• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.341-346
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• 2007

Nest density was determined and tree and soil characteristics around Nycticorax nycticorax breeding sites and non-breeding sites on Bamsum Island in Seoul were analyzed from May 2005 to October 2006 to identify breeding site preferences of N. nycticorax and the effects of N. nycticorax nesting density on nesting tree structure and soil characteristics. N. nycticorax preferred trees of low height ($3.5{\sim}6$ m) and small diameter at breast height in high density Salix communities. Excrement of heron juveniles was dropped on the soil under the nests. The soil nutrient content under nests (P: 126.0 mg/kg, N: 202.8 mg/kg, EC: 549 ${\mu}S/cm$, pH 4.7) was much higher than that of control soils from Bamsum Island not enriched by heron excrement (P: 41.5 mg/kg, N: 42.0 mg/kg, EC: 342 ${\mu}S/cm$, pH 5.1). Formation of Salix communities on the shores of Bamsum Island is ongoing, and their structure has been directly influenced by annual flooding. After flooding, the nutrient content differences between heron-affected soils and control soils were not significant. This might be the reason that Salix communities on Bamsum were not affected by nesting herons as in other terrestrial communities where herons nest. This result indicates that flooding plays an important role in sustaining Salix communities on Bamsum Island where herons nest. The results of this study may increase understanding of N. nycticorax breeding behavior which may be useful for conservation planning.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.1
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• pp.83-87
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• 2008

This study was conducted to clarify the use of artificial nest boxes of tits in coniferous and deciduous forests from March to June 2006 and 2007. Tree species richness, tree species diversity and total basal area were higher in deciduous forest than in coniferous forest. Except the bush-ground layer (<1 m), the other vertical layers were more developed in deciduous forest. Varied tit Parus varius, marsh tit P. palustris, coal tit P. ater and major tit P. major used the artificial nest boxes in this study. Number of breeding pairs of tits were higher in deciduous than in coniferous forest. Clutch size, brood size and breeding success of coal tits were higher in coniferous forest. Brood size and breeding success of major tits were higher in deciduous forest. Characteristics of habitat and niche partition would be influenced on tits' use of artificial nest boxes. The more detailed researches on artificial nest boxes would be needed for management and conservation of birds.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2017

This study was conducted to identify nesting habits and breeding biology of barn swallow in Gwangju, Korea, for the breeding season 2012 to 2014. All nests were attached to vertical walls and roofs of buildings and situated at mean height $2.9{\pm}0.3m$ above ground with nest diameter $18.2{\pm}3.2cm$, nest depth $9.8{\pm}3.1cm$, nest cup diameter $11.2{\pm}1.5cm$ and nest cup depth $3.27{\pm}0.80cm$. Nests were attached to cemented walls (44.9%), wooden materials (23.1%), bricks (21.8%) and lighting (6.4%). The average clutch size was 4.5 and ranged 2~5. Mean egg length was $18.23{\pm}0.73mm$, breadth $13.11{\pm}0.25mm$, volume $1.60{\pm}0.11cm^3$, shape index $1.39{\pm}0.05$ and weight $1.69{\pm}0.15g$. Hatching and fledgling success rate were 89.1% and 84.5%. Main causes for reproductive failures were unhatched eggs, predation, nest destruction and desertion. These results are expected to be widely used as data for habitat preservation and species management of barn swallows.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2018

Only the habitat characteristics and breeding status of Paridae have been studied, in addition to the lack of research on Parus varius varius, there is no study on the home-range in the post fledging period. This study was analyzed the home-range size of Parus varius varius in the post fledging period. The survey was conducted in the site located in Dankook Univ. Cheonan Campus(Middle Chungcheong Province). We captured five newborn Parus varius varius using artificial nest was installed before. Radio-tracking was carried out for analysis of home-range, and MCP (Minimum Convex Polygon) was used for analysis. We analyzed 1 individual tracked 15 days (VT5) and 4 individuals which missing radio-tracking transmitter within 3 days (VT1~VT4). Home-range of VT5 gradually increased to 1,38ha, 1.42ha, 2.14ha in the order of early, middle, late period. On the other hand, moving distance was decreased to 174.558m 125.129m, 120.180m. Home-range of V1~VT4 was estimated as 0.81ha which was 75.3% share of home-range of VT5 in early period. As the result it was found that home-range is formed far apart from artificial nest that has been influenced by human being interference, thereafter gradually adapting to interference and spreading close to artificial nest. through this research, we can construct basic ecological data for protecting habitat of Parus varius varius and increasing life rate. As first radio-tracking study of Parus varius varius home-range in the post fledging period, it is expected to be useful for the future study of home-range.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.850-857
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• 2015

