Genomics has revolutionized epidemiology and disease surveillance by providing powerful tools for identifying, tracking, and analyzing pathogens at the molecular level. This exploratory analysis examines the integration of genomic with traditional epidemiological approaches, highlighting the role of whole-genome sequencing as a key method for pathogen identification, outbreak investigation, and understanding transmission dynamics. By enabling the detection of mutations and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance, genomics allows for precise mapping of infection sources and transmission pathways, thereby improving the timeliness and accuracy of public health responses. Furthermore, genomic surveillance supports the early detection of emerging variants, such as those observed during viral outbreaks like COVID-19, facilitating proactive intervention strategies. Despite its transformative potential, challenges related to data privacy, infrastructure, and interdisciplinary collaboration persist. This analysis emphasizes the importance of genomics in building resilient surveillance systems to address future infectious disease threats and advocates for sustained investment in genomic technologies to advance global health security.

Climate simulation is often used for evaluation of the sustainability of a species in global scale but not applicable for our study because the global data is too coarse to be used in small and fragmented habitat areas. We examined a weather forecasting model for the habitat analysis of the endangered species of the Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus raddeanus). The weather research forecasting (WRF) model is implemented to downscale global climate data for a small fragmented habitat of the goral. The coordinates of goral fecal samples were collected during winter 2005 and summer 2006 using GPS and the goral habitat was set with the elevations of fecal samples mostly found. The atmospheric parameters of the habitat were then simulated by WRF and defined as the atmospheric signature of the goral suitable habitat. A series of temperature changes was then projected for the period from 2010s to 2090s to evaluate the change of the habitat for summer (June) and winter (December) seasons. As a result, the suitable habitat of the Korean long-tailed goral would be significantly declined and almost disappeared in the 2070s for summer or 2050s for winter under the climate scenarios of RCP 8.5 by IPCC.

The Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) is at risk of population decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Therefore, it is essential to ascertain its presence and/or the identity of individuals of the goral using non-invasive fecal samples for its conservation and management. In this study, we examined the morphology of fecal samples to provide the baseline data that can be used to distinguish species and age of goral individuals. We detected a significant difference in the length-to-width ratios of feces among the five ungulate species found in Korea. Also, we detected a significant difference in the length-to-width ratios of feces of gorals depending on the age groups. To assess the accuracy of species and age identification based on the fecal morphology, we conducted a series of blind comparison between the mean length-to-width ratios of the fecal pellets and the reference mean ratio values of the fecal pellets. Using 20 fecal pellets, our results showed 73%–86% probability of correct identification of the three species (gorals, goats, and roe deer), and 83%–90% probability of correct identification of >5 year-old goral individuals. The use of fecal morphometric analyses will be useful for the studies of Korean ungulate species, particularly the endangered gorals.

This study was conducted to elucidate how shell form contributes to functional adaptation and mechanical optimization in seven limpet species inhabiting intertidal zones along the Korean coast. Ten morphological and weight-related parameters were measured, revealing clear interspecific differences in shell form and mass-related traits. Multivariate shape analysis indicated that shell morphology varied primarily with overall size, with additional variation associated with apex position and height-to-length proportions. Compressive strength tests showed that shell thickness (ST), shell height (SH), and elliptical area (EA) were key determinants of mechanical resistance, with dome-shaped species exhibiting greater load-bearing capacity than flatter forms. Integrating geometric and mechanical data indicated that shell robustness arises from coordinated structural proportions rather than any single dimension. Overall, the results provide an integrated understanding of how morphological design and mechanical performance together shape the ecological and evolutionary strategies of limpets in dynamic intertidal environments.

As a primary grazer in intertidal ecosystems, limpets play a key role in regulating algal cover and maintaining community structure. Therefore, the distribution and species composition of limpets can serve as effective biological indicators to assess the ecological health and environmental change of coastal ecosystems. We examined the distribution of limpets inhabiting rocky intertidal zones along the western and southern coast of South Korea. Based on this, we analyzed their abundance, number of species, and species diversity. Field surveys were conducted in three sites on each coast (western coast, Yamido, Sinsido, Daejangdo and southern coast, Geojedo, Tongyeong, Namhaedo) using the line transect method during low tides. A total of 345 individuals belonging to nine species were confirmed to be distributed. the western coast tended to show lower abundance, number of species, and species diversity, whereas the southern coast tended to exhibit relatively higher values. These patterns may be associated with regional differences in tidal amplitude, substrate type, and wave exposure. The lower values of limpets in the western coast reflects adaptation of a few tolerant species to high environmental stress, while the higher values of limpets in the southern coast results from more complex and stable habitats. This study provides fundamental distribution data for understanding biogeographical variations in limpet assemblages. In addition, this study will contribute to future biodiversity monitoring and coastal ecosystem management in South Korea.