• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.91-96
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• 2003

To monitor the heavy metal exposure conditions of Feral Pigeons Columba livia, we collected them at commercial area, industrial area, park area and resident area in Seoul. In feathers, iron concentrations were significantly different among habitats(ANOVA, p<0.05), and were the highest at park area. Manganese concentrations were relatively higher at industrial and park area than other areas(ANOVA, p<0.05). In case of copper levels were the significantly highest at park area(ANOVA, p<0.05). Zinc, lead and cadmium had no difference among habitats. Correlation between livers and feathers concentrations were highly significant to copper(r²=0.983, p<0.01) and cadmium(r²=0.632, p<0.01), but iron, zinc, manganese and lead were not significantly different.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.303-307
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• 2001

Some Feral Pigeons Columba livia were collected in commercial, industrial, park and resident areas of Seoul and heavy metal concentrations in their liver, kidney, bone and muscle tissues were measured to compare the levels of exposure by habitats. Statistical analyses showed some differences in the levels of heavy metals among these habitats. The levels of iron in liver and zinc in kidney were lower in resident area than in the other ones. Manganese and copper levels in all tissues were the highest in industrial area and park area, respectively. Lead bone level in resident area was the lowest, while that in commercial area was the highest. Cadmium level in kidney was higher in park area than in the other areas. Of these results, the levels of iron, zinc and lead in some tissues were related to traffic density in each habitats.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.502-513
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• 2016

In this study, heavy metal distributions in the tissues of feral pigeon (Columba livia) were characterized using samples collected from bio-monitoring sites (Hangang Park and Hampyeong Park) of the NESB (National Environmental Specimen Bank), Korea, in order to evaluate the feasibility of feral pigeons as an indicator for the environmental monitoring. Cadmium (Cd) was analyzed to be accumulated in kidneys at higher concentration than in the other tissues. Such trend can also be found in the reviews on the Cd accumulations of the 34 cases including 17 avian species which showed that 31 cases had the highest Cd concentrations in the kidney among tissues. However, lead (Pb) was found to be richest in the bones in this study. 17 cases out of 30 reviewed cases had the highest Pb concentration in bones, whereas other 10 cases showed the highest concentration in kidneys, and 3 cases in livers. Therefore, kidneys together with bones can be a main target organ to test cadmium exposure to different habitat environments depending on physiological traits of birds. Zinc (Zn) was found to be the highest concentration in the pigeon livers of Hangang Park, but not in the bones. In contrast, the 13 cases of 16 reviewed cases had the highest Zn concentration in bones, and the 3 cases in livers. In addition, the heavy metal distribution patterns in relations to the metal accumulation mechanisms (a competition between Pb and Ca, a function of methallothionein protein, and etc.) were discussed.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.561-577
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• 2015

The heavy metal accumulations of avian eggshells were studied in order to test a feral pigeon (Columba livia)'s eggshell as an indicator for the environmental monitoring of pollutants. The reviews on the eggs of the different 19 avian species showed that it is the eggshell rather than the egg content that can better reflect the heavy metals in the environment; in most cases the CVs (coefficients of variations) of the heavy metal concentrations in the eggshells were higher than those in the egg contents. This can indicate that the heavy metal accumulations are homeostatically controlled in the egg contents, but the accumulations in the eggshells are varied according to the environmental conditions. To test the reviews, the feral pigeon eggs from the two different sites, one representing urban and the other rural environment, were analyzed for lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). The result showed that the eggshells of the urban pigeons (Hangang) had the higher metal concentrations than those of the rural pigeons (Hampyeong). The same difference can also be found in the internal organs (liver, bone) and blood. However, the analyses of the egg contents between the two sites did not reveal the differences. In other words, the result suggests that the feral pigeons, like the other avian species, are able to control the heavy metals into the egg contents homeostatically. Therefore, it is more useful to use the feral pigeon eggshell rather than the egg content in case of monitoring heavy metals in different habitats.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.492-504
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• 2014

