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Vertical nest stratification and breeding success in a six mixed-species heronry in Taeseong, Chungbuk, Korea

  • Park, Shi-Ryong;Kim, Kwan-Yong;Chung, Hoon;Choi, Yu-Seong;Sung, Ha-Cheol
    • 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.

Nest Box Preference by Secondary Cavity-Nesting Birds in Forested Environments

  • Choi, Chang-Yong;Nam, Hyun-Young;Lee, Eun-Jae;Chung, Ok-Sik;Park, Yong-Su;Lee, Jong-Koo;Hyun, Jee-Yun;Lee, Woo-Shin
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.30 no.1
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    • pp.49-56
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    • 2007
  • We placed and monitored 2,137 nest boxes to determine how the size of the entrance hole and the box placement influenced nest box selection by secondary cavity-nesting birds and to derive recommendations for the use of nest boxes for management of cavity-nesting birds in forested environments. A total of 566 pairs of seven bird species used the nest boxes from 1997 to 2006, 562 of which were secondary cavity-nesters. Sympatric tits such as varied tits (Parus varius), great tits (P. major), and marsh tits (P. palustris) were common breeding birds in nest boxes, and showed clear preferences for 4.0 cm, 3.5 cm and 3.0 cm nest holes, respectively. Tree sparrows (Passer montanus) and Eurasian nuthatches (Sitta europaea) preferred 4 cm and 3.5 cm holes, respectively. We did not detect selection for the directional orientation for the entrance hole, but the birds appeared to avoid nest boxes that faced steep or gentle upward slopes and those less than 1.8 m from the ground. These results are probably related to avoidance of disturbance and predation. We suggest that diverse species can be supported by the placement of nest boxes with entrance holes of various sizes and that specific species can be targeted by selecting the hole sizes preferred by those species. To attract secondary cavity-nesters, managers should avoid placing nest boxes close to the ground and facing hills. This study also suggests that careful selection and placement of nest boxes is needed to avoid biases in research using nest boxes.

Effect of Fishing Activity on Nest Selection and Density of Waterfowls in Namyang Lake (낚시꾼의 활동이 수초 지대에 번식하는 물새류의 둥지 위치 선택과 밀도에 미치는 영향)

  • Park, Ji-Hwan;Park, Heon-Woo;Sung, Ha-Cheol;Park, Shi-Ryong
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.29 no.3
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    • pp.213-217
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    • 2006
  • The increase of human activities has been extensively changed the breeding habitats of birds directly or indirectly, where the reproductive success of the birds has been seriously reduced. Leisure activities on water, such as fishing, influenced the breeding biology of waterfowls. However, few researches have been done for this in Korea. We examined the effects of fishing activity on nest selection and density of four waterfowl species at Namyang Lake: Coot (Fulica atra), Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), Little Grebe (Podiceps ruficollis), and Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus). We divided the Namyang Lake into three study areas. Except for the number of anglers, there were no significant differences among the three study areas in the kinds of avian predators, the water depth around study areas measured for possible territorial predatory mammals' passing over, and the values of Relative Importance Percentage of occupying plants. The results showed that waterfowls bred in Namyang Lake preferred the areas with few anglers for the nests. From this study, we recommend that leisure activities including fishing should be prohibited or restricted during the breeding periods of waterfowls for the stable breeding success and that further systematic researches and managements for the species are necessary.

Studies on the Nest site Selection and Characteristics of Habitat use of Long-tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus in Korea (한국에서 번식하는 오목눈이의 둥지장소 선택과 서식지 이용 특성)

  • Baek, Chung-yeol;Lee, Jin-hee;No, Sun-ho;Jang, Kyung-Hee;Cho, Sam-rae
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.30 no.5
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    • pp.829-836
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    • 2016
  • This study was carried out on Kongju National University and its neighboring area, Mt. Gyeryong national park and Mt. Worak national park in the breeding season of long-tailed tits Aegithalos caudaatus from 2008 to 2012. The result of the inquiry, the nests were found in 15 species of trees, and this result shows me it's not choosy about them. But after having classified them according to the features and analyzed them, long-tailed tits preferred evergreen needleleaf tree and deciduous broad-leaf tree and deciduous bush, especially evergreen needleleaf tree. The concealment rate of long-tailed tits' nests was $11.61{\pm}4.79%]\;4.38{\pm}2.19%$(n=29) in Kongju National University and it's neighboring area, $6.06{\pm}2.31%$(n=43) in Mt. Gyeryong national park and $4.38{\pm}2.19%$(n=32) in Mt. Worak national park. By regional groups, the concealment rates of neighboring nests were almost same, but there are no differences among the areas. The average of the color codes was $26.52{\pm}16.14$(n=32) that those of the nest subtract from those of surroundings of the nest. The nests were procryptic according to their surroundings, and if their nest in a tree were evergreen needleleaf trees, they were made of moss. while if the trees of nest in a tree were yellow because of fungus, made of dried moss, they were yellow, too.

