• Title/Summary/Keyword: feeding ecology

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Biodiversity and Characteristic Communities Structure of Freshwater Ecosystems in the Western Area of DMZ, Korea (민통선이북지역(DMZ) 서부평야 일대의 수생태계 생물다양성 및 군집 특성)

  • Jung, Sang-Woo;Kim, Yoon-Ho;Kim, Hyun-Mac;Kim, Su-Hwan
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.32 no.6
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    • pp.603-617
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    • 2018
  • This study surveyed the diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and freshwater fish, which are the main animal classifications in a hydro ecosystem, from May to September 2017 in the western plains of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The results showed a total of 125 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 66 families, 19 orders, and four phyla in the streams and wetlands. Among benthic macroinvertebrates, Coleoptera (27 spp.: 21.60%) was the largest group in terms of species richness followed by Odonata (26 spp.: 20.80%), non-Insecta (22 spp.: 17.60%), and Hemiptera (11 spp.: 8.80%) occupying in the lentic area. Of the feeding function groups (FFGs), predators (51 spp.: 56.67%) showed a relatively larger presence, indicating the dominance of hygrophilous invertebrates that usually inhabit the freshwater wetlands or ponds. Of the habitat oriented groups (HOGs), climbers (33 spp.: 24.44%) and burrowers (17 spp.: 12.59%) were the dominant groups. This observation is typical in a slow flowing habitat and can lead to the disturbance of the ecosystem due to cannibalism among predators. Cannibalism can be caused by stress induced by various population and environmental factors. For the ecosystem services benchmark (ESB) value, site 13 appeared to be the highest with 82 marks while other sites showed relatively lower rates and indices (III water quality class with ${\alpha}$-mesosaprobic). The analysis result of stability factors showed that almost all sites were evaluated to be the I characteristic group with high resilience and resistance or the III characteristic group that was sensitive to environmental disturbance and formed uneven and unstable communities. Of the freshwater fishes, 46 species (3,405 individuals) belonging to 39 families and 18 orders were identified in all the investigated sites. Among them, Cyprinidae (30 spp.: 65.2%) was the largest group, and Zacco koreanus was identified as the dominant species (728 individuals, 21.4%). The survey of freshwater fish communities found both stable communities (sites 7 and 13) with low dominant index (0.39) and high diversity index (2.29) and unstable communities (sites 2, 3, 8, and 10) in opposite tendency. This survey found five Korean endemic species, 17 species belonging to the export controlled species, two endangered species level II (Lethocerus deyrollei and Cybister chinensis), and rare species (Dytiscus marginalis czerskii) among benthic macroinvertebrates. The survey also found an invasive species, Ampullarius insularus, which was distributed throughout the whole area and thus can continuously disturb the ecosystem in the western plain area in the DMZ. Of freshwater fish, one natural monument (Hemibarbus mylodon) and three endangered species level II (Acheilognathus signifer, Gobiobotia macrocephalus, and G. brevibarba) were observed. The survey also found four introduced species (Pomacea canaliculate, Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus, Micropterus salmoides) in the western DMZ area, indicating the need for the protection and conservation measures.

Community Composition and Functional Feeding Groups of Aquatic Insects According to Stream Order from the Gapyeong Creek in Gyeonggi-do, Korea (경기도 가평천의 하순에 따른 수서곤충 군집조성과 섭식기능군)

