Tae-Hoe Koo

Monitoring for lead pollution using feathers of feral pigeons (Columba livia) from Korea.

We investigated lead exposure conditions using unwashed feathers of feral pigeons as a monitor for lead pollution from rural, central urban, and four industrial complex areas in Korea with different ambient lead concentrations. Overall, the lead levels in the feathers increased when the atmospheric lead levels increased, so that the lead levels in the feathers from urban and industrial areas were two to four times greater than those in the rural area. However, there are no significant differences in the liver lead concentrations between rural and the other areas, suggesting that the lead originated from ingestion are not differences in locations. A positive correlation was found between the concentration of lead in livers and feathers from rural, indicating that the feather lead concentrations in this area seem to mainly reflect the internal tissue lead through the metabolic process. However, there are no significant correlations in the other areas, and we observed a relatively higher lead accumulation ratio of feathers to livers. It, therefore, indicates that external contamination onto the feather surface may be an important source for lead levels in feathers rather than transfer from internal tissue lead.

Variation in Bird Diversity in Relation to Habitat Size in the Urban Landscape of Seoul, South Korea

Abstract. This study was carried out to find what factors could affect bird diversity in green areas in an urban landscape. We selected 83 sites of different size and type of urban landscapes in Seoul, South Korea and surveyed bird diversity. Urban green patches were grouped into three subclasses: < 1 ha, 1–10 ha and > 10 ha. The cumulative bird diversity was greater in the subclass 1–10 ha than in < 1 ha or in > 10 ha. We suggest that bird diversity was closely related to habitat size, especially in the category 1–10 ha, and recommend this area be used to establish new bird habitats in urban landscapes. The number of bird species was significantly correlated with the number of insect species in studied patches, but was not correlated with the size of green areas or the distance to roads. Therefore, we suggest that the number of insect species is the most important factor affecting bird diversity within our urban study area.

Acute and/or chronic contaminations of heavy metals in shorebirds from Korea

Zinc, copper, lead and cadmium were measured in the livers, kidneys and bones of Terek Sandpipers (Xenus cinereus), Great Knots (Calidris tenuirostris) and Red-necked Stints (Calidris ruficollis) from the Okgu Mudflat, Korea. Zinc concentrations in bones were significantly higher in Terek Sandpipers than the other two species and differed among tissues in Terek Sandpipers. Copper concentrations in kidneys and bones but not livers differed among species. Copper concentrations in Terek Sandpipers and Great Knots differed among tissues. Zinc and copper concentrations from this study were similar to those reported for other shorebirds. Lead concentrations significantly differed among all species for each tissue and among tissues for each species. Cadmium concentrations were significantly different among species for all tissues and among tissues in Great Knots and Red-necked Stints. In Red-necked Stints, lead and cadmium concentrations in each tissue were higher than the background levels for wild birds and both metals were considerably greater that reported previously for shorebirds. Cadmium concentrations in Terek Sandpipers and Great Knots were similar to concentrations reported in other shorebirds. In Terek Sandpipers and Great Knots, lead concentrations showed chronic exposure but not in Red-necked Stints. Cadmium concentrations showed chronic exposure in all three shorebird species.

Nest Site Selection and Reproductive Success of Herons and Egrets in Pyeongtaek Heronry, Korea

Abstract. Nest site characteristics and reproductive success of Black-crowned Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax, Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and Grey Herons Ardea cinerea were studied in a heronry in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggido, Korea. When the species nested in trees without other conspecifics, the mean height of the nest from the ground and the mean distance of nest from the tree trunk differed among species. In trees where both Black-crowned Night Herons and Little Egrets nested, mean nest height did not differ between species, but Black-crowned Night Herons nested, on average, farther from the tree trunk. In trees where Black-crowned Night Herons and Grey Herons nested, the mean distance of nest from the tree trunk for Black-crowned Night Herons was greater, but the mean nest height did not differ between species. In trees where all three species nested, the mean nest height from the ground for Black-crowned Night Herons and Grey Herons was higher than for Little Egrets, and the mean distance of nest from the tree trunk for Black-crowned Night Herons was greater than for the other species. Clutch size did not differ significantly among herons and egrets. Black-crowned Night Herons had fewer hatchlings and fledglings than did the other species. We suggest that while nest height from the ground for herons and egrets was not related to reproductive success, the distance of the nest from the tree trunk was so related.

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Tissues of Feral Pigeons(Columba livia) from Urban Areas in Korea

The present study was to investigate Pb and Cd concentrations in tissues of feral pigeons in urban areas. The Pb levels in bones and livers did not differ between Seoul and Kwangju areas. However, there were significant differences in kidney and liver Cd concentrations between the study sites. These are thought to be a reflection of the metal exposure conditions in the local environment. In particular, metal levels from Seoul were compared with those obtained in the same area between 1991 and 2000 in terms of the long-term biomonitoring approaches. The mean Pb concentrations in bones decreased from 59.1 g/wet g in 1991 to 29.5 g/wet g in 2000, totaling a reduction in concentrations of approximately 50 percent. However, there were no significant differences in the liver Pb concentrations. Concentrations of Cd in livers and kidneys did not differ between 1991 and 2000.