• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.305-315
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• 2013

This study is aimed to provide the preliminary data for conservation and management of wintering site for Anser fabalis population in Cheongna Area, Incheon Free Economic Zone, Korea through analyzing the relationship between the biotop structure of its wintering site and behavior characteristics. The main types (size and ratio) of the biotope in Cheongna Area, Incheon Free Economic Zone are reed wetlands ($6,093,762m^2$, 47.8%), rice fields without rice straw ($2,927,916m^2$, 23.0%), and rice fields with rice straw ($1,915,655m^2$, 15.0%). According to the survey carried on 13th Feb., 2013, total 33 species and 6, 535 individual birds were observed and among of them, the dominant bird was Anser fabalis showing 5,128 indiviuals, 78% of total population. As the result of analyzing the migratory route of Anser fabalis, the bird moved from roosting site to foraging site before and after sunrise and from feeding site to roosting site before and after sunset. According to the analysis of interrelation between habitat characteristics and biotope types of the bird, population density was the highest in reed wetlands among habitat types and individual appearance was the highest in water-filled rice field melting ice. The bird ate the roots and bulb of hydrophytes in reed wetlands and showed various behaviors like eating dropped grains, resting and sleeping in water-filled rice fields and eating dropped grains and resting in rice fields with and without rice straw. It is shown that the number of Anser fabalis appearing in rice fields is depended on the presence of dropped grains than types of rice field.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.526-535
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• 2007

This study was conducted at the Civilian Controlled Zone(CCZ) in the Cherowon from February to March 2004 to investigate the reaction to the vehicles of Red-crowned Cranes(RCC) and White-naped Cranes(WNC) and trade-off of the vehicle interruption with food resources. The for-aging distance from the road of WNC was much closer than that of RCC. The large flocks of cranes' average feeding distance from the road was farther than small flocks of cranes in both species. Cranes showed the reaction, such as alert, walking, running and flying against the vehicle stop and were more sensitive as they were close to the road. The reacting time to the stopping vehicle were reduced as it was farther from the road. The distance of about 250m was a reaction threshold distance against the vehicle stop to both species. The reacting time in the same distance was not different in relation to the traffic volume, but large traffic volume tended to cause cranes to stay far away from the road and not to feed themselves near a traffic congested area. The reason cranes fed themselves on fallen rice grains in spite of the vehicular traffic interruption factor was that there was a high density of the fallen rice grains remaining at the area near a road.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.301-308
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• 2008

We conducted the survey about the avian fauna, population, community and correlation between avian population and densities of the fallen rice grain in Cheonsu reclaimed area(Ganwol and Bunam Lake and reclaimed land) from Oct. 2006 to Mar. 2007. Total surveyed species number was 142 species, sum of maximum count of each species was 362,797 individuals, sum of average count of each species was 84,818 individuals. Comparing with early and late wintering season, number of species was stable in each survey time, but total population was decreased as the season progressed. Dominant species were Bean Geese Anser fabalis, Baikal Teals Anas formosa, White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons, Mallards Anas platyrhynchos and Pintails Anas acuta. Population fluctuation of the Bean Geese Anser fabalis, Baikal Teals Anas formosa, Mallards Anas platyrhynchos, PintailsAnas acuta was decreasing, but population of the White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons was stable. Number of species, total population were not significantly different among Ganwol, Bunam and Cheonsu Bay. Survey period was significantly correlated with species diversity and population in each area, and most community indices of each area were shown significant correlation. The density of the fallen rice grain was significantly different between the harvested rice paddy by big harvesting machine and small harvesting machine. Density of the fallen rice grain in stubble collected area was significantly different with area of stubble not collected. Density of the fallen rice grain was drastically decreased in the middle of wintering season, but not significantly different between Dec. 2006 and Feb. 2007. Avian population was strongly correlated with number of fallen rice grain in the same period.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.359-367
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: As natural wetlands are decreased by increment of human demand, the importance of rice fields as an alternative habitat for waterbirds is well documented. However, the relationship between waterbirds use and management practice of rice fields has not been fully understood. The present study attempted to understand the changes in temporal abundance of waterbirds and their preference for habitat types in rice fields all year round. METHODS AND RESULTS: Waterbirds census were conducted in rice fields around Asan bay in Korea during April 2009-March 2010 and April 2011-March 2012. In the bird counts, the locations of the observed birds on a 1/2,500 map were recorded along with the local habitat type (paddy, ditch, levee, road). Thirty five species of waterbirds recorded in the rice fields during the survey period and three major groups (shorebirds, herons, and waterfowls) were characterized according to season and micro-habitat use. Shorebirds visited a flooded paddy for feeding during their spring migration season (April-May), and herons used the rice field as feeding sites during their breeding periods (April-October). Most waterfowls were observed in a dry paddy to feed a fallen rice seed and stubs during the winter season (September-March). Waterbird groups selectively used micro-habitats in rice field. Shorebirds and waterfowls mainly preferred at rice paddies, while herons were attracted to most habitat types. CONCLUSION(S): Rice fields supported various waterbirds all year round and waterbird communities using the rice fields were dramatically changed according to seasonal change of rice field condition.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.418-430
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• 2009

