• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.415-424
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• 2015

This research was conducted to reveal the characteristics of breeding ecology of oriental scops owl (Otus sunia stictonotus) inhabiting in South Korea according to the nest types during the breeding season from march to October for two years (2011 and 2012). Oriental scops owl nested in woodpecker's nest holes (46.1%), natural tree holes (38.5%), and artificial wood boxes (15.4%). These nests were located on following trees: Zelkova serrata, Paulownia coreana, Celtis sinensis, Salix chaenomeloides, Salix babylonica, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, Robinia pseudoacacia and Platanus occidentalis. The hatching success was 91.4%, fledging success was 83.0%, and breeding success was 75.9%. The factors of the breeding failure were falling (57.1%), abandonment (28.6%), hatching failure (7.1%), and others with unknown cause of death (7.1%). According to nest types, the fledging success (69.2%) of woodpecker's nest holes were low and the hatching success (79.2%) of natural tree holes were also low due to hatching failure and abandonment. However, hatching success, fledging success, breeding success were high in the artificial nests as all the eggs hatched and succeeded in fledging. Therefore, we suggested that artificial nests can cover the weaknesses of natural nests as well as increasing the breeding success. However, long-term research on installation place, height, and hole sizes of the artificial nest are required in order to clearly reveal the effects on the breeding success of oriental scops owl.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.201-207
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• 2006

We studied variation in clutch size, hatching, fledging and breeding success of the Black-tailed Gull (larus crassirostris) at Hongdo Island, which supported the largest breeding colony of the species, in South Korea in 1997 and 2000 to 2003. Cluck size was recorded in 1,388 nests and breeding success was estimated in 83 nests. Mean clutch size was 1.89 t 0.65. A total of 63.9% of the eggs hatched and 53.5% of the chicks survived until fledged. Breeding success was 34.2%. Causes of breeding failure were eggs missing (14.9%), rotten eggs (15.5%) and predation (2.4%) during the incubation period and chicks missing(35.8%), starvation (7.4%) and pecked chicks (3.2%) during the chick rearing period. In 2002, the main causes of breeding failure were eggs missing (17.2%) and rotten eggs (6.9%) during the incubation period and missing chicks (15.5%), starvation (3.5%) and pecked chicks (6.9%) during the chick rearing period. Most chick mortality occurred within three days after hatching.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2014

The seabird plays an important role as one of the indicator species for the status of and changes within marine ecosystems. Therefore, the conservation of seabirds and their habitats is important for maintaining the structure and function of marine ecosystems. Biological invasions affect most ecosystems on oceanic islands. In particular, Rattus spp. is the invasive species with the greatest impact on the seabird population. Introduced predators, like rats, severely affect seabirds and endanger them worldwide. The breeding population of Streaked Shearwaters Calonectris leucomelas in Sasu Island is one of biggest seabird colonies in Korea, and the Norway Rat Rattus norvegicus is known as an alien predator in this island. In this study we investigated rates of burrow occupancy and breeding success of Streaked Shearwaters for 7 years, and the impact of Norway Rats on the breeding success of Streaked Shearwaters breeding in Sasu Island for 4 years. Our results show that the percentage of breeding burrows decreased according to breeding stage during several years in the monitoring period, and that predation by the Norway Rat was the main cause in hatching failures. Consequently, although our results indicate that their breeding population is not likely to decline, Norway Rats have been affecting the breeding status of Streaked Shearwaters on Sasu Island during the last decade.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.57-60
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• 2018

Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) have been growing on a large scale since they settled on Jokja Island in Lake Paldang in 2010. In 2017, 827 breeding nests were found in Jokja Island and the breeding success rate was $2.60{\pm}0.23$ per nest. Nestling tree did not show any specificity for the species and was severely damaged. As the nesting materials for cormorants, branches and leaves, which were easy to come by around the island, were used. Most of their prey were fish in Lake Paldang. The population the great cormorants showed high breeding success rate, indicating that Jokja Island was a good site for breeding. Thus, it shows that continuous research for them needs to be done.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2011

In 2001, we conducted a study to assess the effects of differential arrival times and nest-site selection on reproductive performance in a mixed-species heronry consisting of six species in Taeseong-ri, Chungbuk, Korea. We recorded the arrival dates, nest heights, clutch sizes, and brood sizes after 15-20 days of the age of the birds' chicks. The grey herons and cattle egrets arrived first and last, respectively, on the colony site. In the homogenous vegetation structure of the breeding site, the pitch pine trees (Pinus rigida) were mainly used for building nests on 48 of the 50 pine trees (96%). The breeding species vertically stratifies the nest sites according to their body size, except for the cattle egrets and black-crowned night herons that nested at sites higher than those predicted from their body size. The mean nest success rates of the six species under study were positively correlated with the mean nest heights. Our findings suggest that aggressive interspecific interactions among neighbors influence nest-site selection to enhance breeding success.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2006

