Variations in the Distribution and Genetic Relationships among Luciola unmunsana Populations in South Korea

The firefly species Luciola unmunsana was first discovered on the Unmunsan Mountain in Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea and consequently named after mountain. population habitats of this once-abundant have recently decreased significantly due to light environmental pollution caused by industrialization urbanization. This study investigated distribution density L. around ecological landscape conservation area Mountain. Additionally, we conducted molecular experiments regional variations, genetic diversity phylogenetic relationships among various populations Korea. were also analyzed using mitochondrial DNA collecting 15 male adults from each 10 regions across selected for analysis. Differences observed between east, west south Baekdudaegan Range. collected eastern region, which included Gyeongsang-do, showed a close relationship with fireflies Thus, findings can be used as baseline data re-introducing