H.)
- Re:wild, Austin, TX 78746, USA
| | - Louise Hobin
- Amphibian Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival Commission, Toronto, ON L5A, Canada; (J.L.); (L.H.)
| | - Nial Moores
- Birds Korea, 101-1902, Hyundai I Park, Busan 48559, Korea;
| | | | - Felix Glenk
- Hanns Seidel Foundation, Seoul 04419, Korea; (B.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Yikweon Jang
- Department of Life Sciences and Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
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