• 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.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2003.08a
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• pp.133.2-133
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• 2003

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.485-496
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• 2016

We describe 2 echinostome species recovered from an Eastern cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis coromandus, from Cheongju-si (city), Chungcheongbuk-do (province), Korea. Total 72 Pegosomum bubulcum specimens were recovered from the bile duct. They were $7,566{\times}2,938{\mu}m$ in average size and had 27 collar spines with vitelline extension from anterior 1/3 level of the esophagus to mid-level of the posterior testis as characteristic features. Total 9 specimens of Nephrostomum ramosum were recovered in the small intestines of the bird. They were ribbon-shaped, $11,378{\times}2,124{\mu}m$ in average size, and morphologically variable in some organs, i.e., the number of collar spines (47-50), the shape of ovary and testes, and the extension of vitelline follicles. These morphological variations observed in a single host indicated that these features are not critical for the classification of Nephrostomum species and thus were reconsidered taxonomically as synonym of N. ramosum. This study is the first report documenting and describing both flukes and their associated genera in Korea.

• 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.20 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2018

Multiple temporal scale can be a useful method to understand population dynamics in ecosystem. The multi-temporal scale approach for population dynamics has rarely been researched till lately. This study was carried out to identify the factors in affecting the population dynamics of herons, including Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromadus), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Great Egret (A. alba), Intermediate Egret (Egretta intermedia) and Little Egret (E. garzetta), at rice paddy fields of Seokmun-myeon in the city of Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province during the main breeding periods from 2014 to 2017. We identified the population dynamics of herons at different time interval (day and month) using the unmanned monitoring system. As a result, monthly population dynamics was mostly affected by time, mean temperature and mean precipitation, whereas daily population dynamics was affected by mean temperature and habitat types. The results suggest that there are differences in the factors affecting the population dynamics of herons according to the time scale.

• 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 Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.361-364
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• 2016

Waterbirds using rice fields has increased due to a decline of natural wetlands. The rice field is an essential habitat to supports the waterbird population. Although use of rice field by waterbirds has been widely documented, little information is available on distribution patterns of waterbirds under the pesticide use in rice fields. The current study conducted to understand the relationship between habitat use by waterbirds and pesticide applicatioins in rice fields. We monitored the distribution of waterbirds at Daeho reclaimed area in July 2013 to June 2014 and September 2014 to August 2015. As a results, three heron species (Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus and Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia) are more sensitive to pesticides use than other waterbird species in rice fields. Future studies are necessary to explore the relationship between bird's distribution and management practices including pesticide use at different spatiotemporal scales.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2008

This study presents lead and cadmium concentrations in livers, kidneys and bones of Korean wild birds during 2000$\sim$2002. The number of sample sizes was Ciconiiformes (n=10), Anseriformes (n=3), Falconiformes (n=7), Charadriiformes (n=8), Columbiformes (n=2) and Passeriformes (n=6). Lead concentrations in livers were Charadriiformes

• 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.