• 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.38 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2024

This study conducted a survey to investigate the characteristics of fish communities and the inhabiting status of endangered species in the Byekgye Stream, Korea from April to September 2020. A total of 3,415 fish of 9 families and 31 species were collected from 7 survey stations during the survey period. The dominant species was Zacco koreanus (relative abundance of 31.2%), and the subdominant species was Z. platypus (15.0%), followed by Pungtungia herzi (11.7%), Acheilognathus yamatsutae (5.4%), A. lanceolata intermedia (4.8%), Rhinogobius brunneus (4.4%), and Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa (4.3%). Among the fish species collected, 19 (61.3%) were identified as Korean endemic species, and two cold-water fish species sensitive to climate change (Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and Cottus koreanus) were collected. Four species were designated as class II endangered wildlife by the Ministry of Environment: A. signifer, P. tenuicorpa, Rhodeus pseudosericeus, and C. koreanus. A. signifer and P. tenuicorpa mainly inhabited the mid to lower streams, R. pseudosericeus in the midstream, and R. pseudosericeus in the upstream. P. tenuicorpa inhabited in large numbers, and estimating the age by total length-frequency distribution in July, the total length of the 26-35 mm group was estimated as 0 years old, the 54-75 mm group as 1 year old, 82-97 mm group as 2 years old, 104-109 mm group as 3 years or older. The cluster analysis showed that the dominance index decreased from upstream to downstream, but the diversity, evenness, and richness index increased. The water quality of Byekgye Stream was evaluated as good overall since the river health (fish assessment index, FAI) using fish was evaluated as excellent (5 stations) and good (2 stations). Byekgye Stream has relatively well-preserved habitats, but conservation measures are required as habitats are disturbed by river repair work in some parts of the midstream and downstream areas where many endangered species inhabit.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.146-159
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• 2020

The objective of our study was to analyze the distribution and composition of fish species and their community characteristics in agricultural waterways in the six water systems-Mankyung River, Seomjin River, Namhae Region, Tamjin River, Yeongsan River, and Dongjin River-during 2017-2018. Little is known about the distributions and community characteristics of the aquatic biota of agricultural waterways in Korea, even if the water bodies have important roles as spawning areas or habitats for fish. In this study, we identified 3,633 fish individuals in the waterways, belonging to 53 species, eleven families, and six orders (dominant species: Tanakia koreensis, T. lanceolate) and 7,108 fish individuals in the main rivers, belonging to 57 species, fifteen families, and nine orders. Moreover, three endangered wildlife (designated by the Ministry of Environment, Korea)-T. somjinensis, Acheilognathus majusculus and Coreoperca kawamebari-were found in the waterways. By fish guild analysis, we found that many waterways had a lower proportion of sensitive species and a higher proportion of omnivore species than those of the main rivers, which indicates a feature of a disturbed environment. In addition, by grouping with environmental variables, we found the group of waterways with high substrate complexity had a higher diversity index (Shannon index) and a lower dominance index (Simpson index) than that of simple substrate complexity. Overall, our study represents the characteristics of fish habitats in agricultural waterways and suggests the need to manage them and study further.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.21 no.sup1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2009

The tiny fragment of freshwater body is providing home for huge biodiversity and resources for the existence of human. The competing demand for freshwater have been increased rapidly and it caused the declination of biodiversity in recent decades. Unlike the natural process of extinction in gradual progress, the current species extinction is accelerated by human activity. As a result many fish species are already extinct or alive only in captivity in the world and about fifty eight animal species are in endangered in Korea including eighteen freshwater species. Conservation of biodiversity is the process by which the prevention of loss or damage is attained, and is often associated with management of the natural environment. The practical action is classified into in-situ, or ex-situ depending on the location of the conservation effort. Recovery means the process by which the status of endangerment is improved to persist in the wild by re-introduction of species from ex-situ conservation population into nature or translocation of some population. However there are a lot of restrictions to complete it and successful results are known very rare in case. In this article the authors explore some strategies for conservation and restoration of freshwater fish species conducted in Korea for few years. The major causes are discussed in relation with the decline of freshwater fish diversity during few decades and some strategies are evaluated to advance the process of conservation. A study on the Korean bullhead, Pseudobagrus brevicorpus, is introduced as a case for ex-situ conservation and restoration in freshwater ecosystem.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2013

The endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow Hybognathus amarus was cultured in 2.44-m-diameter outdoor tanks in a 131-day yield trial to assess growth, survival, and percentage of taggable-sized fish (${\geq}35mm$ total length) when stocked at 500/tank (1.07 million/ha), 1,000/tank (2.14 million/ha), and 1,500/tank (3.21 million/ha). At harvest, fish averaged 45.6 mm and 0.94 g in the 500/tank treatment, 42.6 mm and 0.74 g in the 1,000/tank treatment, and 38.4 mm and 0.55 g in the 1,500/tank treatment; the differences were significant (P = 0.05). Survival in the three treatments was 70%, 64%, and 52%, respectively, but the differences were not significant. Percent taggable-sized fish was 86%, 89%, and 65%, respectively, but the differences were not significant. Yield was 672.5 kg/ha, 1,026.6 kg/ha, and 887.8 kg/ha, respectively; yield in the 1,000/tank treatment was significantly greater than that in the 500/tank treatment, but was not significantly greater than that of the 1,500/tank treatment. This facility is a conservation facility and a major goal is to raise fish without formulated feed. Fertilization produced good growth for the first month, but little growth occurred during the second month so supplemental feed had to be used for the final 60 d of the yield trial.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.79-88
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• 1999

