Oriental Stork Research Articles

ЧИСЛЕННОСТЬ ДАЛЬНЕВОСТОЧНОГО АИСТА CICONIA BOYCIANA SWINHOE, 1873 И МЕРОПРИЯТИЯ ПО ПОВЫШЕНИЮ ЕГО ПРОДУКТИВНОСТИ В ЗАКАЗНИКЕ «АИСТИНЫЙ» (ХАБАРОВСКИЙ КРАЙ) В 2011 ГОДУ

The data on the number and status of the nests of the threatened species, Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana Swinhoe, 1873) in the Aistiny Reserve are presented. Two inspections of this established in 2010 special protected area (19 130 ha) revealed 12 stork nests, including 9 inhabited nests. The provided scheme shows the location of stork nests and artificial nest supports. Stork breeding success in 2011 is reported.

The correlations between population of Oriental white stork and climate change in the Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve

This study analyzed the population dynamics of the Oriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana) wintering in the Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve (PLNNR) from 1985 to 2011, to see if there was any relationship with climate change. Testing of several climate variables-monthly average temperature, monthly average maximum and minimum temperature, as well as monthly precipitation-indicated that the population size of the Oriental white stork in the PLNNR was 1,340±178 ind., with significant linear increase and drastic annual fluctuation. Every single year, the population size only significantly correlated with the average minimum temperature of Nov. In theory, the low temperature of Nov. could drive individuals to choose other wetlands in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, instead of the Poyang Lake as wintering habitats. Meanwhile, temperatures in wintering areas also showed a carry-over effect on subsequent population size. Temperatures in primary stage and later stage of wintering period were significantly correlated with population size 2-9 years later, while the temperature of Oct. was highly significantly correlated with population size 2-5 years after. Temperatures of Feb. and Mar. in the later stage of wintering period were highly significantly correlated with population size of 8 and 3 years after, respectively. Moreover, the stepwise linear regression result showed that the average maximum temperature of Oct. and average maximum temperature of Mar. 2 years ago, as well as the average maximum temperature of Oct. and the average temperature of Mar. 4 years ago were significant predictor factors of the population size fluctuation of the Oriental white stork, which totally accounted for 79.2% of the population size change.

Foraging Habitat Use of Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) Recently Breeding in China

The Yellow River Delta, a stopover site, has become one of the breeding sites of oriental white storks (Ciconia boyciana) in China, with 28 breeding pairs. To gain insight into the characteristics of foraging habitat use during the breeding season, we surveyed the foraging habitats in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, using a quadrat sampling technique, we surveyed 74 quadrats in two breeding phases. Fourteen variables were analyzed with DCA. Oriental white storks mainly foraged in the reed swamp of recovered wetlands during the early breeding phase (70.29%), and in the reed swamp of unrecovered area during the late phase (32.74%), and in the open water of recovered wetlands (29.95%). The variation in proportional habitat use was not significant in the two breeding phases. Differences of the foraging sites in the two phases were extremely significant in terms of plant density, distance from nest, and distance from highway. In 2010, the storks also mainly used the reed wetlands for foraging (87.00%). The top three parameters on the first axis with the highest scores were distance from nest, plant height, plant coverage; on the second axis, the top three variables with the highest scores were plant density, number of other waterbird species, and water depth. These results showed that there are differences in the foraging habitat use of oriental white storks in the early and the late breeding phases. It is favorable for the breeding of oriental white storks to recover the reed wetland and to preserve a certain area of open water habitats.

