• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.208-215
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• 2013

Host species preference of Acheilognathus signifer for spawning in freshwater mussels was investigated at the part of the Dalcheon Stream (site 1) and the Gaedaecheon Stream (site 2) in Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea from April to June (spawning period) 2011. The spawned mussel rate of A. signifer at the study site 1 (wild condition) was 63.6% in Lamprotula leai and 2.1% in Unio douglasiae sinuolatus. It was not found in Anodnta arcaeformis flavotincta and Lanceolaria grayana. The number of eggs, larvae, or both of A. signifer at the study site 1 (wild condition) was 1~41 ($12.0{\pm}9.21$) in L. leai and 6 in U. d. sinuolatus. As a result of experiment 1, A. signifer was only spawned in L. leai with 60% of spawned mussel rate and the number of eggs, larvae, or both was 1~19 ($6.8{\pm}5.44$). According to experiment 2, A. signifer was spawned in all mussels. Spawned mussel rate of A. signifer was 75.0% in L. leai, 42.9% in U. d. sinuolatus and 21.4% in A. a. flavotincta and the number of eggs, larvae, or both was 1~35 ($13.0{\pm}8.80$) in L. leai, 1~26 ($5.2{\pm}6.92$) in U. d. sinuolatus and 2~19 ($8.6{\pm}5.64$) in A. a. flavotincta. Experiment 3 showed A. signifer was solely spawned in L. leai and the number of egg was from 2 to 10 ($6.7{\pm}4.16$). This study confirmed A. singifer is not so much generalist as specialist. We found the most preference species for spawning in the mussels by A. signifer was L. leai.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2006

The matured female and male of A. signifer differed in external morphology and body color. There were significant differences in PAD, PAB, PMP and PQR between matured female and male. Green color was very widely distributed in whole as nuptial color, that is similar to green and cyan color in the body part, yellow color in the ventral part and red and yellow color in the tail part. The nuptial organ of A. signifer was formed in a cluster on the horny substance of both sides above the mouth. There were 25~30 nuptial organs in a side. The nuptial organs disappeared with crumbling down from middle part of nuptial organ after spawning period. The nuptial organs disappeared mostly in September as non spawning period and a part of the nuptial organs remained as a vestige in the edges of both sides.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2009

The fish community was investigated from March to October 2007 in Gwangneung Arboretum. During the survey period, 22 species belonging to 9 families were collected. Among them, one species (Coitus koreanus) was classified as an endangered species in Korea, and exotic fish was Micropterus salmoides. Nine species (40.9%) were endemic species of Korea. Dominant species was R. oxycephalus (St. 1) and Z. platypus (St. 2-7). According to analysis of community based on the diversity, evenness and richness indices, fish community seems to be more stable in the St. 3. The distributions of Silurus microdorsalis, Cottus koreanus and Odontobutis platycephala were confined to the Bongseonsa Stream in the Wangsuk Stream watershed. When our data were compared with the previous data (1932), 17 species were not sampled, but 7 species could new taxa fiend its existence at the Bongseonsa Stream. We believe that Hemibarbus mylodon, Acheilognathus signifer and Zacco koreanus disappeared in the Wangsuk Stream watershed and A. signifer and Z. koreanus need to be restored at the Bongseonsa Stream.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.10-20
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• 2011

Genetic determinant for metallothionein (MT), a cysteine-rich protein playing essential roles in metal detoxification and homeostasis, was characterized in the Korean bitterling (Acheilognathus signifer, Cyprinidae), an endemic fish species. The full-length A. signifer MT (AsMT) cDNA (551 bp) is composed of a single open-reading frame (ORF) to encode a polypeptide of 60 amino acids containing 20 cysteine residues whose positions are conserved in most cypriniform MTs. At the genomic level, the AsMT (2,593 bp spanning the 5'-flanking region to the 3'-untranslated region) represented a conserved tripartite (three exons interrupted by two introns) structure with AT-rich introns. The upstream regulatory region (-1,914 bp from the ATG initiation codon) of AsMT displayed various sites and motifs for transcription factors involved in the metal-mediated regulation and stress/immune responses. The AsMT transcript was ubiquitously detected in various organs with variable expression levels, where the ovary and intestine showed the highest expression, while the heart and skeletal muscle represented the lowest level. During an exposure to copper (immersion in $0.5\;{\mu}M$ Cu for 48 h), the levels of AsMT transcripts were significantly elevated in the liver (more than 3.5-fold), moderately in the gill, kidney, and spleen (ranging from 1.5- to 2.5-fold), and barely in the brain and intestine. Results of this study could form a useful basis to explore the metal-related stress physiology of this endangered fish species.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2005