  • Won, Doo-Hee;Hoang, Duc-Huy;Jin, Young-Hun;Hwang, Jeong-Mi;Bae, Yeon-Jae
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.36 no.1 s.102
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    • pp.21-28
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    • 2003
  • Community composition and functional feeding groups of aquatic insects according to stream order were investigated from the Gapyeong Creek, a typical mid-sized Korean stream in Gyeonggi -do, Korea, in April 2000. For field investigations, the main watercourse and three major tributaries of the stream that belong to stream order ll to Vll were divided into reaches (ca. $1{\sim}4$ km in distance). Aquatic insects were sampled from one or two sites each reach (total 30 sites) using a Surber sampler ($50{\times}50$cm, mesh 0.75 mm). As a result of the quantitative samplings(two Surber samplings at riffle and pool/run per site; total $2{\times}30$=60 Surber samplings) and additional qualitative samplings, a total of 164 species of aquatic insects in 103 genera, 54 families, and 8 orders were collected from the stream. Those aquatic insects were composed of Trichoptera (56spp.: 34.1%), Ephemeroptera (43 spp.: 26.2%), Diptera (25spp.: 15.2%), Plecoptera (23 spp.: 14.0%), Coleoptera (6 spp.: 3.7%), Odonata (6 spp.:3.7%), Hemiptera (3 spp.: 1.8%), and Megaloptera (2 spp.: 1.2%); EPT-group (122 spp.:74.4%) or EPT-group plus Diptera (147 spp.: 89.6%) occupied most of the aquatic insect community; relatively larger number of species occurred in the mid-stream reaches (order III-Vl). The quantitative samplings throughout the study sites yielded a total of 26,286 individuals of aquatic insects ($136{\sim}2522$ inds./0.5 $m^2$, mean 906.4inds./0.5 $m^2$) that belongs to Ephemeroptera (11,994 inds.: 45.6%), Diptera (8730 inds.:33.2%), Trichoptera (4123 inds.: 15.7%), Plecoptera (1213 inds.: 4.6%), Coleoptera (204 inds.: 0.8%), Odonata (13 inds.: 0.05%), Megaloptera (5 inds.: 0.02%), and Hemiptera (4inds.: inds.: 0.02%); average number of individuals of aquatic insects increased as the stream order increased: average numbers of individuals of Bllecoptera and Trichoptera decreased and increased, respectively, as the stream order increased. Tolerant species such as Chironomidae spp., Uracanthella rufa and Hydropsychidae spp. were particularly abundant in the down stream reaches (order Vll) . Species diversity indices (H`) and dominance indices (Dl) were relatively higher and lower, respectively, in the mid-stream reaches (order $IV{\sim}VI$). Shredders occupied the smallest partand collector-gatherers were most abundant among the functional feeding groups(FFGs); collector-filterers considerably increased in the down stream reaches (orders Vl and VII); scrappers were relatively evenly distributed throughout the stream reaches: predators were relatively more abundant in the uppermost stream reaches(order ll) . Overall, the characteristics of aquatic insect comminity and FFGs in the Gapyeong Creek are largely similar to those in the normal streams of temperate deciduous forest in the northern hemisphere that is explained by the river confineum concept.

Food Habits of the Asian Paddle Crab, Charybdis japonica (A. Milne-Edwards) on the Jangbong Tidal Flat, Incheon, Korea (민꽃게, Charybdis japonica (A. Milne-Edwards)의 섭식생태)

  • Seo, In-Soo;Hong, Jae-Sang
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.27 no.3
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    • pp.297-305
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    • 2009
  • The Asian paddle crab, Charybdis japonica (A. Milne-Edwards) is an important fishery resource in Korea. Despite its common occurrence and commercial importance, few studies have been carried out on the life cycle and trophic ecology of these populations inhabiting on the tidal flat. Food habits of C. japonica populations were investigated on the Jangbong tidal flat, Incheon, Korea. Monthly samples were taken using a modified otter trawl from November 1999 to January 2001. Based on the examination of stomach contents from 257 individuals, the frequencies of occurrence and the relative volumes of food items were analysed. As a result, the crustaceans (the brachyura, the cirripedia and the harpacticoid copepoda), the echinoderms (the ophiuroidea) and the molluscs (the cephalopoda Loligo beka, the bivalves Bivalvia unid. and Mytilus galloprovincialis) were important food for this species. To examine ontogenetic shifts in diets, individuals of C. japonica were categorized into 2 different size classes (${\leq}60mm$ and ${\geq}61mm$ in carapace width) representing sexually premature and mature stages. The food items of the small crabs (${\leq}60mm$) were dominated by the crustaceans with the harpacticoid copepods constituting 84.6% of total prey number. The next group was the bivalves and the brachyurans. On the other hand, the large crabs (${\geq}61mm$) mainly feed on the bivalvia (Mytilus galloprovincialis and Bivalvia unid.), the brachyurans (Crab unid.) and occasionally the cephalopods and fishes. The difference in proportions of the main prey items among these two size classes was statistically significant. Therefore, the feeding habits of the portunid crab, C. japonica changed with growth.