Behaviors of the Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) in a semi-natural enclosure

Environmental factors affect animal behavior in a variety of ways. Compared to animals in the wild, captive animals are kept in narrow enclosures, suffer higher densities and are more intensely affected by human activities. Therefore, behavioral elasticity is likely modified to some extent in cap- tive animals, which may negatively affect the possibility of successful release of endangered species in the wild. In our study we investigated the behaviors of the Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) in a semi-natural enclosure from 15 October 2005 to 8 September 2006 in Hefei Wildlife Park, China. The behavioral data were collected by instantaneous and scan sampling methods, and we analyzed the relationships between environmental factors and their behaviors. The amounts of time spent on maintenance behavior (foraging and moving) were at similar levels for birds reproducing multi- broods (Group 1), birds reproducing one brood (Group 2) and birds without reproduction (Group 3). On the other hand, the amount of time spent on elastic behavior (defensive, breeding and preen- ing) for Group 3 was lower than that for Groups 1 and 2. The behavioral pattern of the storks exhib- ited marked seasonal changes, which may be a function of ambient temperature, human disturbanc, and the length of daylight, but not of wind intensity. Our results provide basic data for future conser- vation measures of this endangered species.

СОВРЕМЕННОЕ РАСПРОСТРАНЕНИЕ ДАЛЬНЕВОСТОЧНОГО АИСТА (CICONIA BOYCIANA SWINHOE) В АМУРСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The existing and potential breeding sites of Oriental White Stork were detected within Amurskaya oblast. Their mapping was done basing on literature data, numerous interviews of hunters and gamekeepers, and on the authors own long-term recording of stork nests. According to the collected data, existing and prospective breeding areas are located in 17 of 20 administrative districts of Amurskaya Oblast. Their area totals 36,2 thousand sq. km., which is equivalent to 10% of the region territory.

A Population Viability Analysis (PVA) for Re-introduction of the Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) in Korea

The Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) is a representative wetland species distributed across East Asia. The species has been declined to face the threat of species extinctions with estimation of at about 3000 individuals. In order to re-introduce the endangered storks in the field, we developed a baseline model using the program VORTEX, performed sensitivity test, and finally suggested an ideal model based on results of the sensitivity test. The baseline model predicted 12.5% extinction probability with mean time to first extinction of 82.0 year. Sensitivity test revealed that two demographic variables (first-year mortality and percent of adult female breeding) had the greatest impacts on population persistence. Thus, corrected model improved the population persistence, where the extinction probability decreased to 1.0% in 100 years by changing values of two variables within a range of applicable to the population. Our models for stork re-introduction suggest this population will be stable by improving first-year mortality and adult female fecundity.

Use of the foraging area by captive bred oriental storks (Ciconia boyciana) in a closed semi natural paddy field

Rice paddy fields have been recognized as an alternative habitat for avian wetland foragers, and fish-rice farms have become a new tool in improving the abundance of aquatic animals. However, the use of the habitats by avian foragers, particularly by oriental storks (<TEX>$Ciconia$</TEX> <TEX>$boyciana$</TEX>), was not well understood. In the present study, we investigated how a fish-rice farm influenced the abundance of aquatic animals and documented the foraging behavior of the two captive bred oriental storks in a closed semi-natural paddy field. Our results showed that the fish refuge pond (water depth 40 cm) had a higher abundance of fish whereas the areas planted with rice (water depth 20 cm) had more tadpoles and some aquatic insects. The two captive bred oriental storks captured mostly fish and aquatic insects in the rice-planted area and mostly fish in the fish refuge pond. The two oriental storks had higher foraging success and spent more time for foraging in the rice-planted area than in the fish refuge pond. This result suggests that the oriental storks might prefer foraging in the area with fish, aquatic insects, and amphibians under a greater success rate presumably due to shallow water depth in the paddy fields with a fish-rice farm.

A Study on Re-introduction Project of the Oriental White Stork and Promotion of Community Development by Tourism.

A Study on Re-introduction Project of the Oriental White Stork and Promotion of Community Development by Tourism.

兵庫県豊岡市に飛来・定着した野生コウノトリの死亡とその原因&amp;ndash;激しい種内闘争？

兵庫県豊岡市に飛来・定着した野生コウノトリの死亡とその原因&amp;ndash;激しい種内闘争？

Symbiotic animals of an Oriental white stork nest in Toyooka, Hyogo Pref., Japan

Symbiotic animals of an Oriental white stork nest in Toyooka, Hyogo Pref., Japan

An Analytical Framework for Local Sustainability Assessment with Reference to the Reintroduction of the Oriental White Stork in Toyooka City, Japan

