• Title/Summary/Keyword: feeding ecology

Search Result 316, Processing Time 0.03 seconds

Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicas Growth in Pond-bottom and Lantern-net Cultures (노지양식장에서 채롱양식과 바닥양식에 따른 해삼(Apostichopus japonicus)의 성장특성)

  • Jeong, U-Cheol;Han, Jong-Cheol;Kang, Seok-Joong
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
    • /
    • v.49 no.3
    • /
    • pp.337-342
    • /
    • 2016
  • Sea cucumbers have been an important part of human diets throughout history; demand is increasing every year, making the species a target for coastal resource development. New harvesting technologies have been developed in response to demand, including nursery production and insemination aquaculture, but such methods produce relatively few individuals and productivity per unit area is very small. For example, captures are prohibited during July and August due to the breeding season, and sea cucumbers aestivate during the hot season and hibernate during the cold season, all factors that limit natural-environment production in Korea. Problems with slow growth of sea cucumbers have been encountered in previous rearing experiments. To assess the importance of feeding ecology on sea cucumber growth, we conducted pond-bottom and lantern-net culture experiments. Results showed that sea cucumbers in bottom cultures grew from 3.06 to 102.59 g, but those in lantern cultures only grew from 25.60 to 28.03 g.

A Time Budget Study of Wintering Mallards on the Southern High Plains of Texas, USA

  • Lee, Sang-Don
    • Animal cells and systems
    • /
    • v.1 no.4
    • /
    • pp.571-576
    • /
    • 1997
  • The playas of the Southern High Plains (SHP) of Texas, USA are an important habitat for over one million wintering waterfowl. However, the recent trend toward the modification of playas for agricultural use is threatening winter habitat of waterfowl in this region. Diurnal activity budgets of wintering mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were conducted from 1 October to 31 March, 1983-1984, and 1984-1985) at three habitat types; steep-sided pits, terraced pits, and open lakes. All seven activity patterns (feeding, locomotion, resting, comfort, courtship, alert, and agonistic) were different (P<0.05) among the three habitat types for wintering mallards on the SHP of Texas. Terraced pits supported more feeding activity (27.8%) (P<0.001) than steep-sided pits (11.2%) or open lakes (2.6%) due to their abundance of natural seeds and aquatic invertebrates. Hens (17.5%) fed more than drakes (11.7%) (P<0.05). Locomotion (32.2%) and alert (2.8%) behavior across the three habitat types showed the highest level during the early morning (6:00-9:00 AM). Paired mallards rested more (37.9%) than unpaired mallards (25.8%) (P<0.05). Agonistic activity was highest (2.4%) in terraced pits throughout the season.

  • PDF

The Physio-chemical Variation of the Host Plants and Feed Preference of the Ussur Brown Katydid, Paratlanticus ussuriensis (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) (갈색여치(Paratlanticus ussuriensis) 기주식물의 이화학적 특성변화와 먹이선호 구명)

  • Kim, Myung-Hyun;Bang, Hea-Son;Jung, Myung-Pyo;Na, Young-Eun;Han, Min-Su;Kang, Kee-Kyung;Lee, Deog-Bae
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
    • /
    • v.28 no.4
    • /
    • pp.356-364
    • /
    • 2009
  • In 2006 and 2007, there was a big outbreak of the Ussur Brown Katydid, Paratlanticus ussurriensis in the central part of Korea attacking some orchard trees. Until 2000, the katydid had not been regarded as an agricultural pest because they were distributed widely in Korea with low population density and their habitats were confined mainly to hillsides of forested areas. The fact that katydid attacked orchard trees with a higher population density seemed to be related to a change in feeding environment. And the shift of their habitats from oak woodlands to commercial orchards was thought to be related to the nutritional contents of their feed. In an attempt to understand these relationships, we conducted an ecological study of the affected areas. When the katydids changed their habitats in early May of 2008 and 2009, they shifted their host plants from oak trees to peach trees. The habitat shift was closely related to the nitrogen (N) content of the host plant leaves. When katydid moved to the hillside adjacent to orchard farm, N content of oak tree leaves decreased dramatically from 5.3% to 2.2%. At that time N content of peach tree leaves were higher than the 2.2% of oak leaves, showing 3.5~5.0%. This range of N content of peach tree leaves has been consistent until late June. And feed preference analysis carried out in the laboratory showed that katydid prefered peach tree leaves to peach fruit to oak tree leaves.

