• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.238-248
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• 2010

We performed field investigations at six stations in Buk Stream of Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea, from May to September 2009 to understand the stream's fish fauna and community structure. In the survey, 31 species belonging to 20 families were collected. Dominant species by number was Zacoo koreanus (30.0%), and subdominant species were Pungitius kaibarae (9.4%) and Rhynchocypris steindachneri (9.3%). In biomass, the dominant species was Tribolodon hakonensis (35.5%), and subdominant species were Z. koreanus (22.5%) and Cobitis pacifica (7.5%). Eight Korean endemic fish species and two endangered species (P. kaibarae and Pungitius sinensis) were collected. In addition, four anadromous fish species (T. hakonensis, Oncorhynchus masou masou, O. keta, Gasterosteus aculeatus) and two amphidromus fish species (Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis and Gymnogobius urotaenia) were observed. Interestingly, we verified the existence of several fish species in Buk Stream where they have not lived before. Those species were previously reported to live only in rivers that run into the western and southern sea of Korea. Five of those species (Zacoo koreanus, Z. platypus, Silurus microdorsalis, Liobagrus andersoni and Coreoperca herzi) were reported in Buk Stream in the 1980s. The other species (Pungtungia herzi, Pseudorasbora parva, Squalidus multimaculatus, Misgurnus mizolepis, Koreocobitis rotundicaudata, Silurus asotus and Odontobutis interrupta) have been introduced since the 1990s.

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.91-102
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• 1998

The objectives of this research were to develop fish-habitat relationship models which can be used to estimate fish species riclmess of small and medium rivers in Korea, and test the accuracy of the models. The models are based on the Aquatic GAP Analysis model in the New York Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit (19%), and they employ three habitat factors; river size, physical habitat, and water quality of each river segment. Model 1 and model II are based on the water quality standard for life support of EP A and the water quality class of Korea, respectively. Test sites for this study include one urban stream and three less spoiled tributaries of the Han River. The results of this research can be summarized as follows. First, the number of habitat types identified by model I and model II are nine and 14, respectively. Second, the average accuracy of the three distribution maps of rare or endangered fish species are 80.6% (model 1) and 81.2% (model II). Third, the accuracy of fish species richness are 94% (model 1) and 95% (model II), and the water quality is the most important factor affecting fish species richness. Fourth, the accuracy of fish species list are 50.5% (model 1) and 68.7% (model II), but the accuracy of less spoiled stream segments and that of polluted stream segments are 67.1% and 86.5%, respectively. Finally, it can be concluded that the overall performance of model II is better than that of model I at our test sites.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2016

The fauna of freshwater fish and water chemistry characteristics were investigated from June, 2014 to October, 2014 at 10 sites in Taebaeksan Provincial Park. A total of 7 species under three families were collected from the survey sites and among them one endangered species - Koreocobitis naktongensis - was identified. The endemic species of Korea were 2 species: Koreocobitis naktongensis, Iksookimia koreensis. Dominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus(89%) and subdominant species was Orthrias nudus(8.9%). Water quality including conductivity, turbidity, pH and total dissolved solids(TDS) varied largely depending on the sampling locations. Values of ambient conductivity and TDS were greater in the upstream than in the downstream, and seasonal variabilities were also higher in the upstream. The pH decreased towards the downstream, and especially showed a sharp decrease in S5. This phenomenon was evident due to a dilution by the influx in the acid mine drainage(AMD) of S4. Physical habit conditions, based on qualitative habitat evaluation index(QHEI) model, indicated a "Sub-optimal" condition(mean: 157.3; range: 78 ~ 194) in the Sodo stream watersheds.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.261-266
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• 2017

Microphysogobio koreensis is an endemic Korean freshwater fish that is protected as an endangered fish by the Ministry of Environment in Korea. In this study, we attempted to investigate the spawning period and spawning characteristics of M. koreensis to obtain basic information for its conservation. Though natural and histological observation, the spawning season occurred between April and May, with peak spawning occurred in early May when the water temperature was $20{\sim}23^{\circ}C$. During the spawning season, males had a bright-orange body and a thick red horizontal line from the rear of the operculum to the caudal peduncle, along with a lateral line, while females had a dark brown body. Nuptial organ had not appeared. The number of eggs in the ovaries was 10,705~22,165 ($15,573{\pm}4,274$). The number and appearance ratio of mature eggs were 1,100~5,920 ($3,383{\pm}2,126$) and 10.3~44.8% ($22.4{\pm}15.6$), respectively. And the size of mature eggs was 0.60~1.00 mm ($0.74{\pm}0.06$).

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2013

Egg development and early life history of the Korean spine loach, Iksookimia pumila was investigated to provide basic information regarding biological characteristics and restoration. Adult fish were sampled using spoon net in the Baek Stream, Sangseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea, 7 July 2010. Eggs and sperms were obtained from the females and male with Ovaprim injecting (0.5 mL/kg) and then fertilized using the dry method in the laboratory. Number of spawned eggs were 1,107 (352~1,440). Spawned eggs were slightly adhesive, light yellowish coloring and measured $1.3{\pm}0.04$ mm (mean${\pm}$SD) in diameter. Spawned eggs hatched out 52 (47~55) hours after fertilization at water temperature of $23^{\circ}C$, and newly hatched larvae an average were $4.7{\pm}0.14$ mm in total length. At 5 days after hatching, larvae averaged $7.1{\pm}0.20$ mm in total length and their yolk sacs had been completely absorbed. Beginning at 17 days after hatching, fish entered the juvenile stage and reached $11.0{\pm}0.50$ mm in total length. At 100 days after hatching, the band patterns and external form of juvenile fish were similar to those of adults, and they averaged $31.3{\pm}3.98$ mm in total length.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2015

