COMPARISON OF THE ABUNDANCE OF PREY ANIMALS FOR ORIENTAL STORKS IN A BIOTOPE AND LOTUS FIELDS IN NARUTO CITY, TOKUSHIMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN.

Abstract

 In order to clarify whether the biotope created in Naruto City functions as a feeding sites for storks, this study compared the amount of stork prey in a lotus root field and a biotope created with different numbers of storks flying to the field. Prey organisms were collected by scooping and plastic bottle traps. The results showed that the wet weight of prey organisms collected in the biotope was smaller than that in the lotus root fields, where the storks visited more frequently. The majority of organisms collected in the lotus root fields were non-native species such as American crayfish and bullfrogs. These organisms are the main food source for storks, but there is concern that they may have a negative impact on native ecosystems, for example, by preying on native species. In future biotope management, it is important to create an environment suitable for habitat of native species as well as to prevent the invasion and spread of non-native species.