The Effect of a Natural Zeolite (Clinoptilolite) on the Performance of Broiler Chickens and the Quality of Their Litter

  • Karamanlis, X.;Fortomaris, P.;Arsenos, G.;Dosis, I.;Papaioannou, D.;Batzios, C.;Kamarianos, A.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
    • /
    • v.21 no.11
    • /
    • pp.1642-1650
    • /
    • 2008
  • The objective of this study was to assess the effect of clinoptilolite (a natural zeolite) on growth and performance of broilers as well as on the quality of their litter. A total of 5,200 one-day old broiler chickens (Cobb 500) were used in two consecutive rounds lasting 42 days each. The broilers were given free and continuous access to a nutritionally non-limiting diet (in meal form) that was either a basal diet (B) or a 'zeolite diet' (Z; the basal diet supplemented with clinoptilolite at a level of 2%). A $2{\times}2$ factorial design consisted of two feeding treatments (B and Z) and two bedding types, sawdust (S) and sawdust with zeolite (Sz, which was the result of adding $2kg\;zeolite/m^2$), was used. In each round the broilers were randomly assigned to one of four (n = 650), treatment groups: two fed on the basal diet (B) and had bedding of either sawdust (group BS) or sawdust and zeolite (group BSz) and two fed on the Z diet and had as bedding either sawdust (ZS) or sawdust and zeolite (ZSz). Average growth rates were significantly (p<0.05) different between broilers of different groups; broilers that were fed on the 'zeolite diet' (Z) and were placed either in a compartment with sawdust bedding or sawdust bedding and zeolite (ZS and ZSz) as well those that were fed on the basal diet in a compartment with sawdust bedding and zeolite (BSz) grew at a faster rate (p<0.05) compared with those of the control group (BS). The incorporation of NZ in broilers diets and in their bedding material decreased the organic content in litter samples throughout the experimental period. The lowest organic content was recorded in group ZSz where NZ was added in both feed and litter. Mean ammonia concentration (ppm) was significantly higher in group ZS in comparison to groups BSz and ZSz (27.00 vs. 20.55 and 21.71 respectively). The results of this study showed that the incorporation of the clinoptilolite both in feed and into the litter had a positive effect on broiler growth and also on the quality of their litter.

Characteristics of Musim Stream by Surveyed Sites Based on EPT-group of Aquatic Insects1a (수서곤충 EPT-group을 이용한 무심천의 조사지점별 특성)

  • Shin, Hyun-Seon;Mitamura, Osamu;Kim, Sook-Jung;Choi, Jun-Kil
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
    • /
    • v.22 no.4
    • /
    • pp.420-426
    • /
    • 2008
  • This study compared and analyzed EPT ratio, EPT richness and EPT number(number of species and individuals) of a total of 9 selected sites individually using EPT-group of aquatic insects in Musim stream, also compared similarity ratio between the sampling sites using UPGMA(Unweighted Paired Group Method using Arithmetic average) based on analysis subsequent to species structure of aquatic insects, and compared and analyzed a functional feeding groups(FFGs) of aquatic insects based on stream order. As a result, the aquatic insect group of 2,269 individuals is classified as 71 species, 36 families, and 8 orders, and EPT ratio and EPT richness at sites 3(0.72 and 3.89, respectively) were found to be relatively higher than those at the other sites; by contrast, those at site 9(0.03 and 0.09, respectively) were relatively low. EPT number of species and individuals was found to be lowest at site 9. As a result of UPGMA analysis, the sampling sites in Musim stream were divided into three groups, including A1(site 1, 7, 8), A2(site 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and B(site 9). According to the results of FFGs, there was not shown specific difference in the number of functional feeding groups by each sites; however, there appeared a little more shredders and scrappers in the upper and mid stream comparing to other sampling sites while collector-filterers and collector-gatherers were found to be dominant in number in the lower stream. According to this research result, the sampling sites in Musim stream were found to have an effect on not only EPT richness, EPT ratio, and EPT number but also FFGs structure.