Feeding Behavior of the Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans in Two Different Habitats (다른 두 서식지에서 섬참새의 채식행동)

  • 채희영
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.20 no.6
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    • pp.405-411
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    • 1997
  • Feeding behavior of the Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans was studied in two different types of habitats, shelter belts and isolated forests, in south-eastern Hokkaido, Japan, during the breeding seasons of 1995 and 1996. Predominant foods were determined as Caterpillar, Coleoptera, Diptera, Ephemeropera, Odonate and some other insects. The composition of the nestiling foods were not the same by season, region, and year. Larger foods in size were used by birds in isolated forests more frequently than in shelter belts. Amount of food per feeding was significantly larger in isolated forests than in shelter belts. Although food supply were more abundant in isolated forests than in shelter belts, the feeding frequency did not significantly differ between these two habitats. The nest density was higher in isolated forests than in shelter belts. Results of this study indicate that when the feeding condition is poor, birds tend not show specific food selection behavior, the feeding range is therefore larger, and the feeding interval is longer. Contrarily, the birds show a specific food selection behavior when they are in good feeding condition, the feeding range is therefor smaller and the feeding interval decreases.

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Bayesian Typhoon Track Prediction Using Wind Vector Data

  • Han, Minkyu;Lee, Jaeyong
    • Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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    • v.22 no.3
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    • pp.241-253
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    • 2015
  • In this paper we predict the track of typhoons using a Bayesian principal component regression model based on wind field data. Data is obtained at each time point and we applied the Bayesian principal component regression model to conduct the track prediction based on the time point. Based on regression model, we applied to variable selection prior and two kinds of prior distribution; normal and Laplace distribution. We show prediction results based on Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) estimator and Median Probability Model (MPM) estimator. We analysis 8 typhoons in 2006 using data obtained from previous 6 years (2000-2005). We compare our prediction results with a moving-nest typhoon model (MTM) proposed by the Korea Meteorological Administration. We posit that is possible to predict the track of a typhoon accurately using only a statistical model and without a dynamical model.

Sexual Dimorphism in a River Sculpin(Cottus poecilopus Heckel) in Korea (한국산 둑중개 (Cottus poecilopus Heckel)의 성적 이형)

  • Byeon, Hwa-Kun
    • Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.14-21
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    • 1996
  • The sexual dimorphism of river sculpin (Cottus poecilopus Heckel) was investigated samples were collected from the Chiak stream from January 1993 to April 1994. Sexual dimorphism in body size and some morphological characteristics were observed in this species ; males were larger in size and had a larger mouth, anal fin, ventral fin and pevic fin than females. Males have a genital papilla and nuptial color, but females do not. Females may mate preferentially with large males. Larger males could be superior in nest defense and fanning of eggs to smaller ones, thus resulting in higher survival of eggs. Similary, the larger mouth in males could be advantageous in acquiring and defending their nests. Such sexual dimorphism in this species may reflect to outcome of sexual selection.

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Variability of laying hen behaviour depending on the breed