Effect of Essential Oils and Paraffin Oil on Black Cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (식물정유와 파라핀오일이 검거세미나방에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Dong Woon;Potter, D.A.
    • Weed & Turfgrass Science
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.62-69
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    • 2013
  • The black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), damages various cultivated crops and it can also be a serious pest of turfgrass, especially on golf courses. Essential oils have potential as alternative control agents for insect pests. Sixteen essential oils (anise, camphor, cinnamon, citronella, clove, fennel, geranium, lavender, lemongrass, linseed, neem, peppermint, pine, thyme, turpentine and tea saponin) and paraffin oil were assessed in the laboratory, the green house and field trials for their efficacy against black cutworms in turf. Treatment of potted cores of perennial ryegrass turf with anise, cinnamon, neem, paraffin or turpentine reduced black cutworm damage in a greenhouse trial, and in a similar trial, applying neem oil at 4000, 2000 and 1000 ppm resulted in 100, 100 and 64% mortality, respectively, of black cutworms. Weight of survivors at the 1000 ppm rate was 5- fold less than weight of comparably-aged controls. Neem oil (2000 ppm) reduced growth of black cutworms feeding on treated clippings. A high rate of neem oil followed by irrigation (0.1 L of 20000 ppm neem oil with 0.9 L watering/$m^2$) was more effective than a lower concentration (1 L of 2000 ppm neem oil/$m^2$) against $2^{nd}$ and $3^{rd}$ instars in potted turf cores and field plots, respectively. However, not even the aforementioned higher rate effectively controlled $4^{th}$ instars in the field.

A Research for Shorebirds on the Southernmost of Nakdong Estuary (낙동강 하구 최남단 사주의 도요.물떼새류에 관한 연구)

  • Hong, Soon-Bok
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.199-206
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    • 2005
  • Estuary islets should be managed systematically because they are important places for birds to rest and breed. This paper investigates the environmental properties of islets where the sand banks are located from east to west on the southernmost of Nakdong estuary during a year (September 2003 $\sim$ August 2004). The research showed that 59 species and 19,148 individuals were found in the area A (Jangja Shinja-Do) and 61 species and 28,394 individuals in the area B (Saja-Do; Beakhapdeung Doyodeung). Totally, 74 species and 47,539 individuals were observed in both of this estuary. Shorebirds are the most observed species in both areas. In area, most of individuals were especially observed in the spring when Shorebirds migrate northward for breeding. In B area, various species were also observed in the fall when they migrate southward for wintering. Therefore, many groups of birds are observed around Shinja-Do in the spring. They passed the winter in Doyodueng, associated with feeding in the main stream of Nakdong river mainly. Although the southernmost sand bar is the breeding place to access to outside without interception, invasion by human beings and predators (mice, weasels and etc.) gives a fatal blow for birds to breed or rest. The reed which is a tall herbaceous plant is flourished according to the process of ecological succession. Therefore, the sand bar becomes a land. It results in reduction of habitats and breeding grounds for birds. In conclusion, these areas where birds can use the islets as habits and breeding places must be preserved by restraining luxuriance of reeds and systematic management of human beings and predators is necessary.