This study was aimed to identify the characteristics of nest and breeding site conditions of Chinese Egret (Egretta europhotes) that breed in the uninhabited islets of the western coast of South Korea. It is expected that the information collected through this study can contribute to providing basic information required when building and managing artificial nests in their natural breeding habitats. Chinese Egrets make their nests in the shrub layers of Long Leaf Elaeagnus (Elaeagnus macrophylla), Arrow Bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica), and Baby Brier (Rosa multiflora). A total of 50 breeding nests of Chinese Egret were investigated in June and July 2013, with area-wise distribution as follows: Seomando (11 nests), Hwangseodo (14 nests), Mokdo (10 nests), and Napdaekiseom (15 nests). Vegetation coverage (cover, %), height from the ground to the top (height, cm), thickness from top to bottom of the nest (thickness, cm), reuse period, major axis (cm), minor axis (cm), and depth (cm) of each nest were measured. According to the results of the study on the nest characteristics of 4 breeding groups, the nests in Hwangseodo had the highest coverage, the nests in Mokdo were built in the highest places, the nests in Napdaekiseom showed the longest reuse period, and the nests in Mokdo had the greatest depth. The differences in height and reuse period were significant between Mokdo and Napdaekiseom. Moreover, there were significant differences in reuse period and depth between Seomando and Hwangseodo. There were significant differences in cover, minor axis, and depth between breeding groups that built nests on Arrow Bamboo (Mokdo and Napdaekiseom) and Baby Brier (Seomando and Hwangseodo). Nest characteristics of Chinese Egret were generally similar, while some variables showed different values for different breeding groups.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.528-534
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• 2009

Styan's Grasshopper Warblers (Locustella pleskei) are vulnerable species distributed in East-Asia only. Its known breeding sites in Korea are remote islets including Hongdo Islet, Chilbal Islet, Mara Islet, and Chuja Islets, and, therefore, the breeding biology of this species is still poorly known. This study was conducted on Mara Islet (N $33^{\circ}$ 06', E $126^{\circ}$ 16') from May to September 2008 to investigate the breeding status and breeding site characteristics of the grasshopper warblers. A total of 11 breeding pairs and their nests were found on trees and shrubs at artificially planted forests and hedges of Pinus thunbergii. The grasshopper warblers preferentially utilized the shrub trees for nesting places, and major nesting trees were Camellia japonica, Pittosporum tobira and Pinus thunbergii as nesting trees. Average heights of nesting trees and nests were $2.77{\pm}1.10m$ and $1.75{\pm}0.56m$, respectively. The grasshopper warblers selected lower shrubs and trees for nesting than randomly selected ones around them, probably to avoid strong and prevailed winds in flat and un vegetated environments on Mara Islet. The shape of nests was a round bowl-type, and measurements of nests were $11.9{\pm}0.5cm$ in exterior nest diameter, $11.1{\pm}1.1cm$ in height of exterior nest, $5.8{\pm}0.4cm$ in interior nest depth, and 6.0cm in interior nest diameter. It incubated eggs until the early August on Mara islet, and incubation periods of Mara Islet was possibly later than that of other areas. Furthermore, the clutch size in the study area was three, and they laid smaller number of eggs than normal clutch size (4~5 eggs) reported in other areas. Although we could not observe any nest predator on this species in the study area, selective cutting and pruning of trees will diminish dense shrub layer of forests. Therefore, it may affect the breeding of this threatened species which prefers dense shrubs of artificially planted forest of Pinus thunbergii. This study suggests that detailed and consistent further research on breeding biology and habitats of the grasshopper warblers are needed to conserve and manage of Pinus thunbergii forests on Mara Islet as an important breeding site of Styan's Grasshopper Warblers.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.15 no.1 s.26
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• pp.7-16
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• 1976

