• Title/Summary/Keyword: Seasonal migration periods

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Occurrence, Seasonal Changes and Vertical Distribution of Silica-scaled Chrysophytes in a Small Fish-free Pond in Japan

  • Kim, Han-Soon;Noriko Takamura
    • Animal cells and systems
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.117-126
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    • 2001
  • Occurence, seasonal changes and vertical distribution of the silica-scaled chrysophytes in a small fish-free pond were studied using electron microscopy (EM) and light microscopy (LM) from October 1998 to July 1999. The phytoplankton community was characterized by Chrysophyta and Cryptophyta. Ten species of the silica-scaled chrysophytes of genera Mallomonas, Synura, Chrysosphaerella and Spiniferomonas were identified by EM, and the most abundant species were Mallomonas akrokomos and M. portae-ferreae. The maximum population density of M. akrokomos was observed in December and several peaks appeared periodically at about one to two month intervals, whereas M. portae-ferreae developed the maximum density in March. The diurnal vertical distribution of M. akrokomos exhibited clear downward migration at night and slightly upward migration in the morning. A complex interaction among physico-chemical and biological factors seemed to affect the vertical distribution of M. akrokomos. However, the seasonal changes of M. akrokomos did not show significant corre1ations with the physico-chemical and some biologica1 factors. Although M. akrokomos was evenly distributed throughout the water column during some experimental periods, the diurnal patterns found in the two diurnal cycles showed consistency in that it clearly avoided the surface water during the day. This suggested that M. akrokomos may be a shade plankton with maximum densities below surface layer.

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Seasonal fluctuations and changing characteristics of a temperate zone wetland bird community

  • Lee, Soo-Dong;Kang, Hyun-Kyung
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.43 no.2
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    • pp.104-116
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    • 2019
  • Background: The composition of wild bird populations in temperate zones greatly varies depending on phenological changes rather than other environmental factors. Particularly, wild birds appearing in wetlands fluctuate greatly due to the crossover of species arriving for breeding during the summer and for wintering. Therefore, to understand the changes to species composition related to phenology, we conducted this basic analysis of populations to further the cause of the protection of wetland-dependent wild birds. Methods: It is wrong to simply divide a wild bird population investigation into seasons. This study identifies species composition and indicator species that change along with seasons. Wetlands to be surveyed are protected by natural monuments and wetland inventory and are in a state close to nature. In order to identify as many species as possible in wetlands, a survey was conducted in both shallow and deep wetlands. The water depth varied in these areas, ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 m, allowing for both dabbling and diving ducks to inhabit the area. Surveys were conducted using line-transect and distance sampling methods and were conducted at intervals of 2 weeks. The survey was conducted under the following three categories: the eco-tone and emergent zone, the submergent zone, and the water surface. The survey was conducted along a wetland boundary by observing wild birds. A PC-ord program was used for clustering, and the SAS program was used to analyze the changes in species composition. The data strongly indicates that day length is the main factor for seasonal migration periods, despite the fact that climate change and increasing temperatures are often discussed. Results and conclusions: The indicator species for determining seasons include migrant birds such as Ardea cinerea, Alcedo atthis, Anas penelope, and Poiceps ruficollis, as well as resident birds such as Streptopelia orientalis and Emberiza elegans. Importantly, increases in local individual counts of these species may also serve as indicators. The survey results of seasonal fluctuations in temperate zones shows that spring (April to June), summer (July to September), autumn (October), and winter (November to March) are clearly distinguishable, even though spring and summer seasons tend to overlap, leading to the conclusion that additional research could more clearly identify fluctuation patterns in species composition and abundance in the study area.

