• Title/Summary/Keyword: Predation

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Effectiveness and Ecological Implications of Anuran Defenses against Snake Predators

  • In-Ho Choi;Sung Ho Lee;Robert E. Ricklefs
    • Animal cells and systems
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    • v.3 no.3
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    • pp.247-252
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    • 1999
  • The aim of this study was to characterize antipredator tactics of anurans and to evaluate the effectiveness of these tactics for predator avoidance in real confrontations. Two types of experiments were conducted. In one experiment, one predator and one prey were placed together for one hour in a small confined space (one-to-one interaction). In another experiment, one predator and several prey were placed together for one day in a large enclosure in a field (field-based interaction). The prey consisted of three anuran species, Rana nigromaculata, R. rugosa, and Bombina orientalls: a snake species, Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus, was used as a predator. Results of both experiments demonstrated a range in antipredator responses of the frogs, from toxicity and warning coloration, coupled with slow responses in Bombina to little (or only slight) toxicity, crypsis, and fast take-off responses to the predator in the ranids. oth ranid species exhibited lower survival(57%) than Bombina (95%) in the field-based interaction, suggesting that motor responses of the palatable prey due to attacks of the predator ultimately limited their survival. The jumping of the ranids increased the activity of the predator, which became more likely to strike. Simple crouching(seen in R. rugosa and B. orientalis) and chemical defense (in Bombina) reduced predatory attacks.

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Mediation of Gene Flow in Tropical Trees of Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Onokpise, Oghenekome U.;Akinyele, Adejoke O.
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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    • v.28 no.1
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    • pp.1-7
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    • 2012
  • Tropical forests whether fragmented or undisturbed or be they equatorial or deciduous, remain the storehouse of biodiversity for hundreds of thousands of plant and animal species. This unique characteristic continues to attract a wide range of scientists and international organizations to study and attempt to understand tropical forest ecosystems. Gene flow is mediated by pollen, seed and seedling dispersal, and factors affecting this gene flow include phenology, spatial distribution, population structures, seed predation, sexual and mating systems as well as physical and biological barriers to gene flow. Two methods are used in measuring gene flow: direct method that relies on the actual observation of seed and pollen dispersal, whereas indirect methods involve the use of genetic markers such as allozymes and DNA techniques. Political strife, extreme natural and artificial disasters, the lack of a comprehensive forestry research vision, coupled with difficult socio-economic conditions in Africa have made the environment quite difficult for sustained research activities on the part of those undertaking or wishing to undertake such studies. Gene flow studies in this region are few and far between. This review elaborates on the mechanisms of gene flow mediation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The characteristic of photosynthetic pigments distribution of the sediment in the shellfish farm (패류 양식장 퇴적물의 광합성색소 분포 특성)

  • Kim, Sook-Yang;Choi, Minkyu;Hwang, Dong-Woon;Lee, In-Seok
    • The Korean Journal of Malacology
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.291-301
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    • 2013
  • This study researched and compared the sedimentation environment and photosynthetic pigments at Gomso (GS) -bay, Yoja (YJ) -bay and KangJin (KJ) -bay in May, 2012. It was shown that KJ-bay consist of C (clay) and M (mud), and GS-bay consists of Zs (silty sand) and Sz (sandy silt). Averagely, IL of YJ-bay was 4.98%, KJ-bay 6.10%, and GS-bay 1.45%. As for COD concentration, there were no places that exceeded Japanese sediment contamination standard 20 mg/g-dry. As for AVS concentration, in case of KJ-bay, two places exceeded Japanese sediment contamination standard 0.2 mg/g-dry. If we look into the average C/N ratio of bays, YJ-bay showed 8.50, KJ-bay 6.60, and GS-bay 5.52, thus all of them showed the characteristic of oceanic origin. As for the plankton make-up classified by photosynthetic pigments, diatom was dominant, and both ratios of pigment and C/chlorophyll. a showed the relatively lower distribution at GS-bay than at KJ-bay and YJ-bay. It is judged that this is related to the characteristic of flow-in, and it implies that predation process and decomposition by organic matters actively occurs at YJ-bay and KJ-bay.