An Analytical Framework for Local Sustainability Assessment with Reference to the Reintroduction of the Oriental White Stork in Toyooka City, Japan

Optimum water depth threshold in reed marsh areas of the Yellow River Delta, China

Abstract Optimum water depth is critical for wetland restoration as it directly influences the distribution, growth and adaptability of wetland vegetation, community structure, and water bird habitat selection. Reed marshes are the main habitats for water birds, especially for the endangered oriental stork Ciconia boyciana in the Yellow River Delta, China. In this study, we determined the optimum water depth threshold based on: (1) the ecological adaptability of the reed Phragimtes australis along the water gradient of the delta and (2) the preferences of C. boyciana for specific habitat characteristics in different seasons, from March to October 2009. The results showed that the optimum water depth thresholds in areas with shallow water and dry land are [0,5.7] cm and [-1.3, 0] cm in spring, [5,29.8] cm and [-3.7, 0] cm in summer, and [3.3, 27.5] cm and [-7.7, -3.1] cm in fall, respectively. Our data indicate that future studies should focus on optimum water level and water volume thresholds as practical measures for wetland restoration and protection.

Environmental flows and its evaluation of restoration effect based on LEDESS model in Yellow River Delta wetlands

Due to freshwater supplement scarcity and heavy human activities, the fresh water wetland ecosystem in Yellow River Delta is facing disintegrated deterioration, and it is seriously affecting the health of the Yellow River ecosystem. This paper identifies the restoration objectives of wetland aiming to protect ecological and economic values and development as well as the water resources of the Yellow River. The hydraulic and groundwater coupling model and Landscape Ecological Decision and Evaluation Support System (LEDESS) of the Yellow River Delta were established to calculate environmental flows of degraded wetlands. LEDESS is a computer-based model developed and used to assess and evaluate the effects of land-use changes on nature. In this study, LEDESS is used to assess and evaluate the ecological effects and the restoration possibilities considering several environmental flows’ supplement scenarios. This included the changes of suitable habitat conditions and its ecological carrying capacities for indicator species, e.g., Red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis), Oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana), and Saunder’s gull (Larus relictus), and changing of ecological patterns. The results showed that replenishing fresh water to wetlands is one of the effective adaptive measures to mitigate wetland degradation and improve its habitat quality and carrying capacities. This study indicated that landscape ecology approach is not only considered as a good way to solve complex problems in ecosystem management but also can be used to decide on the environmental flows and assess its ecological effects in large-scale wetland rehabilitation. This integrated method could make environmental flows estimated and assessment more rational than the results of hydrologic methods. It could assist decision makers to “see” the ecological effects after water supplementing and so alleviate the contradictions between environmental flows and production water demands, and can facilitate the implementation of environmental flows in most countries with water resources shortage.

Meat‐eating enhances larval development of Anthracophora rusticola Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), which breeds in bird nests

AbstractThe scarab beetle Anthracophora rusticola Burmeister breeds in the nests of carnivorous birds including the honey buzzard Pernis apivorus (Linnaeus), Chinese goshawk Accipiter soloensis (Horsfield), oriental stork Ciconia boyciana Swinhoe and great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus). Although larvae of the beetle probably feed on animal matter (e.g. remnants of birds' food) in the nests of these birds, the effect of eating flesh on the growth of larvae has not been investigated. Laboratory experiments clearly showed that the development was faster, survival rate higher and body heavier just before pupation in larvae fed dried chicken meat with humus soil than in those fed only humus soil. We also investigated feeding behaviors of larvae of the beetle. A piece of chicken meat placed on the surface of humus soil was pulled under the soil by the larva, mostly at night. Video recordings made during the night showed that larvae came to the humus soil surface and ate the dried chicken meat or tried to take the meat under the soil. Our laboratory observations suggest that larvae in nature stay under the humus accumulated in bird nests during the daytime, and then come up to the surface mostly at night to actively seek and eat remnants of the birds' food.