The Characteristics of Bird Community at Hannam Area of Jeju Experimental Forests (제주시험림 한남 지역의 조류 군집 특성)

  • Park, Chan-Ryul;Kim, Eun-Mi;Kang, Chang-Wan
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.25 no.6
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    • pp.828-835
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    • 2011
  • This study was conducted to understand the characteristics of bird community, migration, nesting guild, ordination analysis of observed frequency of birds at Jeju Experimental Forests (JEFs) from November 2006 to September 2007 with surveys of two areas by line transect methods and point-count methods at five areas for three consecutive days in each month. Among observed 58 species could be classified into the 24 residents, 9 summer visitors, 9 winter visitors and 16 passage migrants according to migration habit. In species composition, passage migrants are dominant birds at study areas whereas summer and winter visitors are most dominant birds at mainland's forests. We could divide two groups of bird community in the view of monthly species composition, one is November to February group, the other March to July group by ordination analysis. Number of species did not show seasonal fluctuation which is common pattern of bird community in mainland. This pattern reflects that species composition can change during breeding and non-breeding periods, but overall number of species did not change. This can be related with the high use of passage migrants at study area, also suggests that the JEFs can be highly utilized as stopover sites during migration. At mainland's forests, we can observe about five species of woodpeckers, however we just observed the only one species of White-backed Woodpeckers (Dendrocopos leucotos) at study areas. In the view of nesting guild, breeding birds can be grouped into the 9 bush-& ground nesters, 8 canopy nesters, 7 hole nesters and one house nesters. Among hole nesters, we can observe only one species of primary cavity nesters White-backed woodpecker, and the five secondary cavity nesters, that is three species of tits, tricolor flycatchers (Ficedula zanthopygia) and ruddy kingfishers (Halcyon coromanda). Therefore, White-backed woodpeckers can be regarded as a keystone species and forest practice should consider the careful conservation of this species.

Patterns of Waterbirds Abundance and Habitat Use in Rice Fields (논습지에 도래하는 수조류의 서식지 이용과 개체군 특성)

  • Nam, Hyung-Kyu;Choi, Seung-Hye;Choi, Yu-Seong;Yoo, Jeong-Chil
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.31 no.4
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    • pp.359-367
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    • 2012
  • BACKGROUND: As natural wetlands are decreased by increment of human demand, the importance of rice fields as an alternative habitat for waterbirds is well documented. However, the relationship between waterbirds use and management practice of rice fields has not been fully understood. The present study attempted to understand the changes in temporal abundance of waterbirds and their preference for habitat types in rice fields all year round. METHODS AND RESULTS: Waterbirds census were conducted in rice fields around Asan bay in Korea during April 2009-March 2010 and April 2011-March 2012. In the bird counts, the locations of the observed birds on a 1/2,500 map were recorded along with the local habitat type (paddy, ditch, levee, road). Thirty five species of waterbirds recorded in the rice fields during the survey period and three major groups (shorebirds, herons, and waterfowls) were characterized according to season and micro-habitat use. Shorebirds visited a flooded paddy for feeding during their spring migration season (April-May), and herons used the rice field as feeding sites during their breeding periods (April-October). Most waterfowls were observed in a dry paddy to feed a fallen rice seed and stubs during the winter season (September-March). Waterbird groups selectively used micro-habitats in rice field. Shorebirds and waterfowls mainly preferred at rice paddies, while herons were attracted to most habitat types. CONCLUSION(S): Rice fields supported various waterbirds all year round and waterbird communities using the rice fields were dramatically changed according to seasonal change of rice field condition.

Limno-Biological Investigation of Lake Ok-Jeong (옥정호의 육수생물학적 연구)