Clutch Size and Breeding Success of Black-tailed Gulls (Larus crassirostris) at Hongdo Island, Southeast Coast of South Korea (남해 연안의 홍도에서 집단 번식하는 괭이갈매기의 한배 알 수와 번식 성공률)

  • Kwon, Young-Soo;Lee, Who-Seung;Yoo, Jeong-Chil
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.201-207
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    • 2006
  • We studied variation in clutch size, hatching, fledging and breeding success of the Black-tailed Gull (larus crassirostris) at Hongdo Island, which supported the largest breeding colony of the species, in South Korea in 1997 and 2000 to 2003. Cluck size was recorded in 1,388 nests and breeding success was estimated in 83 nests. Mean clutch size was 1.89 t 0.65. A total of 63.9% of the eggs hatched and 53.5% of the chicks survived until fledged. Breeding success was 34.2%. Causes of breeding failure were eggs missing (14.9%), rotten eggs (15.5%) and predation (2.4%) during the incubation period and chicks missing(35.8%), starvation (7.4%) and pecked chicks (3.2%) during the chick rearing period. In 2002, the main causes of breeding failure were eggs missing (17.2%) and rotten eggs (6.9%) during the incubation period and missing chicks (15.5%), starvation (3.5%) and pecked chicks (6.9%) during the chick rearing period. Most chick mortality occurred within three days after hatching.

Distribution and attachment characteristics of Sida crystallina (O.F. Müller, 1776) in lentic freshwater ecosystems of South Korea

  • Choi, Jong-Yun;Jeong, Kwang-Seuk;Kim, Seong-Ki;Son, Se-Hwan;Joo, Gea-Jae
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.40 no.1
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    • pp.45-54
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    • 2016
  • Background: Macrophytes are commonly utilised as habitat by epiphytic species; thus, complex macrophyte structures can support high diversities and abundances of epiphytic species. We tested the hypothesis that the presence of aquatic macrophytes is an important factor determining Sida crystallina (O.F. Muller, 1776) distribution. Results: An ecological survey was conducted in 147 lentic freshwater bodies. S. crystallina was frequently observed, and its density was strongly associated with macrophyte abundance. S. crystallina was found on emergent plant species such as Phragmites australis and Paspalum distichum, attached to the stem surfaces by adhesive substances secreted by the nuchal organ. Thus, S. crystallina was more strongly attached to macrophytes than to other epiphytic cladoceran species. We found higher densities of S. crystallina in filtered water with increased macrophyte shaking effort (i.e. 10, 20, 40, or 80 times). S. crystallina attachment was not related to fish predation. Stable isotope analysis showed that S. crystallina utilises epiphytic organic matter (EOM) on macrophytes as a food source. Conclusions: Consequently, S. crystallina seems to have a strong association with species-specific macrophyte biomass than with other cladoceran species, which may contribute to this species' predominance in various freshwater ecosystems where macrophytes are abundant.

Breeding Status and Ecology of Saunders' Gulls (Larus saundersi) in Songdo Reclaimed Land, West Coast of Korea (서해안 송도매립지에서 번식하는 검은머리갈매기의 현황과 번식생태)

  • Kwon, Young-Soo;Chung, Hoon
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.31 no.3
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    • pp.277-282
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    • 2009
  • Saunders' gulls (Laurs saundersi) which are listed as globally vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List are distributed in East Asia and breed mainly in China and Korea. Their population is estimated to be between 7,100 to 9,600. Songdo reclaimed lands in the western coast of South Korea are the main breeding sites for these species. However, most of these breeding sites have been seriously disturbed in the last several years because of new urban development constructions. This study was conducted to provide baseline data on the breeding ecology of Saunders' gulls. Since 1998, the breeding population has rapidly increased in South Korea, with the number of nests rising from 85 nests in 2000 to 185 nests in 2005. Egg volume is more variable than breadth or length. Clutch size, hatching and breeding success were $2.9{\pm}0.81$ (n=182, mean$\pm$sd.), 48.07% (75 hatched egg/156 eggs) and 29.08% (155 fledglings/533 eggs), respectively. Factors affecting breeding failure were predation, rainfall, starvation and supernormal clutches. These results are provided along with other cited literature to argue for conservation of Saunders' gulls.

Abundances and Species Composition of Microzooplankton during Summer in Kwangyang Bay, Korea (여름철 광양만 소형동물플랑크톤의 출현량과 종조성)

  • CHA Seong-Sig;PARK Kwang-Jae
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.33 no.4
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    • pp.361-366
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    • 2000
  • To study the abundances and species composition of microzooplankton during summer, microzooplankton were sampled fortnightly from 22 May to 3 August in Kwangyang Bay, Korea, The dominant species were Tintinnopsis spp. and Coaonellopsis sp. of tintinnids, and eggs and nauplii of copepods, They occupied $83.8{\%}$ of the total microzooplankton. The abundance of microzooplankton on 22 May was $374.6 ind./l$. It increased to 1,276.0 ind./l and 1,234.9 ind./l in June, and then reduced to $528.2{\~}609.8 ind./l$ in July and August. The abundances and species composition of microzooplankton were affected by the predation of fish larvae.