Isolation and Characterization of Microsatellite DNA Markers for the Oriental White Stork,Ciconia boyciana

Following FIASCO protocol and across-amplification approach, we present eleven microsatellite primers of the Oriental White stork, Ciconia boyciana in this article. All loci were polymorphic, except for locus Cbo235, which possessed two alleles but was homozygous in all 23 individuals of C. boyciana used in this study. The number of the alleles per locus ranged from two to eight, and the observed heterozygosity (H(o)) and expected heterozygosity (H(E)) ranged from 0 to 0.857 and 0.222 to 0.851, respectively. These markers are proved useful in genetic study of C. boyciana.

Screening and application of microsatellite markers for genetic diversity analysis of Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana)

The Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) is a large and endangered waterbird in East Asia. Research on conservation genetics of this species is urgently needed. In this study, microsatellite marking technology was used for screening and analysis of genetic diversity of microsatellite markers in Oriental White Storks. A total of 36 pairs of microsatellite primers were used, of which 7 pairs came from Ciconia ciconia, 12 pairs from Nipponia nippon and 17 pairs from Ardea herodias. Microsatellite loci were screened from 23 individuals of the Oriental White Stork and 11 microsatellite loci were found with high polymorphism. The number of population alleles ranged from 3 to 11, averaging 7.09. The average expected heterozygosity (H e ) was 0.7816 and the average polymorphism information content (PIC) 0.7172, suggesting a relatively high genetic diversity in the population.

Evaluation of Genetic Diversity of Wild Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) in Russia and Their Phylogenetic Relationship with Extinct Populations in Japan

Genetic diversity evaluation of Oriental white storks distributed in the Russian Far East was conducted based on D-loop haplotype data. In addition, to study the relationship between the wild Russian population and extinct Japanese populations, we compared the Russian haplotypes and reported Japanese haplotypes obtained from mounted specimens. The results showed that eight haplotypes with mutations at 18 sites were found in ten individuals. Two types of them were previously reported types and six haplotypes of them were previously unreported type. The haplotype diversity was 0.933. The average of pairwise difference among eight sequences was 0.007. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that there were three evolutionary lineages in the Russian population and the populations in the study area were genetically related to extinct Japanese population.

ОРНИТОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ НАБЛЮДЕНИЯ В МУРАВЬЕВСКОМ ЗАКАЗНИКЕ В ТЕЧЕНИЕ 2009–2010 ГГ.

Muraviovka Zakaznik is located along the Amur River in the southern portion of the Amur Oblast (Province), Russian Federation. The Zakaznik has been critical for protecting some of the last remaining breeding habitat for both Red-crowned cranes, Grus japanensis, and White-naped cranes, Grus vipio, within the region as well as a large concentration of Oriental white storks, Ciconia boyciana. In addition to these charismatic species, the zakaznik provides habitat for over one hundred other species of birds. Despite this area being an ornithological hotspot, no broad scale ornithological studies have been conducted within the zakaznik within the last 20 years. The changes in agricultural practices have no doubt changed some aspects of the avifauna community since these initial studies decades ago. During 2009 and 2010, I worked on a near daily basis within the Zakaznik and recorded all ornithological observations. Here, I report the consolidation of my ornithological observations. These observations help serve as a guide to the species composition of the zakaznik as well as help approximate the number of individuals of many red-data book species. In total, 180 species were observed within the Zakaznik during the observation period and over 134 were considered regular and predictable. 38 of the total observed species are considered regionally endangered.

Reintroduction of oriental white storks : ecological restoration and preparation for release into the wild based on the guidelines of IUCN

Reintroduction of oriental white storks : ecological restoration and preparation for release into the wild based on the guidelines of IUCN

コガネムシ上科の幼虫を巣上で食べたサシバの観察記録

We observed a young Gray-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus picking up and eating insect larvae from inside the nest. Taxonomic examination of one of the larvae revealed it to be approximately 25 mm in length and characterized by a thick and C-shaped body with obvious legs on the thorax and no urogomphi. These features indicated the insect to belong to the superfamily Scarabaeoidea within the family Coleoptera. Scarabaeoidea may breed in nests of the Gray-faced Buzzard, as shown recently in other carnivorous birds, including the Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana and Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo.