Tracking Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) with GPS Satellite Transmitters Along Their Migration Route Through Northeast Asia.
In this study, Global Positioning System satellite transmitters were attached to three mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) wintering in South Korea to track their migration routes, stopover sites, breeding sites, and migration patterns. We successfully tracked only one mallard (no. 108917) from November 15, 2011, to November 29, 2013, and determined separate migration routes in two cases of spring migration and one case of fall migration. The mallard repeatedly migrated to the same final destination, even though the travel path varied. We identified six stopover sites: Hunhe River, Liaohe River, Yinma River, Yalu River, Songjeon Bay, and Dahuofang Reservoir in China and South Korea. The wintering sites of two migration cases were discovered to be identical (Gokgyo River in Asan, South Korea). The terminal sites, which were presumed to be breeding grounds, were the same in both cases (Hinggan League in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China). On the basis of the migration routes identified in this study, we suggest that future efforts to control highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) should not only include avian influenza surveillance but also implement flyway-based strategies, with regard to all countries affected by potential HPAI outbreaks.
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Hwangyeong-ro 42, Seo-gu, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea.
Jeong-Hwa
JH
Shin
Waterbird Network Korea, 101-804 Unhyungung SK HUB, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-776, Republic of Korea.
Ki-Sup
KS
Lee
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Hwangyeong-ro 42, Seo-gu, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea.
Seol-Hee
SH
Kim
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Hwangyeong-ro 42, Seo-gu, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea.
Jong-Kyung
JK
Hwang
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Hwangyeong-ro 42, Seo-gu, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea.
Chanjin
C
Woo
Natural Environment Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Hwangyeong-ro 42, Seo-gu, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea.
Jiyeon
J
Kim
National Wetlands Center, 38, Isan-gil, Ibang-myeon, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongnam 637-833, Republic of Korea.
Jung-Hyun
JH
Kim
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Hwangyeong-ro 42, Seo-gu, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea.
Jae-Hwa
JH
Suh
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Hwangyeong-ro 42, Seo-gu, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea.
Jipseol
J
Jeong
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Hwangyeong-ro 42, Seo-gu, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea.
Seung-Jun
SJ
Wang
Water Supply and Sewerage Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Hwangyeong-ro 42, Seo-gu, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea.
Hyen-Mi
HM
Chung
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Hwangyeong-ro 42, Seo-gu, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea.
Seung-do
SD
Yu
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Hwangyeong-ro 42, Seo-gu, Incheon 404-708, Republic of Korea.
Kyung-Hee
KH
Choi
Avian Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, 48 Gaeshin-dong, Heungduk-ku, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
In-Pil
IP
Mo
D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D046090:Anseriformes / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology*; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D012621:Seasons
H5N1; H5N8; South Korea; avian influenza; mallard; migration route