During the breeding seasons in 2002 and 2003, the influences of vegetation cover on breeding processes of Black-tailed Gulls (Laurs crassirostris) were studied on Hongdo Island. We checked dutch sizes, calculated hatching success and survival rates on day 15 and a vegetation cover, There was significant positive relationship between vegetation cover and hatching success, and survival on day 15. In order to analyze the relationship, sample nests were categorized as 'exposed' and 'covered' nests, and the breeding processes at each nest were compared. Hatching success and survival on day 15 in covered nests were significantly higher than ones in exposed nests. However, in clutch size, there was no significant difference. The rate of the hatching and survival failure was different amongst the categorized nests. The primary cause of hatching failure in covered and exposed nests was 'disappeared', and the primary causes of survival failure on day 15 were 'disappeared' and 'killed by adults'. The failure in exposed nests was significantly larger than that of covered nests. In the breeding of Black-tailed Gulls on Hongdo Island, vegetation cover influenced the survival of eggs and chicks as the cover provided shelter against predators and extreme weather.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.645-654
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• 2019

This study was conducted in two breeding seasons in 2017 to identify nesting habits and breeding biology of barn swallows in Daejang-dong village, Bucheon city, suburban Seoul. Among the 77 barn swallow nests studied, there were 34 breeding nests -27 in the first and 12 in the second. The reuse rate of old nests was 51.6%. In addition to tile-roofed houses (20.6%), breeding nests were most common in brick houses (38.2%) and in slate-roofed houses (26.5%). Most breeding nests were in eaves (58.8%) and front doors (32.3%). The average clutch size was $4.8{\pm}0.9$ in the first and $4.3{\pm}0.5$ in the second. The breeding success rate was 75.0% in the first and 58.1% in the second, considering the hatching rate and the fledgling rate. It was found that the rainy season was affected by a lack of food. At least 27 pairs of nestling barn swallows and 127 young barn swallows successfully fledged were estimated to be 181. These results show that Daejang-dong village is an important suburban habitat of the Seoul metropolitan area, and that it can be used to verify the environmental conservation value of rice fields of in the Seoul metropolitan area.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.681-692
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• 2015

It is well documented that physiological and nutritional condition of wintering birds is strongly related to migration success to breeding sites, and also breeding success. However, how abiotic factors during winter affect the migration and breeding successes still remains unclear. Thus, this study developed a dynamic-state-dependent model for wintering life-history to identify the potential impact on the life-history, success to breeding site and breeding success of wintering birds, which are related to temperature fluctuation, interspecific competition and human disturbance at the wintering sites. To find the best-fit-model, we referred to the existing research data on wintering ecology of Red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) in Cheolwon, Korea, which is well documented as a long-term wintering study. Our model predicted that the higher temperature fluctuation and a higher rate of human disturbance are negatively related to migration success to breeding sites and their fitness, ultimately breeding success via changing of proportion in resource allocation (for e. g., lower energy compensation or higher level of stress accumulation). Particularly, the rate of body mass compensation after arrival at wintering sites may be accelerated when there are less temperature fluctuations and a lower rate of human disturbance. In addition, the rate of interspecific competition sharing the wintering foraging sites is negatively related to the rate of body mass compensation. Consequently, we discussed the conservation strategies of wintering birds based on the outcomes of the model.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2001

The technique of plant transformation has started to show off its great power in the area of plant breeding by commercially successful introduction of transgenic varieties such as herbicide tolerant soybean and insect resistant corn in USA with an unimaginable speed. However, in contrast with the great success in the commercialization of herbicide tolerance and insect resistance, the transformation works on disease resistance has not yet reached the stage of full commercialization. This review surveys the current status of molecular breeding for plant disease resistance and their limits and problems. Some novel ideas and approaches in molecular breeding for disease resistance are introduced.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.129-138
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• 2022

Reintroduction programs have been promoted across the world to recover and rehabilitate endangered birds through ex situ captive breeding and releasing to the nature. The ultimate aims of these reintroduction programs are recovery of sustainable populations in natural habitats. To ensure the success of the reintroduction programs, it is necessary to examine the followings in order to increase the success rate of releasing along with the development of captive breeding techniques: 1) Adequate habitat provision, 2) adaptability of captive-bred individuals, 3) survivability of released individuals, and 4) social interest and will. Before releasing captive-bred individuals, it should be reviewed whether there are habitats in which the limiting factor is removed, and assessed their long-term safety. The quantity and quality of the released individuals must be considered to increase the chances for mate selection, maintain genetic diversity, and acquire the ability to adapt to the wild. The release method must be decided in consideration of characteristics of the target habitats and individuals, and rational means such as careful observation, evaluation, and feedback must be provided throughout the release process. For the long-term success of recovery projects, social awareness, sustainable support, and related experts are needed. Satisfying these criteria can help to increase the success rates of reintroduction programs. For the bird reintroduction program in the future, the feasibility of the methods and procedures must be closely reviewed before starting.