The fish fauna, notified species, and fish community was studied at the six stations in a 18km section of the Ungchon stream, a mountain stream in Korea, where a new dam is planned from 1994 to 1996. Twentynine species (11 families, 25 genera) were found. Nine species were endemic to Korea. The Dominant specie in the studied area were Zacco temmincki, Z. platypus and Squalidus gracilis majimae. Some of the korean endemic species (Coreoperca herzi) including the Korean endangered species such as Pseudopungtudgia nigra and Liobagrus obesus were not found in this stream anymore. The average of area density was 0.69 individuals per square meter and the volume density was 1.45 individuals per cubic meter. Species diversity was highest in the middle region. According to community correlation coefficients of six stations, similality coefficients of station one, four, five and six were higher than others, but no significant difference in the composition of fish fauna was found between six study staions.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.390-401
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• 2022

This study investigated the characteristics of fish communities and inhabiting status of endangered species in the Bukcheon (Stream) of Seoraksan National Park, Korea from April to September 2020. A total of 4,356 fish of 7 families and 22 species were collected from 17 survey stations during the survey period. The dominant species was Zacco koreanus (relative abundance, 41.8%), and subdominant species was Rhynchocypris kumgangensis (relative abundance, 15.1%), followed by Pungtungia herzi (10.1%), Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa (5.0%), Coreoleuciscus splendidus (4.1%), Zacco platypus (3.8%), Microphysogobio longidorsalis (3.5%), and Hemibarbus mylodon (2.2%). Among the fish species collected, 14 species (63.6%) were identified as Korean endemic species. There was one natural monument species (Hemibarbus mylodon), and four species of class II endangered wildlife that were designated by the Ministry of Environment (Acheilognathus signifer, Pseudopungtungi tenuicorpa, Gobiobotia brevibarba, and Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis). Among the four species of class II endangered wildlife, B. lenok tsinlingensis inhabited in the upper stream, and A. signifer, P. tenuicorpa and G. brevibarba inhabited mainly in the middle-lower stream. Also, P. tenuicorpa, H. mylodon, and B. lenok tsinlingensis were inhabited in large numbers. Additionally, two cold-water fish species (R. kumgangensis and B. lenok tsinlingensis) and one landlocked species (B. lenok tsinlingensis) were collected. According to the results of cluster analysis, the dominance index decreased from upstream to downstream, but the diversity, evenness, and richness index increased; the cluster structure was divided into the uppermost, upstream, midstream, and downstream. The water quality of Bukcheon was evaluated as good overall since the river health (index of biological integrity) evaluated using fish was evaluated as very good (11 stations), good (2 stations), and normal (4 stations). However, river repair work was being carried out in some areas and some wastewater was flowing in from the midstream, therefore, supplementary measures to preserve fish habitats are required.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.495-501
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• 2009

The study was conducted in 2007~2008 in order to understand preference of physical microhabitat on the $1^{st}$-class endangered species, Gobiobotia naktongensis inhabiting the Gam Stream, tributary of Nakdong River. The total number of fish caught from the study sites was 3,671 representing 7 families 24 species. There were 8 Korean endemic species including Odontobutis platycephala, and 2 introduced species (Carassius cuvieri, Micropterus salmoides) were found. According to investigation and analysis of physical microhabitat on Gobiobotia naktongensis caught in the Gam Stream, a total of 57 individuals were found at shallow depth (0.14~0.46 m) and run (0.239~0.585m $sec^{-1}$). As a result of sieve analysis, stream beds consisted of about 1% gravel and 99% sand (83.4% coarse sand, 15.6% find sand). Therefore, Gobiobotia naktongensis seemed to inhabit shallow-run with coarse sand bed than deep-pool microhabitat. The findings indicate preference of physical microhabitat on Gobiobotia naktongensis, and it is important to enhance efficiency of fish conservation and ecological restoration with understanding species-specific characteristics in microhabitat including protected species.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.279-284
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• 2008

The feeding ecology of endangered Cottus hangiongensis was studied in the Hosan stream from September 2006 to August 2007 by collecting them seasonally. The stomach contents of C. hangiongensis consisted mainly of aquatic insects and Nematoda, small fish, fish eggs, snails (Semisulcospira libertina), and small stones were also observed. The main aquatic insects in the order of relative importance were Diptera, Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera. The most important prey items were Chironomidae sp.1 and Hydropsyche kozhantschikovi. Change in the main prey organisms by season were Trichoptera in the spring and the summer, Diptera in the autumn, and Plecoptera in the winter by ratio of dry weight.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2009

The Korean doty barbel Hemibarbus mylodon (Cypriniformes; Cyprinidae) is a critically endangered freshwater fish species mainly because of its natural habitat degradation. Three full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) clones representing different muscle actin isoforms were isolated and characterized. The three muscle actin isoforms were 1,294-1,601 bp long with the identical open reading frames of 1,134 bp with the deduced amino acid residues of 377. They showed 83.9-87.2% identities in the coding nucleotide level and 96.8-98.1% identities in the amino acid level. Phylogenetic analysis with the coding nucleotide sequences revealed that three muscle actin isoforms of H. mylodon formed strongly supported monophyletic groups with one of cypriniform skeletal $\alpha$-actin (acta1), cypriniform aortic $\alpha$-actins (acta2), and uncharacterized Danio rerio muscle actin isoform/Salmo trutta slow muscle actin (a novel muscle actin type). Our phylogenetic tree further suggested that cypriniform acta2 only showed the orthologous relationship to tetrapod acta2. Other multiple actin isoforms from diverse teleostean taxa were however clustered to no tetrapod orthologs, i.e., acta1, cardiac $\alpha$-actins (aetc1), acta2, and enteric $\gamma$-actin (actg2). This result strongly suggested that teleostean muscle actins have experienced different and complicated evolutionary history in comparison to mammalian counterparts.