Community Analysis Based on Functional Feeding Groups of Benthic Macro Invertebrate in Wangpi-cheon (왕피천 저서성 대형무척추동물의 섭식기능군을 이용한 군집분석)

  • Park, Young-Jun;Lim, Heon-Myong;Kim, Ki-Dong;Cho, Young-Ho;Nam, Sang-Ho;Kwon, Oh-Seok
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
    • /
    • v.24 no.5
    • /
    • pp.556-565
    • /
    • 2010
  • Community analysis based on functional feeding groups of benthic macro invertebrates at Wangpi-cheon was assessed with the result of four field survey from October, 2007 to May, 2008. A total 138 species of benthic macro invertebrates in 58 families, 16 orders, 6 classes, and 4 phyla were collected during the field surveys. The result of EPT index value showed high value of 61.59% and it means that the stream ecosystem of Wangpi-cheon is very clear and healthy. In this study the functional feeding groups in Wangpi-cheon were divided into two groups. First, Scrapers and Collectors-Gathering group which is normally dominant in midstream showed higher dominance in main stream than tributary. Second, shredders group showed higher dominance in tributary than main stream like as the general characteristics of upriver. With the result of cluster analysis based on the similarity index, the study areas could be grouped into a natural area(A group) and an artificial disturbance area(B group; site 8 and 11) where embankment, bank and levee had been built near by. And also, the natural area(A group) was classified into two groups which had the characteristic of main(site 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7) stream and tributary(site 5, 6, 9 and 10) respectively.

Community Analysis based on Functional Feeding Groups of Aquatic Insects in Wonju Stream (원주천 수서곤충의 섭식기능군을 이용한 군집분석)

  • Shin Hyun-Seon;Park Seung-Chul;Kim Jai-Ku;Kim Sook-Jung;Park Jung-Ho;Choi Jae-Seok;Choi Jun-Kil
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
    • /
    • v.20 no.2
    • /
    • pp.259-266
    • /
    • 2006
  • Community analysis based on functional feeding groups of aquatic insects in Wonju stream was assessed with the composition of aquatic insects collected for four times at the area from May to November, 2004. The total 92 species of aquatic insects in 62 genera, 37 families, and 8 orders were collected during the period of the investigation. The distribution of the numbers and movements of aquatic insects proved the Woniu stream to be healthy except for St. 7 and St. 9. In the main streams, the occupancy ratio of shredders and scrapers of the functional feeding groups(FFGs) gradually decreased from St. 1 to St. 9 while collectors-gathering and collectors-filtering remarkably increased. In St. 2, the shredders and scrapers posted a higher ratio compared to those in tributaries, and it had the quality of mountain streams. With the results of analysis on the similarity matrix(UPGMA) between each sites of Wonju stream, St. 1, 2, St. 3-8 and St. 9 were classified as the upper stream, the middle stream, and the lower stream area, respectively.

