Journal of Korean Nature最新文献

This study was conducted to investigate changes in avifauna communities of the Civilian Control Zone (CCZ: N38^o 10'∼19', E127^o 04'∼26'), which is the near Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Cheorwon, Korea. An analysis was conducted on data that were collected 4 times a year between December and February from December 2001 to February 2011. This study documented changes in bird population affected by artificial feeding and agricultural activity. In this study, a total of 59,393 individuals (maximum number of individuals) of 101 species were observed. In descending order of dominance, dominant species were the White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), White-naped Crane (Grus vipio), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis), Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica), and Cinereous Vulture (Aegypus monachus). Over the course of the study, avifauna communities did not show significant increasing or decreasing changes in community indices. However, with the exception of the White-fronted Geese, evenness decreased. Red-crowned Crane and Cinereous Vulture populations experienced significant fluctuations, which were strongly related to changes in the intensity of artificial feeding. In particular, the abundance of Cinereous Vultures tended to decrease as artificial feeding decreased; decreases in artificial feeding were a preventive measure to address concerns regarding the occurrence of infectious diseases, such as avian influenza and foot and mouth disease. Except for Cinereous Vultures, raptors have decreased for the past ten years in all community indices, such as the number of species (r= −0.74, p<0.05), species diversity (r= −0.76, p<0.05), species richness (r= −0.62, p=0.056), and species evenness (r= −0.67, p<0.05). Such a drop in the raptor indices is possibly due to a decrease in area in the CCZ, increasing residential area, agricultural intensification, and decreasing natural areas.

To look into relationship between some xylophyte species blooming time and temperature, this study was researched blooming time of year 2010 and 2011 and investigated the correlation between blooming time and temperature. The species with low blooming time, year day index and warmth index bloomed early. Warmth index was calculated in two ways, TN and TL. The result of correlation between blooming time and temperature showed that the species that bloom in spring had positive correlation between blooming time and temperature while purple bloom maple had no correlation between the two. More climate data and monitoring data are necessary for comparative analysis on correlation between blooming time and temperature.

An investigation on avifauna of the Bangtaesan Mountain was carried out from February until November, 2010 and it drew the results as follow. The number of birds observed in the whole Bangtaesan Mountain region was 989 individuals of 51 species (Maximum counts). Considering the results from literature research in addition, at least 90 species 1,000 individuals are thought to live in this region. In result, dominant species proved to be Yellow-throated Bunting (Emberiza elegans), Marsh Tit (Parus palustris), Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyana), Eastern Crowned Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus), Varied Tit (Parus varius), and more. Most of birds breeding in the forest of Korea were found to constitute these dominant bird species. Entire species diversity index appeared to be 3.35 relatively a high level; 3.34 in the south slopes while 3.22 in the north slopes showing relatively a high level in the south. Of them, 12 species including Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) were the Protected Birds species nominated and protected by the Cultural Heritage Administration or the Ministry of Environment, while 10 and 6 species were the natural monument species and endangered species level, respectively. Should further consistent surveys be carried out, a broader range of species would be found to breed, and therefore the Bangtaesan Mountain region including the area where the protected species are observed is believed to need a conservation and management through protected area designation.

This study was conducted in order to analyze the long-term arrival pattern of the great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) in the Nakdong River estuary area, where undergoes rapid environmental changes, by studying the data of early 1990s (between May of 1989 and April of 1993) and the data of mid-2000s (between May of 2002 and April of 2006). The result of data analysis of 8 years showed that, of the total 2,873 members of the family Podicipedidae, there were 908 individuals (31.60%) of the great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) observed in the Nakdong River estuary area. The analysis of early 1990s and mid-2000s showed that, in terms of early 1990s, while a small number was observed in October, the number of birds arriving began to increase in November, with the highest number observed in December. In mid-2000s, the smallest number was observed in October, with the number of birds arriving increasing in November and the highest number observed in December. Monthly average number of individuals was approximately 1.7 times higher in 2000s than in 1990s. In terms of the number of individuals per month, there was no significant difference between the time period between November and March of early 1990s and mid-2000s (P<0.343). The average number of individuals per region of the great crested grebe in mid-2000s (between May of 2002 and April of 2006) was 38.53 individuals, and there was no significant regional difference (P<0.075), with 5.00 individuals in Daema-deung (DMD), 6.00 individuals in Jangja, Shinja-do (JJ.SJD), 4.67 individuals in Saja, Doyo-deung (SJ.DY), 6.00 individuals in lower Ulsuk-do (LUD) and 129.50 individuals in Ulsuk-do (USD). Since the great cormorant, a diving bird species which feeds on fish, use lower Ulsuk-do (LUD) and Saja, Doyo-deung (SJ.DY) as foraging and resting ground, it is assessed that the great crested grebe, which is smaller than the great cormorant, use Ulsuk-do, the region right below the estuary dam, as their habitat.

An entomofauna survey at Maebongsan Mountain, Gangwon-do, South Korea was carried out from May to September of 2010. Regional characteristics are summarized. A total of 1,299 individuals were collected and 536 species in 106 families and 12 orders were identified.

The results of the study on the avian fauna of the Taebaeksan (Mt.) region of the Seodeukbong of the BaekduDaegan between May and October of 2007 are as follows. A total of 1,831 individuals of 71 bird species were observed in the study sites, and based on the average of the highest number of individuals, the most dominant species was the Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) at 28.6 individuals (21.8%), followed by the Yellow-throated bunting (Emberiza elegans) at 13.5 individuals (10.3%), Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) at 11.6 individuals (8.8%), Brown-eared bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis) at 7.6 individuals (5.8%), Marsh tit (Parus palustris) at 6.9 individuals (5.3%) and the Great tit (Parus major) at 6.5 individuals (5.0%). This was followed by the dominance, in decreasing order, of the Jay (Garrulus glandarius) at 5.7 individuals (4.4%), Siberian blue robin (Luscinia cyane) at 4.1 individuals (3.2%), Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) at 3.9 individuals (3.0%), Varied tit (Parus varius) at 3.6 individuals (2.8%), Crowned willow warbler (Phylloscopus occipitalis) at 3.5 individuals (2.7%) and Arctic warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) at 2.9 individuals (2.2%). It is predicted that there is a need to assess the importance of this region through continuous monitoring of the protected region of the BaekduDaegan.