The digestive apparatus and food of the Korean bitterling, Acheilognathus signifer, from the upper reaches of the Hongcheon River were investigated by examining their gill rakers, pharyngeal teeth, and digestive-tube contents. Gill rakers of the first arch were relatively few (17 to 21, mean = 19) and short (mean = 0.36 mm, SD = 0.035). The 2nd to 5th pharyngeal teeth were well developed, while the first tooth was poorly developed. Gill rakers and pharyngeal teeth were completely formed early in life. The digestive tube was long and arranged in many coils. The digestive-tube contents of Korean bitterling mainly consisted of phytoplankton and detrital microorganisms.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.96-104
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• 2010

During an artificial breeding as a part of restoration of the endangered Korean bitterling Acheilognathus signifer, a small number of individuals exhibiting oculocutaneous albinism were produced. We compared the pigmentation and morphology of normal and albinic bitterlings by histological examination of skin samples obtained from 10 regions on the body, fins, and eyes. There were no differences in morphometry and in general morphology of skin between them. In normal bitterlings, pigment cells were better developed in the dorsal region, the upper part of caudal peduncle region, the choroid-retinal epithelium and iris than in other areas. In the albinic bitterling, however, pigment cells were present only in three parts of the dorsal region, the caudal and dorsal fin, which had few melanin cells. Albinic bitterlings also displayed deficient pigmentation in the choroid-retina pigment epithelium and iris. Although they had different pigmentation aspects in distribution and development between normal and albinic bitterlings, melanin cells were mainly present in the dorsal regions of the skin and eyes where are exposed directly to light.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.5B
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• pp.331-343
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• 2012

In this study, the site investigation for fish was performed in the 15 km of Hongcheon river including Oancheon stream. The river ecosystem health was evaluated using the field data for fish. The field survey was carried out at 9 sites, 4 times from August to November 2011. The ecological diversity, including dominance, evenness, and richness and the ecological health using IBI and QHEI were evaluated. The result shows that the mean IBI in the 9 sites is in good-common condition, but the downtown section has a common-worse condition. The result evaluated by QHEI shows optimum-good condition. Also, the habitat suitability index for Pseudopuntungia tenuicorpa, which is one of endangered species, was evaluated, and then the environment flow was calculated by using the PHABSIM model. The previous research in the literature reports that Acheilognathus signifer, one of the endangered species, inhabited in Hongchen river. However, the existence of Acheilognathus signifer was not found in the recent research and this study. Thus, the physical habitat condition for Acheilognathus signifer was evaluated using the field data in the previous study. Also, the habitat improvement for Acheilognathus signifer in Hongcheon river was proposed.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2014

This study aimed to find an optimal diluent and cryoprotective agent (CPA) during cryopreservation of common Korean bitterling Acheilognathus signifier sperm. The bitterling is an endangered species in Korea, and this study will enable conservation and further technical development of artificial seed production. We tested the effects of cryopreservation and toxicity by the type of diluent and CPA. The optimal combination of diluent and CPA for cryopreservation was 300 mM glucose+10% methanol, resulting in a survival rate and sperm activity index (SAI) of $96.3{\pm}1.5%$, and $3.0{\pm}0.0$ respectively, and no significant difference compared to fresh sperm. The survival rate and SAI of post-thawed sperm was $9.7{\pm}1.5%$, $0.8{\pm}0.3$ respectively, which was significantly higher than had been achieved with other diluents and CPAs.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.222-234
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• 2019