Leaf Litter Breakdown of Quercus mongolica and Calpinus cordata In a Headwater Stream (소하천의 신갈나무와 까치박달 낙엽의 분쇄)

  • Chung, Keun
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.40 no.1
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    • pp.23-30
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    • 2001
  • Leaf Litter processing rate of Quercus mongolica was compared with that of Carpinus cordata in a first-order stream draining Mt. Jumbong in Inje-Gun, Kangwon Province. Daily processing rate (-k . day$^{-1}$ ) of Q. mongolica leaf litter in mesh bags was 0.00503, about one-third of that of C. cordata leaf litter. Forty five macroinvertebrate taxa were collected from litter bags; 39 taxi from C. cordate and 38 taxa from Q. mongolica litter bags. Nemoura tau, a precopteran shredder, was the most abundant taxon in both leaf species, and the second was the non-predatory chironomids. In terms of biomass, Gammarus, an amphipodan shredder, was the largest. and followed by Cincticostella castanea, an ephemeropteran gatherers. The biomass of most insect taxa decreased during April to June, while that of non-insect taxa greatly increased during the same time period. Gammarus was the most important shredder talon to the leaf litter breakdown in the experimental stream and appeared to prefer C. cordata to Q. nongolica leaf litter. N. tau, in spite of its abundance, seemed to have a limited effect on the leaf litter processing . Since other shredders were minor compared with these two taxa, leaf litter processing in this stream appeared to largely depend on the feeding ecology of Gammarus.

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Preliminary Observation on the Mating Behavior and Daily Rhythm of the Ussur Brown Katydid, Paratlanticus ussuriensis Uvarov (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) (갈색여치의 일일행동패턴과 교미행동)

  • Yoon, Changmann;Kim, Hyun Kyung;Kim, Gil-Hah
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.53 no.2
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    • pp.177-183
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    • 2014
  • The ussur brown katydid, Paratlanticus ussuriensis (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), causes substantial damage in orchard areas in South Korea. Daily rhythm and mating behaviors were investigated in last instar nymphs, immature adults and mature adults of P. ussuriensis. The daily rhythm was repeated upon resting, moving, and feeding. The daily rhythm of the movement behavior similar in both last instar nymphs and immature adults. Last instar nymphs becoming active at 10:06 and ceasing activity at 21:12 in average. Immature adults becoming active at 11:30 and ceasing activity at 20:08 in average of totally 10 individuals. However, mature adults showed a different active time of 15:30. Generally, behavior was affected by the conditions of their environment, especially temperature. Mature adults activated later than nymphs and immature adults. Mature adults display mating behavior at a particular time of day (approximately 20:00). P. ussuriensis showed a mating behavioral sequence which was similar to related species in completely retaining the spermatophylax. Females took 270 min to 360 min to completely retain the spermatophylax. The daily rhythm of P. ussuriensis, indicating its occurrence and ecology, could be useful as basic data for managing field populations of P. ussuriensis.

Community Fluctuation of the Benthic Macroinvertebrates before and after the Construction of Nakdan Weir (낙동강 본류 낙단보 설치 전후의 저서성 대형무척추동물 군집변동)

  • Lee, Mi Jin;Seo, Eul Won;Yu, Jae Jeong;Lee, Jong Eun
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.47 no.4
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    • pp.328-336
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    • 2014
  • Nakdan weir, which is located in the second weir among the 8 weirs of Nakdong River, had been constructed from Nov. 2009 to Nov. 2011. To analyze the effect of Nakdan weir construction on benthic macroinvertebrates, we studied 2 sites around Nakdan weir (upstream and downstream) from 2007 to 2014. The average numbers of species and individuals were decreased after the construction (in 2012~2014, 51 species $895inds.\;m^{-2}$) than before construction (in 2007~2009, 25 species $84inds.\;m^{-2}$), especially in upstream site of Nakdan weir. After the construction, especially in 2012, dominance indices (DI) were increased by the decline of some specific taxon population, such as Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera, etc. After construction, individual ratios of GC (Gathering Collectors) and P (Predator) of FFGs (Functional feeding groups) and BU (Burrowers) of HOGs (Habitat orientation groups) were higher than before construction. So the results of this study indicate that the changes by a weir construction, such as the decline of shallow depth area, reduced velocity of water flow and increased ratio of sand bed, etc., can affect the benthic macroinvertebrate communities variously.