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the topography of land and vegetation and the preferred habitat of wintering cranes. Investigations were conducted twelve times in Cheorwon basin, South Korea, during two wintering seasons (12/2005 - 2/2006; 1/2007 - 2/2007). The density of rice grain in the middle of rice paddies was higher than that of the areas along the edge of rice paddies. However it was observed that red-naped cranes preferred to feed along the edges of rice paddies rather than to feed in the middle of the paddies. White-naped cranes, on the other hand, Preferred to feed in the middle of paddies. To be more specific, red-crowned cranes preferred feeding sites such as levees of the paddies or the areas where the level of the rice beds was comparatively more elevated. But the preference of the white-naped cranes turned out to be just the opposite. Another finding was that both red-naped cranes and white-naped cranes preferred concealed areas for their feeding site, and the frequency rate of their feeding in concealed areas has little to do with weather factors. This finding contradicts a widely accepted view that cranes prefer open spaces for their feeding site. Besides, red-crowned cranes, compared with white-naped cranes, preferred to feed in more concealed areas. The frequency rate of feeding in both concealed areas and non-concealed areas had little to do with the size of feeding flocks. There was no difference between a flock of fewer than five cranes and a flock of more than five cranes in terms of frequency rate of their feeding. In conclusion, the result of these investigations indicate that red-naped cranes comparatively prefer concealed areas for their feeding site, and white-naped cranes are less prone to them, and there is no direct connection between their preference of feeding site or frequency and the size of their flock. This is presumed to be the characteristics unique to their individual species.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.176-187
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• 2015

In this study, we hypothesized that the size of wintering crane population would change due to the climate factors. We assumed that wintering population size would differ by climate values in January, which is the coldest period in year. Especially, White-naped cranes were able to choose wintering site between Cheorwon and other alternative place where snow coverage had low influence, differing from Red crowned cranes. For this reason, we predicted the population size of White-naped cranes would fluctuate according to the extent of snow coverage in Cheorwon. Therefore we used snow coverage data based on MODIS and climate data from KMA (Korea Meteorological Administration) that are generally used. We analyzed the crane's population size in Cheorwon in January from 2002 to 2014. The temperature in the Cheorwon increased from 2002 to wintering period in 2007~ 2008 and went down, showing the lowest temperature in 2011~ 2012. With this phenomenon, warmth index showed the similar pattern with temperature. Amount of newly accumulated snow (the amount of snow that fallen from 0:01 am to 11:29 pm in a day) was low after 2002, but rapidly increased in 2010~ 2011 and 2011~ 2012. The area of snow coverage rapidly declined from 2002 to 2005~ 2006 but suddenly expanded in wintering period in 2009~ 2010 and 2010~ 2011. Wintering population size of the White-naped cranes decreased as snow coverage area increased in January and the highest correlation was found between them, compared to the other climatic factors. However, the number of individuals of Red crowned cranes had little relationship with general climate factors including snow cover range. Therefore it seems that population size of the Red crowned crane varied by factors related with habitat selection such as secure roosting site and area of foraging place, not by climatic factors. In multiple regression analysis, wintering population of White-naped cranes showed significant relationship with logarithmic value of snow cover range and its period. Therefore, it suggests that the population size of the White-naped crane was affected by snow cover range n wintering period and this was because it was hard for them to find out rice grains which are their main food items, buried in snow cover. The population size variation in White-naped cranes was caused by some individuals which left Cheorwon for Izumi where snow cover had little influence on them. The wintering population in Izumi and Cheorwon had negative correlation, implying they were mutually related.