  • SONG Hyung-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.1-25
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    • 1982
  • Limnological study on the physico-chemical properties and biological characteristics of the Lake Ok-Jeong was made from May 1980 to August 1981. For the planktonic organisms in the lake, species composition, seasonal change and diurnal vertical distribution based on the monthly plankton samples were investigated in conjunction with the physico-chemical properties of the body of water in the lake. Analysis of temperature revealed that there were three distinctive periods in terms of vertical mixing of the water column. During the winter season (November-March) the vertical column was completely mixed, and no temperature gradient was observed. In February temperature of the whole column from the surface to the bottom was $3.5^{\circ}C$, which was the minimum value. With seasonal warming in spring, surface water forms thermoclines at the depth of 0-10 m from April to June. In summer (July-October) the surface mixing layer was deepened to form a strong thermocline at the depth of 15-25 m. At this time surface water reached up to $28.2^{\circ}C$ in August, accompanied by a significant increase in the temperature of bottom layer. Maximum bottom temperature was $r5^{\circ}C$ which occurred in September, thus showing that this lake keeps a significant turbulence Aehgh the hypolimnial layer. As autumn cooling proceeded summer stratification was destroyed from the end of October resulting in vertical mixing. In surface layer seasonal changes of pH were within the range from 6.8 in January to 9.0 in guutuost. Thighest value observed in August was mainly due to the photosynthetic activity of the phytoplankton. In the surface layer DO was always saturated throughout the year. Particularly in winter (January-April) the surface water was oversaturated (Max. 15.2 ppm in March). Vertical variation of DO was not remarkable, and bottom water was fairly well oxygenated. Transparency was closely related to the phytoplankton bloom. The highest value (4.6 m) was recorded in February when the primary production was low. During summer transparency decreased hand the lowest value (0.9 m) was recorded in August. It is mainly due to the dense blooming of gnabaena spiroides var. crassa in the surface layer. A. The amount of inorganic matters (Ca, Mg, Fe) reveals that Lake Ok-Jeong is classified as a soft-water lake. The amount of Cl, $NO_3-N$ and COD in 1981 was slightly higher than those in 1980. Heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Hg) were not detectable throughout the study period. During the study period 107 species of planktonic organisms representing 72 genera were identified. They include 12 species of Cyanophyta, 19 species of Bacillariophyta, 23 species of Chlorophyta, 14 species of Protozoa, 29 species of Rotifera, 4 species of Cladocera and 6 species of Copepoda. Bimodal blooming of phytoplankton was observed. A large blooming ($1,504\times10^3\;cells/l$ in October) was observed from July to October; a small blooming was present ($236\times10^3\;cells/l$ in February) from January to April. The dominant phytoplankton species include Melosira granulata, Anabaena spiroides, Asterionella gracillima and Microcystis aeruginota, which were classified into three seasonal groups : summer group, winter group and the whole year group. The sumner group includes Melosira granulate and Anabaena spiroides ; the winter group includes Asterionella gracillima and Synedra acus, S. ulna: the whole year group includes Microtystis aeruginosa and Ankistrodesmus falcatus. It is noted that M. granulate tends to aggregate in the bottom layer from January to August. The dominant zooplankters were Thermocpclops taihokuensis, Difflugia corona, Bosmina longirostris, Bosminopsis deitersi, Keratelle quadrata and Asplanchna priodonta. A single peak of zooplankton growth was observed and maximum zooplankton occurrence was present in July. Diurnal vertical migration was revealed by Microcystis aeruginosa, M. incerta, Anabaena spiroides, Melosira granulata, and Bosmina longirostris. Of these, M. granulata descends to the bottom and forms aggregation after sunset. B. longirostris shows fairly typical nocturnal migration. They ascends to the surface after sunset and disperse in the whole water column during night. Foully one species of fish representing 31 genera were collected. Of these 13 species including Pseudoperilnmpus uyekii and Coreoleuciscus splendidus were indigenous species of Korean inland waters. The indicator species of water quality determination include Microcystis aeruginosa, Melosira granulata, Asterionelta gracillima, Brachionus calyciflorus, Filinia longiseta, Conochiloides natans, Asplanchna priodonta, Difflugia corona, Eudorina elegans, Ceratium hirundinella, Bosmina longirostris, Bosminopsis deitersi, Heliodiaptomus kikuchii and Thermocyclops taihokuensis. These species have been known the indicator groups which are commonly found in the eutrophic lakes. Based on these planktonic indicators Lake Ok-Jeong can be classified into an eutrophic lake.

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