Ecological Impact Analysis of a Stream on the Dam Construction Using Species Biotic Index (SBI) as a Tool of Ecosystem Health Assessment

  • An, Kwang-Guk;Kim, Jai-Ku
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.40 no.4
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    • pp.495-502
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    • 2007
  • Species biotic index (SBI), based on a fish assemblage, was applied to a stream assessment using long-term ecological fish data set (1996 to 2001) in Boryong dam area, which is located in the mainstream of Ungchun Stream of Chungnam province, Korea. According to the methods of Hilsenhoff (1988), the scores of tolerance guild assigned 10 classes to each species by its habitat and feeding guild, but modified current 7 criteria to 5 scoring standards due to unclear borderline among species. Relative abundance in the species number of upper stream guilds was only 7% of the total, whereas the abundance in the species number of middle to downstream upper stream guilds was 64%. Mean SBI, based on dataset in Site 1 during 1995-2001 averaged 5.10, which was judged as a "good" condition by the rank criteria of SBI. Before the dam construction, mean SBI in the Site 1 was 4.61, indicating a "good" condition, but after the dam construction, mean SBI was 5.60, indicating a "fair" condition. Trajectory analysis in the Site 1 showed significantly (One-way ANOVA, $F_{6,21}=3.26$, p=0.02) different among years, reflecting the changes of fish composition and population density by the dam construction, whereas Site 2 showed no significant changes ($F_{6,21}=1.00$, P =0.45) difference among years. Mean SBI prior to the dam construction in the Site 3 was 4.52 but after the construction, the value was 6.30, indicating a distinct difference between the pre- and post-dam construction. Trajectory analysis at the Site 3 supported this fact: Values of SBI showed significantly ($F_{6,21}$=14.37, p<0.01) different. Mean SBI was 4.67 in the Site 4, indicating a "good" condition in the health and the health rank was same as the sampling sites 1, 2, and 4. Trajectory in the Site 4 showed no significant ($F_{6,21}=2.35$, p=0.07) difference among the years. Overall, our trajectory analysis indicated that three of four sampling sites (sites 1, 3, 4) showed significant decreases (n=7, p<0.05) and that the proportions of sensitive species declined evidently in the sites 1 and 2 and the tolerant species increased in the dam sites. Our outcomes may be used as a key data for diagnosis of the long-term ecological impact in the future in the watershed.

Grazing Characteristics of Native Snail Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata on the Hibernal Diatom Bloom in Eutrophic Lake and Stream (저온기 부영양 수계의 규조발생에 대한 한국산 논우렁이의 섭식특성)

  • Yoo, Young-Hun;Kim, Baik-Ho;Hwang, Soon-Jin
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.41 no.3
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    • pp.338-347
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    • 2008
  • Grazing rate (GR) and feces production (FP) of freshwater snail Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata on two hibernal diatom communities were examined in a laboratory. Snail with the similar size (4.2$\sim$5.8 cm) were collected from the Gunsan and Okgu district (Jeonbuk), transferred to the artificial management system in laboratory, and starved for 3 day before the experiment. The feeding experiments were conducted at various conditions such as passage of time (0, 1, 4 and 7 hr), snail density (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 ind. $L^{-1}$) and kinds of prey (cold lake and stream water). One prey used in this study is the water of Lake Ilgam, the other is that of Han river. Lake Ilgam water was dominated by Synedra ulna (69.1%) and Scenedesmus sp. (6.6%), while Han river was by Asterionella formosa (69.4%) and Diatoma vulgare (27.7%). With the increment of snail density and time, the Chl-a concentration of two experimental waters were clearly decreased. Chl-a of Han river rapidly was decreased after 1 hour of snail treatment, while that of Ilgam lake was decreased after 4 hour. On the passage of time, a highest GR (1.94 L $g^{-1}\;h^{-1}$) showed at 1 hr, and then, decreased gradually to 0.04 L $g^{-1}\;h^{-1}$ by 7 hr. The highest FP (0.11 mg $L^{-1}$) showed at 7 hr. These results indicate that native snail Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata may be applied as a potential bio-filter to control diatom blooms in the cold lake and stream.