Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the characteristics in breeding of the little tern Sterna albifrons in Shinja-do and Doyo-Deung in Nakdong estuary. The data was obtained in the middle and late 1990‘s and in the mid 2000's, which were analysed for the breeding information of the little tern. In Shinja-Do, a total of 638 nests were observed in 1995, and the average numbers of eggs laid per nest were 2.48. In 2004 and 2005, 94 and 456 nests were observed, and the average number of eggs laid per nest was 2.16 and 2.53, respectively. There was a significant difference between the average numbers of eggs laid per nest for the 3 respective years. In Doyo-Deung, a total of 269 nests were observed in 1998, and the average number of eggs laid per nest was 2.16. In 2004 and 2005, 1,023 and 1,123 nests were observed, and the average numbers of eggs laid per nest were 2.33 and 2.52, respectively. There was a significant difference (p＜0.001) between the average number of eggs laid per nest as well. Hatching success rate by nesting site in Shinja-Do was calculated in 1995. Type A nest (nest located on dry sand land) showed a 56.8% success rate, and type B nest (nest located on the land with dwarf grass), type C nest (nest located on moist land) and type D nest (nest located on the land with shells) showed 55.3%, 36.6% and 59.3% success rates, respectively. The average hatching success rate in Shinja-Do was 54.5%. The most crucial factor for hatching failure was flood, especially, for the type C nests. The hatching success rate by the nesting site in Doyo-Deung showed an average of 73.2%. It was high in type D nest (83.8%) and type A nest (75.9%), and low in type C nest (59.7%). Again, the most crucial factor for hatching failure was flood, especially, for the type C nests. Nakdong estuary has been through many changes over time, particularly in recent. Therefore, continuous efforts to keep it a breeding place for the little tern are urgently required, including overall management of land, protection of reef and sand, etc.
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