Effect of Different Management Techniques on Bird Assemblages on Rice Fields in the Republic of Korea

Abstract

Many bird species rely on the ecological functions of rice field microhabitats. However, recent intensive practices are causing rice fields to provide fewer suitable habitats. This study examined bird microhabitat usage and the effects of intensive use of chemical substances on it. Eco-friendly and conventional rice fields were surveyed from January 2014 to December 2016, and the species presence, the number of birds, and the location of observed microhabitats were recorded. It was found that shorebirds and herons used more eco-friendly rice paddies with fewer or no chemical substances, while waterfowl used the paddy microhabitat more than the other microhabitats, regardless of the amount of chemical substances used. It was confirmed that land birds used ditches or roads in conventional rice fields more than those in fields that used chemical substances. Chemical substances affected bird assemblages differently. Consequently, bird assemblages used habitats differently depending on the farm crop cultivation as well as food abundance. These results provided valuable information useful for managing rice fields that serve as habitats for birds.