The characteristics of the breeding bird community in the Haean Catchment

TERRECO WP 3-08

Von 03/2009 bis 12/2013

Projektleiter: Chan Ryul Park, Dowon Lee
Bewilligung: IRTG 1565 WP III TERRECO - Complex Terrain and Ecological Heterogeneity - Evaluating ecosystem services in production versus water yield and water quality in mountainous landscapes

Goal within the TERRECO Assessments:

• Analysis of the role of "bibosoops" (catchment closing forest stands) in preservation of biodiversity in Korean landscapes
• Evaluation along catchment gradients in forest to agriculture conversion of changes in bird populations as related to insect population control, herbivory and pollination biology

 

Post-doc financed by KOSEF (Korea).

 

Abstract: We surveyed patch use of wintering birds in order to understand the importance of field margins in an agricultural landscape. Of the twenty-eight bird species observed, we can suggest that 13 species are grassland birds in the study area. Birds frequently foraged food resources in deciduous and riparian forests in winter. We did not find a significant difference of species richness of birds between conventional and organic farms. Forest cover did not show a clear relationship with the number of birds in any groups of migration pattern and habitat types. However, overall, birds highly utilized the deciduous forest and riparian forests. Birds particularly showed preference to banks between fields. Agricultural biodiversity in paddy fields themselves have been emphasized in Asia, but we identify the importance of the riparian forests as similar with that of field margins in Europe as sustaining the biodiversity of the agricultural landscape in the study area. We can suggest a typical type of field margin (banks between fields) in steep regions of mountainous landscapes, Korea. Until thirty years ago in Korea, these banks had been managed clearly to remove the habitats for harmful insects and disease, however socio-economic changes such as the abandonment of farms and a decrease of young farmers seems to result in favourable habitat for biodiversity. These banks are clearly a particular and unique type of field margin.

 

Keywords: banks, green revolution, paddy fields, riparian forests

 

project description in detail from proceedings of 2011 TERRECO Science Conference GAP