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Use of Dactylaria brochopaga, a Predacious Fungus, for Managing Root-Knot Disease of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Caused by Meloidogyne graminicola

  • Kumar, Niranjan;Singh, K.P.
    • Mycobiology
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    • v.39 no.2
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    • pp.113-117
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    • 2011
  • A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the induction of constricting rings and test predation of Dactylaria brochopaga isolates against second stage juveniles (J2s) of Meloidogyne graminicola. Among the five fungal isolates, isolate D showed the greatest number of predatory rings and, consequently, trapped the maximum number of M. graminicola J2s in dual cultures. Another pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of D. brochopaga (isolate D) on the management of wheat root-knot disease. Applying a mass culture (10 g/pot) and a spore suspension of the fungus with and without cow dung manure to soil infested with 2,000 M. graminicola juveniles significantly improved plant height, root length, weights of shoots, roots, panicles and grains per hill compared to those in the control. Moreover, the fungus significantly reduced the number of root-knots, the number of egg masses, juveniles, and females per hill compared to those in the control. Bio-efficacy of the fungus was heightened when the mass culture and a spore suspensions were used in combination with cow dung manure to improve the plant growth parameters and reduce the number of root-knot and reproductive factors. Further investigations should be conducted to identify the impact of this fungus in the field.

Effectiveness of egg-nymphal predation by a mirid bug, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis REUTER, for control of the brown planthopper (벼멸구(Nilaparrata lugens STAL)의 란 및 유추에 대한 장님 노린재 일종(Cyrtorhinus lividipennis REUTER)의 포식효과)

  • Bae S. H.;Pathak M. D.
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.5_6
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    • pp.55-58
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    • 1968
  • 본시험은 1966년 필리핀에 있는 국제수도연구소에서 벼멸구의 생태에 관한 시험을 위하여 벼멸구를 대량으로 집단접종사육하여 오딘 중 cage내 갑자기 벼멸구의 밀도가 줄고 장님노린재가 무수히 번식되고 있는 것을 관찰한 후 Hawaii에 있는 Bishop Museum, Dr. ASHLOCK 씨에이 장님노린재에 대한 동정을 의뢰함과 동시에 벼멸구에 대한 포식성을 조사한 결과 벼멸구의 포식식능력은 장님노린재를 산난된 도엽에 접종하였을 때 5일후 포식난율이 $69.1\%$인대 대하여 벼멸구 고충에 대하여서는 접종 1일 후$61.4\%$, 2일 후 $76.2\%$, 3일 후 $91.0\%$ 4일 후 $93.3\%$의 포식률로서 매우 놀라운 포식능력을 보여주었다. 이 장님노린채는 벼멸구뿐만 아니라 다른 멸구류의 밀도를 제압할 수 있기 때문에 단장조건하에서는 벼멸구류의 피해를 미연에 경감시킬 수 있는 유리한 천적이라고 생각되며, 금후 이의 실제적인 이용면에 대한 연구가 기대된다.

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The mechanisms leading to ontogenetic diet shift in a microcanivore, Pterogobius elapoides(Gobiidae)

  • Choi, Seung-Ho;Suk, Ho-Young
    • Animal cells and systems
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.343-349
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    • 2012
  • A variety of fish species undergo an ontogenetic change in prey selectivity, and several potentially interacting factors, including nutrient requirement, microhabitat change, and foraging ability, may account for the occurrence of the shift. Here we examine the foraging ecology and ontogenetic diet shift of a micro-carnivorous goby, Pterogobius elapoides (serpentine goby), dominant component of fish assemblage in shallow rocky areas off the coast in Korea and Japan. Although most other gobies are primarily benthic carnivores, P. elapoides is a semipelagic fish; however, little is known about how those species change their foraging tactics with growth. In our diet analyses, the most common diet was pelagic copepods and benthic amphipods, and diet shift was observed from pelagic to benthic with growth. The ontogenetic diet shift seems to be the result of the preference for energetically more profitable prey in larger-size classes as well as the results of different prey availability due to among-habitat variation in diet. However, differential food preference does not appear to affect individual scope for searching food. Several factors such as predation pressures and interspecific resource partitioning might contribute to the changes in diet observed among size classes, which were included in our ongoing tests.