Feral pigeon (Columba livia) has been known as a good indicator for accumulations of chemical pollutants in urban areas. However, it is against the animal rights to kill the indicator species in order to monitor pollutants accumulations in wild birds. Eggs and feathers of birds, therefore, have been used as non-invasive monitoring materials. Even though eggs are a good indicator for accumulations of lipophilic pollutants, but unsuitable for some heavy metals such as lead and cadmium because bird's ovary builds a sort of barrier to inhibit higher accumulations of some heavy metals in the eggs. Therefore, feathers instead of eggs have been used as a non-invasive indicator for accumulations of heavy metals. However, there are few studies of heavy metal accumulations of feral pigeon in Korea. In this study, we characterized the characteristics of heavy metal accumulations of feathers in relation to internal organs (bloods, viscera and bones) in feral pigeons between two sites (Hangang Park representing urban area and Hampyeong Park for rural area). The samples from the Hangang Park showed significantly higher lead (Pb) concentrations in the blood, liver and bone than those from Hampyeong Park. The Pb concentration in the feathers was also significantly higher at Hangang Park than at Hampyeong Park. The analytical result for the breast, wing and tail feathers, and the internal organs (blood, lung, liver, kidney and bone) indicated that the Pb concentrations in the feathers were significantly positively correlated with the levels in the kidney and bone. Overall, feathers of feral pigeon may be candidate for bioindicator to monitor for Pb accumulations in urban areas.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2010

This study was conducted from April, 2002 to March 2006, using three urban streams(Gap Stream, Yudeung Stream and Daejeon Stream) in Daejeon Metropolitan City. 12,027 individual birds summed by the peak count in 126 species, 34 families, and 13 orders were observed from three stream sites. Dominant species were of Anas poecilorhyncha, Anas crecca, Columba livia, Passer montanus, and Egretta garzetta(in that order). The groups of birds were classified into six types. The most frequent group were the arbor birds(54 species), while the smallest group was the diving ducks(7 species). As for the number of individuals, the shrub bird group had 721 individuals while the dabbling ducks observed had 4,974 individuals. Regarding the distribution of birds appeareing in each stream, 14,885 individual numbers in 114 species were observed at Gap Stream, 6,642 individuals in 90 species at Yudeung Stream and 4,202 individuals in 69 species at Daejeon Stream. Various indices of the birds were analyzed with respects to the similarities between streams. Gap Stream had similar characteristics to Yudeung Stream, and the latter was similar to Daejeon Stream. However, Gap Stream and Daejeon Stream showed different characteristics. The dominance index of each section was calculated using ten dominant bird species top-down. Subsequently, the birds and their preferred environment were analyzed. The results showed that shrub birds and arbor birds preferred the upper stream of every stream, while herons and dabbling ducks inhabited the midstream. Dabbling ducks and some diving ducks appeared downstream.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the avifauna and to suggest the management discipline for the protection of bird community in Odaesan National Park. Field survey was carried over 2 main trails by line transect method from mid June to early December in 1996. The 1st section included the area from Woljongas to Sangwonsa 7km distance. The 2nd section survey started from Sangwonsa via Bukdaesa and the summit of Odaesan to Sangwonsa 9.8 km distance. The study results were as follows ; The observed birds belonged to 9 orders 22families 52species, they also had Black Woodpecker(Dryocopus martius)designated as natural monument No. 242, Chinese Sparrow Hawk(Accipiter soloensis) and Kestrel(Falco tinnunculus) as natural munumet No. 323, Scops Owl(Out scops)and Korean Wood Owl(Strix aluco) as No. 324. These birds also were classified into 25 species for residents, 16 species for summer visitors, 8 species for passage migrants, 3 species for winter visitors, respectionely. The 2nd section showed a high species richness and individuals in every season, however, had a difference in species composition with 1st section. Nesting guild of breeding bird community used highly in order of bush, hole, and canopy as a nest resources. It is suggested that high bush-nesting guild had a deep relationship with bush layer located in the ecotone of 1st section and that located in the high elevated zone in 2nd section. Hole-nesting guild such as Black Woodpecker(Dryocopus martius), Gray-headed Woodpecker(Picus canus) and Great Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocopos major) were surveyed only in 2nd section, so it could be attribute to the small fragmentation and the growing of high diameter at breast height(D.B.H) tree in 2nd section. It is urgent that the management of camping ground and people for the conservation of brook in 1nd section, trail protection for the prevention from trail enlargement in 2nd section for the bird protection. Artificial food in snowy winter will provide the good breeding condition with the residents and migrants. And, the endeavor to lessen the habitat fragmentation will be beneficial to the birds who have a large home range such as Black Woodpecker(Dryocopus martius) and Korean Wood Owl(Strix aluco). For the control of Domestic Dove(Columba livia) populations, it could be recommended that the elimination of their nesting resources by net.