• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2009

Pre-dispersal seed predation by a granivorous bird, the masked grosbeak (Eophona personata, Fringillidae), was investigated in two bird-dispersed trees, Celtis sinensis and Aphananthe aspera (Ulmaceae). The objectives of this study were to 1) measure direct damage of predation by grosbeaks on plant crops, 2) reveal the temporal pattern of predation within each tree species and its causal factors, and 3) test whether foraging grosbeaks hinder foraging of frugivorous birds, thereby indirectly impacting the reproduction of both tree species. A substantial amount of fruit and seed crop was consumed by grosbeaks (24.3% in Celtis; 55.5% in Aphananthe), and only 17.7% (Celtis) and 16.7% (Aphananthe) were removed by frugivorous birds. At the study site, the grosbeak population size fluctuated greatly during the fruiting seasons of both plant species. As for Celtis, predated seed density also fluctuated temporally, and the local population size of grosbeaks was responsible for predated seed density. In Aphananthe, predation was not fully explained by grosbeak populations or plant phenology, but its peak coincided with that of grosbeak population. These results suggest that predispersal seed predation by granivorous birds can have large negative impacts on the bird-dispersed plants. Changes in local population size of granivorous birds can influence predatation and can affect reproductive success of the bird-dispersed plants available to the birds.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.7-18
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• 2015

Purpose - This study integrates a corporate competition system with a bird predation system to examine how organizational strategic adjustment capacity influences firm performance. By proving the prominent effects on performance, a financial vector is constructed to represent corporate strategic adjustment results, and an operation capacity vector is constructed, which can be categorized as a parameter for locating birds. All these works help us to propose a new method of investment, the portfolio decision model based on the strategic adjustment capacity. Research design, data, and methodology - Strategic adjustment capacity can be decomposed into three aspects: the organizational learning capacity from the top firms, the extent to which firms maintainor rely on the best operational capacity vector in history, and the ability to eliminate the disadvantages or retain the advantages of the operation capacity vector from the previous year. The method of solving cyclic equations is designed to evaluate strategic adjustment. Firms manufacturing specialized equipment are chosen to test the effects of the strategic adjustment capacity on three aspects of firm performance. Results - There is a positive correlation between the capacity to learn from the best firms and performance improvement. The relationship between the dependence or maintenance of a firm's advantages and performance improvement is a U-shape curve, and there is no significant effect of inertial control on performance improvement. Conclusions - A firm's competition system is a sophisticated adaptation, and competitive advantage and performance can be investigated based on the principles of competition in nature.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2017

We investigate predation rates of larvae and juveniles of Rana catesbeiana by using six native predatory fishes and six birds to select effective species to ecological control and management of R. catesbeiana that is invasive alien species and affects seriously wetland in Korea. Among freshwater fishes, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco, Silurus asotus and Channa argus ate larvae and juveniles of R. catesbeiana, and prefer the former, however Opsariichthys uncirostris, Monopterus albus and Anguilla japonica didn't eat at all. Six experimental water birds, Cygnus columbianus, Cygnus cygnus, Anas crecca, Aix galericulata, Anas penelope and Anas formosa nerver ate them. We were able to confirm control of R. catesbeiana probability using the native predatory fishes in Korea wetland.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1447-1453
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• 2014

The differentiation of sex is important for species preservation. However, Fairy Pitta is sexually monomorphic and sex of an individual is indistinguishable with its external characteristics. We determined the sex of Fairy Pitta through DNA analysis and investigated the causes and time of injury and mortality and the size based on sex. We collected 21 samples at Jeju Island, Korean Peninsula from 2004 to 2013 and extracted DNA from them and amplified chromo helicase DNA-binding gene from Z and W chromosomes through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). We confirmed their sex with the banding pattern through Agarose gel electrophoresis, i.e. male (ZZ): one banded and female (ZW) two banded. We distinguished the sex of 17 of 21 samples resulting in 9 males and 8 females. Most casualties were recorded in adult of both sexes. Causes of injury and mortality proved that female casualties occurred from window strikes, dehydration, car accident, predation by natural enemies, and male occurred from window strikes, car accident and dehydration. The time of injury and mortality in adults differ by sex. There was no difference between sexes in any of the six size parameters. As the time of injury and mortality differ by sex, the survey on the role and ecological nature by sex in breeding season must be carried out in the future. External measurements may not be reliable for sexing of Fairy Pitta and other traits such as vocal or characteristics are required to identify the sex of individuals in the field.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.256-260
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• 2018

Cannibalism is a widely observed phenomenon in the animal kingdom. However, it is rarely found among birds outside nests in the wild because it occurs irregularly and it is almost impossible to monitor animal behavior constantly. On 17 January 2017, this behavior was directly observed from a group of vultures feeding on a conspecific in a paddy field near Lake Geumho in Haenam-gun ($34^{\circ}35^{\prime}58.25^{{\prime}{\prime}}N$, $126^{\circ}26^{\prime}57.64^{{\prime}{\prime}}E$). It was observed and recorded with the binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens in a car approximately 20 m (or 60 m) away from the site. The observer approached the feeding site after the last vulture had finished feeding and flown away and found remains of a vulture, including body feathers, skull, sterna keel, and both legs. It was the first report of cannibalism in Cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus in its overwintering grounds. The remaining skeleton was very fleshy, and the surrounding grass was wet with the blood of vulture. No other traces of a mammal or bird that could have been the vultures' prey were found. This report provides a detailed account of the events related to this rare observation and the causes that might have led to it.