  • Kozak, Agnieszka;Kasperek, Kornel;Zieba, Grzegorz;Rozempolska-Rucinska, Iwona
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.32 no.7
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    • pp.1062-1068
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    • 2019
  • Objective: For many generations, most species of farm animals have been subjected to intense and strictly targeted selection for improvement of their performance traits. This has led to substantial changes in animal anatomy and physiology, which resulted in considerable differences between the current animal breeds and their wild ancestors. The aim of the study was to determine whether there is breed-specific variability in behaviour as well as differences in emotional reactivity and preferences of laying hens. Methods: The investigations involved 50 Green-legged Partridge, 50 Polbar, and 50 Leghorn hens. All birds were kept in the same conditions, and the behavioural tests were carried out at 30 weeks of age. We used the tonic immobility test and a modified open-field test including such objects as water, commercial feed, feed enriched with cereal grains, finely cut straw, and insect larvae, a sandpit, a mirror, and a shelter imitating a hen nest. Results: The research results demonstrate that the birds of the analysed breeds differ not only in the excitability and emotional reactivity but, importantly, also in the preferences for environment-enriching elements. Ensuring hens' well-being should therefore be based on environmental modifications that will facilitate acquisition of essential elements of chickens' behaviour. The greatest emotional reactivity was found in the Leghorn breed, which may be a result of correlated selection aimed at an increase in chicken productivity. Conclusion: The differences in the behaviour of the birds from the analysed breeds indicate that laying hens cannot be regarded as one group of animals with the same environmental requirements.

A Survey on the Family Ardeidae Habitat for the Selection of the Alternative Breeding Sites at the Urban Forest in Korea (도시숲 백로류의 잠재번식지 선정을 위한 서식환경 조사 - 군산 백로류 집단번식지를 중심으로 -)

  • Kim, Jung-so;Kim, Sang-Wook
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.1-12
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    • 2017
  • This study aims to provide the basic habitat data for the alternative breeding sites of Family Ardeidae including Ardea cinerea, Egretta alba modesta, Egretta intermedia, Egretta garzetta, Bubulcus ibis and Nycticorax nyciticorax. Species numbers, flight directions for detecting foraging grounds and current vegetation structure were investigated nesting at Gunsan urban forest area. Data were collected over a period of 10 weeks, from 15 June - 31 August 2014. The total nest and population of Family Ardeida were 684 and 1,712 respectively. Percentage of birds observed flying in 8 major compass directions were as follows. 57.27% of all birds were observed flying northwest, 22.09% were observed flying south and 13.40% were flying north. For possible foraging areas, to the northwest, there are Geumgang river tidal flats, and to the south, paddy fields and streams within 2km. Flying directions by species (${\chi}^2=287.18$, P<.001, Cramer's V=0.12) and by seasons(${\chi}^2=839.94$, P<.001, Cramer's V=0.19) showed significant difference statistically. In relation between species and directions, 60.31% and 24.05% of Bubulcus ibis and 59.40% and 23.00% of Ardea cinerea were observed flying northwest and south respectively. Vegetation in the sites consist of an overstory of 3 to 7 species. At site 1, Pinus thunbergii was the dominant species and site 2, Chamaecyparis obtusa. Understory vegetation is composed of shrubs, saplings and small trees of Chamaecyparis obtusa, Quercus acutissima, Smilax china and Platycarya strobilacea. Egrets and herons usually nested at the dense population and canopy overlayed forest, and especially branches and leaves of smallwood with less than 10cm of breast height diameter were relatively severely damaged due to the nesting and excreta.

The Characteristics of the Sites and Prospects of the Bear Shelves of Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus Thibetanus) on Jirisan National Park (지리산 반달가슴곰 상사리 입지와 조망 특성)

  • Yu, Jaeshim;Park, Chonghwa;Woo, Donggul
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.41-49
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    • 2012
  • The objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the location and prospects of the bear shelves built by Asiatic black bears in the Jirisan National Park. Previous researchers have been analyzed bear shelves in terms of places for resting and eating, but we are going to analyze based on the prospect-and-refuge theory. Characteristics of the sites of bear shelves are measured through field survey and topographic analysis by using digital elevation model (DEM). The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is used to evaluate the optimum location of bear shelves in terms of crown density. Man-made objects are identified by viewshed analysis based on geographical information system (GIS). Findings of this paper can be summarized as follows. First, most bear trees are located deep inside of the mountainous national park, slopes of 30~40 degrees, altitude of 400~1,200m, and relatively low vegetation density with NDVI value of 0.4~0.6 compared to the average NDVI of the park. Second, the average height of bear shelves is 12.44m, or 74% of the average height of bear trees. They are located at suitable places to observe nearby trails and other park facilities. Third, man-made objects within the 100m radius of bear trees include lodge, bear training center, beekeeping camp, and hiking trails. Thus we may temporarily conclude that one of the main criteria of the bear tree selection in the park has been to identify optimum places for the monitoring of human activities in their habitat.