Fish community characteristics and habitat aspects of endangered species, Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa and Acheilognathus signifer were investigated in the Hwayangcheon Stream of Songnisan National Park, a tributary of the Hangang River, Korea from April to October 2018. During this period, there were 29 species of 8 families collected from 11 survey stations using kick nets, cast nets long bag set nets. The dominant and subdominant species were Zacco koreanus (38.81%) and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (16.64%), respectively. The next most abundant species were Z. platypus (14.28%), Pungtungia herzi (6.92%), Hemibarbus longirostris (4.52%), Pseudogobio esocinus (3.51%), A. signifer (2.31%) and P. tenuicorpa (1.90%). Among the fish collected, 18 species (62.1%) were Korean endemic species. Endangered species were A. signifer, P. tenuicorpa and Gobiobotia brevibarba. From upstream to downstream, the dominance index has gradually decreased, but number of species and individuals, diversity and evenness has gradually increased. Also, river health (index of biological integrity) is assessed as good (St. 1~8) and very good (St. 9~11). Fish communities were divided into four sections by the similarity index based on species and their numbers, i.e., upper section (St. 1~2, 4~5), upper-middle section (St. 3, 6), middle section (St. 7~9) and lower section (St. 10~11). Endangered species, Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa inhabited in mostly lower section (St. 10~11) with rock and boulder bottoms, and age groups in April estimated from total length indicated that the 44~61 mm group is 1 year old, the 66~81 mm group is 2 years old, the 88~99 mm group is 3 years old, and the 104~107 mm group is more than 4 years old. Also, endangered species, A. signifer inhabited in middle-lower section (St. 7~11) with boulder and cobble bottoms and slow velocity, which the place inhabited by water plants. Meanwhile, their age structure in April estimated from total length indicated that the 30~43 mm group is 1 year old, the 48~58 mm group is 2 years old, the 62~77 mm group is 3 years old, and the 84~100 mm group is more than 4 years old. The sex ratio of female (47) to male (42) was 1 : 0.89.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.202-215
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the spawning preference of the Acheilognathinae fishes in relation to the shell size of host mussels after identifying the species of eggs and fries in the host mussel using our recently developed RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) molecular marker at four sites [Hongcheon Naechoncheon (HN) and Deokchicheon (HD) from the North Han River basin and Jeongseon Goljicheon (JG) and Joyanggang (JJ) from the South Han River] in South Korea during May in each year between 2015 and 2018. The Acheilognathinae fish observed in the studied sites included one species (Acheilognathus signifer) in HN and JG, three species (Rhodeus uyekii, A. signifer, and Acheilognathus yamatsutae) in HD, and two species (A. signifer and Acheilognathus yamatsutae) in JJ, and we collected 982 host mussels (Unio douglasiae sinuolatus) that inhabited in all four sites. Using the RFLP molecular marker, we confirmed 46 eggs and fry of the Acheilognathinae fish (454 A. signifer, 43 Acheilognathus yamatsutae, and 149 Acheilognathus yamatsutae) in Unio douglasiae sinuolatus (N=163; 16.6%). We compare the average shell length, shell height, and shell width of mussels with [presence] eggs/fry and mussels without [absence] eggs/fry to examine the spawning preference according to the size of host mussels in each site. The results show that the shell length (1.98 mm), shell height (0.85 mm), and shell width (0.73 mm) of mussels with the eggs/fry were significantly larger (Mann-Whitney U test, P=0.002; difference=1.98 mm) than those of mussel without eggs/fry in HD where three species cohabitated. Although the shell length, shell height, and shell width of mussels with the eggs/fry were larger also in the other three sites, the difference was not statistically significant. In addition, we analyzed the mean number of spawned eggs and fry of each species and found $9.31{\pm}5.94$ R. uyekii, $2.86{\pm}2.45$ A.signifer, and $2.50{\pm}1.32$ A. yamatsutae. R. uyekii spawned 6.45-6.81 more eggs than A.signifer and A. yamatsutae on average per mussel, and it was statistically significant (Kruskal-Wallis test, P < 0.001). These findings indicate that the three species of Acheilognathinae fish tend to prefer larger mussels as their spawning hosts, and this tendency increases when the number of cohabitating bitterling fish species increases. Moreover, A.signifer and A. yamatsutae spawned a smaller number of eggs evenly in more host mussels while R. uyekii spawned many eggs on relatively fewer mussels. We found mussels (N=4) having the eggs/fry of two coexisting species, A. signifier and A. yamatsutae in HD and JJ where more than two bitterling fish species occurred. It suggests the interspecific competition taking place between the Acheilognathinae fishes for utilizing the same resource of mussels for spawning when two or more species cohabitate. This study is expected help to understand better the spawning patterns and reproductive ecology of the Acheilognathinae fishes, which will provide insightful information for advancing our understanding of their ecological relationships - mutualism or host-parasitism - with host mussels.