The Cinereous Vulture, Aegypius monachus: Cannibalism in its Wintering Ground (월동지에서 독수리(Aegypius monachus)의 카니발리즘)

  • Kang, Seung Gu
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
    • /
    • v.32 no.3
    • /
    • pp.256-260
    • /
    • 2018
  • Cannibalism is a widely observed phenomenon in the animal kingdom. However, it is rarely found among birds outside nests in the wild because it occurs irregularly and it is almost impossible to monitor animal behavior constantly. On 17 January 2017, this behavior was directly observed from a group of vultures feeding on a conspecific in a paddy field near Lake Geumho in Haenam-gun ($34^{\circ}35^{\prime}58.25^{{\prime}{\prime}}N$, $126^{\circ}26^{\prime}57.64^{{\prime}{\prime}}E$). It was observed and recorded with the binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens in a car approximately 20 m (or 60 m) away from the site. The observer approached the feeding site after the last vulture had finished feeding and flown away and found remains of a vulture, including body feathers, skull, sterna keel, and both legs. It was the first report of cannibalism in Cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus in its overwintering grounds. The remaining skeleton was very fleshy, and the surrounding grass was wet with the blood of vulture. No other traces of a mammal or bird that could have been the vultures' prey were found. This report provides a detailed account of the events related to this rare observation and the causes that might have led to it.

Effects of Callophyllis japonica Extracts on the Glucide and Lipid Metabolism in Hypercholesterolemic Rats (고콜레스테롤혈증 흰쥐의 당질 및 지질 대사에 볏 붉은잎(Callophyllis japonica)추출액이 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Goon-Ja;Ryu, Ae-Ryeung;Kim, Han-Soo
    • Korean Journal of Human Ecology
    • /
    • v.8 no.1
    • /
    • pp.49-58
    • /
    • 2005
  • This study was designed to observe the effects of the feeding Callophyllis japonica extracts on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipid in the serum of dietary hypercholesterolemic rats(S.D. strain, ?) fed the experimental diets for 4 weeks. Concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in serum were significantly lower in the Callophylis japonica extracts group than in the choloesterol supplemented diet group. Concentrations of HDL-cholesterol in serum were higher in the Callophyllis japonica extracts group than in the cholesterol supplemented diet group. Concentrations of free cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid and blood glucose in serum were significantly lower in the Callophyllis japonica extracts group than in the cholesterol supplemented diet group. The activities of aspatate aminotransferae(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) in serum were lower in the CAllophyllis japonica extracts supplemented group than in the cholesterol diet group. From the above research, the physiological activity substances in Callophylis japonica extracts were effective on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipid compositions in serum of dietary hypercholesterolemic rats.

  • PDF

Chlorella vulgaris Has Preventive Effect on Cadmium Induced Liver Damage in Rats

  • Shim, Jae-Young;Om, Ae-Son
    • Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
    • /
    • v.4 no.2
    • /
    • pp.138-143
    • /
    • 2008
  • We investigated if Chlorella vulgaris (CV) has protective effects on cadmium (Cd) induced liver damage in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Forty rats, aged 5 weeks old and weighed 90-110g, were divided into a control (with Cd free water), 50 ppm of $CdCl_2$ in drinking water treated groups (Chlorella 0% diet group (Cd/CV0%), Chlorella 5% diet group (Cd/CV5%) or Chlorella 10% diet group (Cd/CV10%). All the rats had freely access to water and diet for 8 weeks. The results show that body weight gain and relative liver weight had significantly lower in Cd/CV0%-treated group than in Cd/CV-treated groups. Hepatic Cd contents showed significantly less by feeding CV (P<0.05). Cd/CV0%-treated rats had significantly (P<0.05) higher hepatic T-MTs, and Cd-MTs concentrations, compared to Cd/CV5% or Cd/CV10% treated rats. The MT I/II mRNA was expressed in the liver of all experimental rats. Its expression was more increased in Cd/CV5%- or Cd/CV10%-treated rats, compared to control and Cd-treated rats. Thus, this study suggested that CV would have a protective effect on Cd-treated liver injury by the reduction of Cd concentrations and stimulation of Cd-MT binds in the liver. However, more studies are needed to identify the proper mechanism of CV and liver toxicity.