The Chinese striped-necked turtle Mauremys sinensis, introduced into South Korea presumably in 2012, is considered an invasive alien species owing to its devastating impact, including hybridization with the native protected species Reeves’ turtle M. reevesii. Recently, the presence of M. sinensis has been confirmed throughout the country, and several sympatric areas with M. reevesii have been reported. Thus, field surveys were conducted at 47 sites across M. sinensis and M. reevesii habitats in South Korea to determine the extent of hybridization. Five sympatric sites were confirmed, and hybrid individuals were identified at four sites. Genetic analyses (COI and R35) of two individuals from Jeju Island confirmed maternal M. reevesii and paternal M. sinensis lineages. Hybridization presumably does not occur under natural conditions, and the hybrids likely originated from captive breeding. This study identifies for the first time the habitats of M. sinensis and its hybrids in the wild of South Korea. The management measures proposed in the current study could be of value for the conservation of the native species; however, our study did not include reproductive monitoring, and there is a need for such surveys as well as for systematic management of non-native turtles introduced into South Korea.

The introduction of exotic species and the associated impacts are increasing worldwide due to the development and increase in transportation and international trade. As new populations of the non-native Gekko japonicus and G. swinhonis have recently been discovered in South Korea, this study was conducted to investigate the distribution of these species, evaluate the establishment potential of non-native populations and infer their routes of introduction. The study comprised targeted field surveys around the major international ports, generation of ecological niche models (ENMs), based on the known distributions and comparison of the ecological niches of the two species. The results suggest that G. japonicus and G. swinhonis are primarily distributed in the humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and the monsoon-influenced hot-summer humid continental climate (Dwa), respectively. According to the ENMs predicted across South Korea, suitable habitats for G. japonicus were located along the western and southern coasts of the country, whereas those for G. swinhonis were predicted along the western coastal regions and several major cities inland. These distributional patterns may be attributed to adaptations of the two gecko congeners to distinct climatic conditions leading to divergent ecological niches. Considering the known distributions of the two species in South Korea, the most likely routes of introduction are accidental translocations through international trade and the inland populations most likely originated from human-mediated dispersals along the major rivers. This study highlights the need to implement quarantine procedures for international cargo arriving in South Korea. Additional field surveys are further recommended to focus on urban areas adjacent to international ports and major rivers to curtail further introductions of non-native geckos.

In this study, we use a specimen from wild-caught individual to determine the complete mitochondrial genome of the Amur soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus maackii). The complete mitogenome of P. maackii has 16,258 bp in length and consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and one control region. The arrangement of genes of P. maackii is identical with previously reported mitogenomes in the family Trionychoidea. According to our result, the ML tree for the phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that the individuals used in present study is closely related with the previously reported sequences of P. sinensis (AY962573 and MG431983) in p-distance 0.7% and 2.5%.

The Chinese striped-necked turtle Mauremys sinensis was first reported in the wild in South Korea in 2012. Owing to its potential to hybridize with the native and endangered Mauremys reevesii in South Korea, leading to ecosystem disturbance, M. sinensis was designated as an ecosystem-disturbing species (EDS; hereafter) in 2020. Such hybridization between M. sinensis and M. reevesii has previously been reported in Taiwan. To protect and conserve the native South Korean M. reevesii population, the extent of its hybridization needed to be examined. Therefore, we developed novel high-resolution melting markers to elucidate the status of hybridization between Mauremys sinensis and Mauremys reevesii in South Korea. We identified the presence of M. sinensis , M. reevesii , and their hybrid across 47 sites in South Korea. Among these sites, five locations were confirmed as areas of sympatry for both M. sinensis and M. reevesii , with one hybrid individual identified at the Jeonju-si site. In total, hybrids were identified at four different sites. For more definitive species identification, blood samples were collected from the specimens and subjected to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome c oxidase subunit I ( COI ) gene and nuclear DNA (nDNA) R35 gene analysis, leading to the identification of two more hybrids from two other sites. To date, no hybrids of M. sinensis have been confirmed to reproduce in the wild, yet this requires further research for validation. The high-resolution melting (HRM) marker in the R35 gene developed in this study yielded three distinct curves that were designated as M. sinensis , M. reevesii , and M. sinensis × M. reevesii , aligning with those of the R35 gene sequencing. The novel markers developed in this study serve as a valuable tool that can be used in future research on rapid detection of hybridization.

The increasing globalization of trade and transportation has accelerated the introduction of alien species, resulting in growing ecological and social concerns. To identify and manage potentially invasive species, South Korea has implemented an ecological risk assessment system under the Act on the Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity . In 2024, the National Institute of Ecology assessed alien species and, based on these results, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment designated Anoplophora horsfieldii as a legally managed species in 2026. This review delineates the systematic framework of ecological risk assessment and subsequent legal designation protocols for invasive alien species within the South Korean regulatory context. By analyzing the current status of insect species across both statutory categories, this review compares management pathways at different invasion stages and assesses how international eradication programs inform operational requirements for the newly designated species. The 2026 designation of A. horsfieldii as a Species with Potential Risks to the Ecosystem represents a proactive intervention to suppress the expansion of populations currently localized within conservation areas to the mainland. As the first species listed on ecological rather than industrial grounds and the only one already present in the wild, its designation makes field‐management provisions—previously of limited relevance to this category—directly applicable. This early‐stage intervention establishes the statutory authority to mitigate invasion before they become irreversible. The integration of scientific risk assessment into national legal management underscores the imperative for a proactive response and sustained monitoring of high‐risk alien species to prevent future ecological and socioeconomic impacts.

This study monitored of flora and fauna from 2022 to 2024 to investigate changes in biodiversity in relation to the wetland restoration project. A total of 220 plant species from 72 families and 141 animal species from 75 families were identified. Endangered species included five level II endangered plant species, Cicuta virosa, Epilobium hirsutum, Lychnis kiusiana, Lychnis wilfordii, and Euryale ferox, along with one endangered mammal species, Prionailurus bengalensis. Additionally, three plant species (Solanum carolinense, Hypochaeris radicata, and Humulus japonicus) and one amphibian species (Lithobates catesbeianus) were identified as ecosystem-disturbing species designated under the Act on the Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity in Korea. This study not only evaluates the effectiveness of wetland ecosystem restoration and management but also provides foundational data for future restoration projects and conservation policies, emphasizing the importance of long-term monitoring.