In order to increase utility efficiency of red wood ants, Formica rufa truncicola var. yessonesis Forel as a resource of natural enemy of pine caterpillar, Dendrolimus spectabilis Butler, by finding out ecological and environmental factors in the habitat of red wood ants, the nest distribution and its density in habitat, plant distribution and density, stand-density of red pine, nest building and fixing plants, relative humidity of surface soil, physical and chemical natures of soil, and breeding rate were examined. The obtained results are summarized as follows: 1. The nest of red wood ants was densely distributed, in the lower-and middle top of mountain but no nest was found in the top. 2. The economical distribution of nest of habitat was estimated as $2.85/m^2$ and the lowest density as $1.93/m^2$ and these estimation lead us to confirm that pine caterpillar could be controlled. 3. The ecological characteristics of habitat seemed to be represented as higher stand-density of red pine of 10-20 years of age with large areas of eroded land under trees. The major grasses prevailing in this area were Andropogon brevifolius. Arundinella hirta, Miscanthus purpurasens, Eulia speciosa, Themeda japonica, Cymbopogon goeringii, and Eccoilpus cotulifer 4. Red wood ants seemed to build the nest by using red pine, Arundinella hirta, Miscanthus purpurascens, Themeda japonica or Cymbopogon goeringii as a fixing plant. 5. The limited point of humidity percent in habitat of red wood ants was estimated as $76\%$ during the acting period of May to September and as $72\%$ during pre-period of hibernation of October to November. 6. Soil analysis in habitating region showed higher concentration of organic matters and lower concentration of calcium and magnesium, and habitat was largely composed of silt and fine sand rather than coarse sand. 7. When the separated colony was transplanted to non-habitating red pine forest that seemed to have the similiar conditions as those of habitat, propagation and establishment of nest was possible.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2006

In Korea, a bibosoop is a type of village grove fostered to complement a weak part of the village from a Feng-Shui perspective. We examined the characteristics of bird communities in remaining bibosoops in two regions, Gyeonggi-do Province and Jeollanam-do Province. We surveyed patch preferences of birds at two landscapes in Gyeonggi-do Province. One contains a bibosoop with other rural landscape elements, and the other does not have a bibosoop. The two landscapes of Gyeonggi-do Province were similar to each other in the distribution of landscape elements. We observed that species richness was significantly higher at the site with a bibosoop, and that tits, Mandarian ducks, starlings, Eurasian scops owls, and woodpeckers utilized the bibosoop as a nesting site. Birds preferred the landscape with the bibosoop, and the internal movement of birds was significantly higher at the landscape with the bibosoop than at the other. The results suggest that bibosoops serve as a unique biotope that provides nest sites for cavity nesters, especially near nest-insufficient forests, and enhance the internal movements of birds among patches in the landscape.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.256-264
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• 2021

Rapid urbanization around the world has negatively affected wildlife habitats, including birds. Wild birds settled in the city are adapting to the changed surroundings, and are typically known to make nests using materials that are easy to find around the city. This study was conducted for the purpose of analyzing the nesting materials on the Paridae using artificial bird nests installed in cities. In this study, the researchers established a total of 33 artificial bird nests in urban parks (22) and forests (11) in Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do. Then we collected 4 artificial bird nests in urban parks (18.19%) and 5 in urban forests (45.46%) to compare the characteristics of bird nest materials by the nest, species, and urban green area types. Eight nests, excluding a nest abandoned by a pair of Paridae, were used for the material analysis. The collected nests were dried, and classified into natural materials (vegetable materials, animal materials, moss, and soil) and artificial materials (cotton, paper pieces, plastics, vinyl, and synthetic fibers), and then each nest was weighed. The classification result shows that the portion of moss (50.65%) was the highest in all nests, followed by soil (21.43%), artificial material (13.95%), vegetable material (5.78%), animal material (4.57%), and others (3.59%) in that order. Artificial materials were used in all nests in urban green areas. Moreover, although the Paridae used about 5.16% more vegetable material than the Parus varius, it was not significant (t=2.17, p=0.07). Plant materials and soil were most preferred in urban forests, and moss, animal, and artificial materials were widely used in that order in urban parks. There was a significant difference in the use of vegetable materials between urban parks and urban forests (t=3.07, p<0.05^*). In the habitats like urbanized and dry areas, where artificial materials are highly accessible, artificial materials replaced some roles of natural materials. This study is a basic study for the analysis of the types of materials used in artificial bird nests to understand the habitat system of urban ecosystems. It can be used as the basic data for ecological studies and conservation of the Paridae species.