• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.147-151
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• 2008

Feeding methods of five species of herons and egrets were studied in an agricultural landscape in Asan city, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea in 2006. Grey herons primarily hunted while standing, whereas great egrets fed while walking slowly. Two smaller species, little and cattle egrets, were active foragers, feeding both while walking quickly and walking slowly. Little egrets were the only species using the foot stirring method. The medium-sized heron, intermediate egrets, foraged mainly while walking slowly or leaning. For grey herons, great egrets and little egrets, the frequency of use of different feeding methods was different between habitats: these species used the leaning method more frequently in rice fields than in reservoirs and ditches. Also, most herons (all species other than great egrets) showed seasonal changes in their feeding methods that are related to changes in habitat condition.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the feeding efficiency of the cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) and the intermediate egret (Ardea intermedia) in relation to the stage of rice culture during two breeding seasons, 2006 and 2007, in Asan city, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea. Cattle egrets caught mainly small invertebrate prey (insects and spiders, 98.4%) during all stages of rice cultivation, and had a higher prey capture rate in the plowing stage (14.98 prey/min) than in other stages (2.82-3.51 prey/min). Therefore, the biomass intake rate of cattle egrets was highest in the plowing stage. The intermediate egret captured both loaches (43.4%) and small invertebrates (50.6%). The prey capture rates of intermediate egrets increased gradually from the flooding stage (0.38 prey/min) to the planting stage (1.09 prey/min), and decreased in the growing stage (1.04 prey/min). However, intermediate egrets had the highest biomass intake rates in the plowing stage because more loaches were caught in the plowing stage (0.54 loaches/min) than other stages (0.23-0.36 loaches/min). Consequently, both intermediate egrets and cattle egrets had high energy intakes in the plowing stage and rice fields provided an important feeding habitat for both species.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2007

We investigated the foraging habitat preferences of herons and egrets in an agricultural area in Asan city, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. In the study area, rice fields were the most abundant habitat type (86.8%) and total suitable feeding habitat was greater in the northern area (59.0%) than the southern area (22.5%) of the colony. Most feeding herons and egrets were located in the northern area of the colony. The number of feeding individuals in a given area was related to the available feeding area (Pearson correlation, r=0.773, p<0.001 for field habitats; r=0.901, p<0.001 for freshwater habitats). Feeding habitat preferences differed among species. Grey herons (Ardea cinerea), great egrets (Egretta alba), and black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) used reservoirs and ditches. However, intermediate egrets (E. intermedia) and cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) were dependent on rice fields. The little egret (E. garzetta) was a habitat generalist using all types of habitats. The two largest species, grey herons and great egrets, fed at deeper site than little egrets and foraged in deeper sites in reservoirs than in ditches (${\chi}^2-test,\;{\chi}^2{_3}=26.6$ and p<0.001 for grey herons, ${\chi}^2{_3}=17.5$ and p<0.001 for great egrets). All species displayed seasonal changes in feeding habitat use and these changes were related with changes in availability of feeding habitats.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.152-158
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• 2008

This survey was conducted to analyze the effect of road construction near the group breeding places of the egrets and herons located at Palhyun-ri, Daegu, on their breeding during four years from 2003 to 2006. With the number of the individuals of the whole egrets and herons have been decreased due to the three-year road construction work(2003-2005). When the road construction was temporally stopped in 2006, the number of individuals of egrets and herons except Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis increased and partocilarly, the Gray heron Ardea cinerea was found to have been influenced the most by this construction in comparison with other egrets and herons. The number od individuals of large egrets, little egrets and herons was found to decrease during the construction period. After cutting off the nest trees and removing some parts of the breeding site, the herons and egrets tended to move their nesting place from roadsides to the inside of the breeding area. Trees for the nests decreased due to the increase in fellen trees caused by bird nests per tree increased gradually. As for the formation ratio of trees for the nests, the ratio of pine trees lowered yearly while that of acacia and oak trees was increasing during the survey.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.47-50
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• 2007

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.129-131
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• 2016

Five eastern great egrets with a history of ataxia, wry neck, and wet feathers were submitted to the Veterinary Diagnostic Center for pathologic examination. Slightly enlarged livers with diffuse white-grayish nodules were observed. Microscopically, the hepatic and lung parenchyma contained granulomatous lesions consisting of central necrosis. Some hearts showed myofiber necrosis with infiltration of histiocytes and heterophils. Partial 16SrRNA and gyrB gene sequences of all isolates showed high similarities (99-100%) to those of Salmonella (S.) enterica subsp. enterica. Based on pathological and molecular biological results, S. enterica subsp. enterica systemic infections were diagnosed in eastern great egrets of Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 1991

We surveyed 12 migrating large egrets, Egretta alba modesta, for their infection status with intestinal trematodes, from June to September, 1990. All of them were infected with one or more flukes. Total 5 species were identified. Their infection rates and total numbers of worms were Metagonimus sp. 67% and 1, 412, Centrocestus armatus 67% and 2, 306, Echinochasmus japenicus 50% and 99, Strigea falconis 83% and 635, and a diplostomid cuke 33% and 36. The number of worms in a bird was in the range from 6 to 896. This is the first record that the egret is a reservoir host of Metagonimus sp., C. armatus, E. japonicus, and S. falconis. S. falconis is a new parasite fauna in Korea. Migrating birds must play an important role in the transmission and spreading of these intestinal trematodes in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.182-184
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• 2009

• 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 Wetlands Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.73-87
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• 2004

This study was carried out on Sihwa reclaimed area from January to December in 2003. We observed total 169,351 individuals of 70 species(22 species of waders, 9 species of egrets and 5 species of gulls). Waterbird population was the largest in March(95,465 individuals) and was the smallest from April to June(less than 7,000 individuals). The most dominant species was Pintail(Anas acuta: 58,627 individuals, 34.6%) and other species were Mallards(Anas platyrhynchos: 24.5%), Common Pochards(Aythya ferina: 13.8%), Black-tailed Gulls(Larus crassirostris: 6.1%), Spotbill Ducks(Anas poecilorhyncha: 5.0%) and Greater Scaups(Aythya marila: 2.69%). Sihwa reclaimed area supported many kinds of protected species such as Chinese egrets(Egretta eulophotes), Black-faced Spoonbills(Platalea minor), Eurasian Spoonbills(Platalea leucorodia), Mute Swans(Cygnus olor), Whooper Swans(Cygnus cygnus), and Eurasian Oystercatchers(Haematopus ostralegus). They foraged at waterside of Sihwa lake and rested at reclaimed area. Particularly, Eurasian Oystercatchers bred in habitats with Salicornia herbacea and Suaeda japonica. Reclamation of mud flats and construction of roads, transmission towers and tide embankments disturbed waterbirds in breeding and foraging. We suggest that waterbirds are protected in different action plans according to their status such as breeding, passaging and wintering birds. Maintaining of waterside and swamps in Sihwa reclaimed area will be useful for breeding waterbirds. It is needed to make a protect zone for ecological connecting belt from Oeji isarea, Hyeong isarea, Eum isarea to upper channel on Sihwa lake.