The conservation project to protect an endangered fish, Gobiobotia naktongensis was executed against declining the gene diversity of the fish after the construction of Youngju Dam in a sand-bed stream (Naeseongcheon Stream). We tried to move the populations of G. naktongensis from submerged planned sites to alternative habitats, bred artificially and augmented the juveniles to optimal habitat, and monitored the results of the restoration implementation. No entity of G. naktongensis was confirmed at the planned submerged sites despite attempting to capture more than 8 times and eventually the movement to alternative habitat could not be implemented. About 40 individuals of G. naktongensis were captured in the Naeseongcheon Stream and a total of 5,000 individuals were artificially spawned up. The population of juvenile inherited the genetic diversity from the brood stock. The bred juveniles were discharged at the selected optimal site that had a habit condition what was similar to their natural habitat. The micro-dispersion around the discharging area was found at the early stages of the augmentation. The re-capturing rate of discharged juveniles was reduced as time passed. The discharged juveniles seemed to adapt to the natural environment of Naeseongcheon Stream. The observation of their high abdominal distension and excrement demonstrated that the juveniles fed successfully in the discharging area. Therefore, securement of genetic homogeneity and enhancement of restoration population of G. naktongensis in upstream and downstream of Youngju Dam site from the artificial seed producing seemed to be primarily successful and long-term monitoring and analysis of the effect was expected to be necessary.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.208-217
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• 2022

We wanted to develop a real-time PCR assay capable of detecting Liobagrus obesus in environmental DNA (eDNA) extracted from freshwater samples using a pair of species-specific primers and probe for the endangered fish, L. obesus. The species-specific primers and probe were designed in consideration of single nucleotide polymorphisms between 65 species of freshwater fish living in the Republic of Korea within the cytochrome b (cytb) gene of mitochondrial DNA. The species-specific primers and probe, in the real-time PCR assay, showed high specificity as only the L. obesus genomic DNA (gDNA) was found to be positive in the specificity verification using 65 species gDNA of freshwater fish in the Republic of Korea. In addition, in the detection limit analysis using the serial dilution concentrations of L. obesus gDNA, it was found that it was possible to detect up to 0.2 pg, showing high sensitivity. Afterwards, using the species-specific primers and probe, real-time PCR assay was performed on freshwater samples obtained from 8 stations in the mid-upper basin of Geum River. As a result, the cytb gene of L. obesus was detected in total 5 stations including all 3 stations where this species was collected at the time of field survey. Therefore, the species-specific primers and probe developed in present study, and the real-time PCR assay using them, can accurately detect the cytb gene of L. obesus from eDNA samples, which can be utilized to monitor the existing habitats of this species and to discover potential new habitats.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.489-494
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• 2007

Transcriptional modulation of metallothionein (MT) during acute metal exposures (cadmium, copper or zinc) was examined in fry of Hemibarbus mylodon, a threatened fish species in Korean peninsula. Viability of H. mylodon fry was most affected by copper exposure (up to 79% of mortality at 1 ppm for 48 hours) and considerably by cadmium exposure (21 to 54% of mortality). On the other hand, Zn showed the least adverse effect on the viability (0 to 13% of mortality) of this species. Based on the semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis, the stimulation of MT mRNA in response to metal exposures followed generally in a dose-dependent fashion where cadmium was the most potent inducer for the induction of MT transcripts in fry (up to more than 5-fold) while the lowest response was observed in zinc-exposed group (2-fold at maximum). From the exposure using environmentally realistic doses of cadmium (0 to 0.05 ppm for 24 hours), MT expression at mRNA level was also sensitively modulated toward upregulation up to more than 3-fold as relative to non-exposed control. Results from the present study would be a good basis for understanding the adaptive capacity and stress physiology of this endangered fish species during metal pollution.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2011

Fish community structure in the Pyeongchanggang River was investigated from April to November 2009. About 900 individuals representing 24 species from eight families at six sites in the Pyeongchanggang River were collected. It was similar to the 2001's survey and it was less than 2006's survey. The Korean endemic species, Zacco koreanus was the most abundant, whereas subdominant species were native species, such as Pungtungia herzi, Zacco platypus, Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus. Three endangered species were collected at the sampling area, Acheilognathus signifier (relative abundance [RA] 0.9%), Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa (RA 1.4%), and Cottus koreanus (RA 3.6%). One natural monument species, Hemibarbus mylodon, was included. According to the analysis of ecological indicator characteristics, the relative proportion of tolerant species was 6.3% (57 individuals), whereas the proportion of sensitive species was 65.9% (593 individuals). Species evenness, richness and diversity indices decreased gradually through the month from April to November during the study. Community indices in Pyeongchanggang River showed a high evenness index (J'>0.6), a low level of species richness (R<3.5) and a medium level of diversity (1.5

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.325-338
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• 2020

The animal gut is filled with highly diverse microbes associated with host metabolism, physiology, and pathology. However, numerous animal gut microbes have not been cultured or reported. We isolated various bacterial species using culture-dependent approaches during a comprehensive investigation of endangered endemic vertebrate species in the Republic of Korea. A total of 18 unrecorded bacterial species were isolated from the feces of an Oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana), and from the intestinal tracts of a cobitid fish (Kichulchoia multifasciata) and a Korean splendid dace (Coreoleuciscus splendidus). Based on a phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, we discovered species belonging to the phyla Actinobacteria (eight species), Firmicutes (seven species), Proteobacteria (two species), and Bacteroidetes (one species). Based on their high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (>98.7%) and formation of monophyletic clades with type species, each species was classified into an independent and predefined bacterial species. Gram-stain reaction, colony and cell morphology, basic biochemical characteristics, isolation source, and NIBR IDs for each species are described in the species description section.