• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.234-241
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• 2012

Kichulchoia brevifasciata belonging to family Cobitidae is an endemic Korean freshwater fish and restricted to very small areas such as Goheung peninsula, and Geogum Island and Geumo Island flowing into the South Sea. As a decrease of its population was further accelerated, a close investigation on the distribution was required. Among a total of 21 sites surveyed, only 5 sites were confirmed in which K. brevifasciata existed. Based on this result, we classified the 5 sites into 3 categories: Being worthy of preserved, being subject to threaten and staying in good condition.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2019

Swimming performance of fish is an important factor in the survival of fish. Also, swimming performance of fish is used in the form of habitat, or as a condition to consider when creating a fish ladder. However in Korea, researches in swimming performance of Korean freshwater fish were scarce and inadequate in some part, thus fish ladders were installed without considering their swimming performance. Therefore, in this study, we measured swimming performance of 4 Korean freshwater fish species to consider importance of swimming performance test. The fish used in this study were Carassius auratus, Zacco koreanus, Gnathopogon strigatus, Acheilognathus lanceolata intermedia species which was collected during October to November, 2018 at Geum River, and measurement for swimming speed of each fish was done by using $Loligo^{(R)}$ System, swim tunnel respirometer in January to February of 2019. The average value of the burst critical swimming speed ($U_{crit}$) for each species was $0.8{\pm}0.04m\;s^{-1}$ for C. auratus, $0.77{\pm}0.04m\;s^{-1}$ for Z. koreanus, $0.95{\pm}0.04m\;s^{-1}$ for G. strigatus, $0.73{\pm}0.03m\;s^{-1}$ for A. lanceolata intermedia and the average value of prolonged critical swimming speed was $0.54m\;s^{-1}$ for C. auratus, $0.67m\;s^{-1}$ for Z. koreanus, $0.7m\;s^{-1}$ for G. strigatus, $0.54m\;s^{-1}$ for A. lanceolata intermedia. Since the fish used in this experiment were collected from a small part of the water system in Korea and there were only 4 species, they were not enough to represent the species that inhabit the entire Korean water system. It will be necessary to continue evaluating the swimming performance of other freshwater species in Korea.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.181-189
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• 2018

This study was performed to analyze the dynamics and distributional condition of biological community and to support the basic information about the estuarine ecosystem management by using the intensively surveyed results by each taxon experts around Tamjin river. We analyzed the biological diversity, abundance, correlation among species, and ecological characteristics about 11 taxa groups including vegetation, fish, birds, mammals, etc. in the Tamjin river estuarine ecosystem. We classified vegetation types into 7 physiognomic types and 18 communities according to habitat conditions with the physical environments and salinity. In total, 1125 species including 9 species of endangered species were identified in research area. The species composition and distributional characteristics of each taxon were corresponded to the environmental characteristics of the estuarine ecosystem. Especially, the species diversity and distribution were clearly distinguished in the river according to the difference of the environmental factors such as flow rate, salinity, and soil. Despite the disturbance factors such as barrage and levees, the biodiversity and its distribution were evaluated to be high level under the current environmental conditions. However, loss or reduction of wildlife habitat due to reclamation, embankment, barrage installation and expansion of farmland has been identified as a major threat to the diversity and health of the local ecosystem. The results of this study can be used as a basic data to cope with various development pressure and damage crisis of the whole estuaries including Tamjin river.

• 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 Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.327-336
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• 2007

This study assessed ecological health using a multi-metric fish model from 15 sites in the headwater watershed of southern Han River during June${\sim}$August 1999 and then compared the health with conventional community diversity index to figure out differences between health and diversity index. For the analysis, we adopted 10 metric IBI model for regional applications. During this survey, total number of species sampled were 24 (6 families) and varied depending on magnitude of ecological disturbance and stream order. In the mountainous streams, mean proportion of sensitive and insectivore species was composed of 91% and 56%, respectively, indicating a potential healthy conditions. However, tolerant species with 66% and omnivore species with 76% were sampled from the 2nd order stream, which was shown deterioration in the physical habitat quality. In the overall watershed, mean IBI value was 38, judging as "fair" condition by the health criteria. Values of Individual IBI were closely associated with stream order and this pattern was similar to other mountainous streams showing low chemical pollutions and disturbance. Our comparison between IBI and diversity index over the stream order showed a distinct difference; Shannon-Weaver diversity index overestimated the actual community conditions and the variation range in the 2nd order stream was greater in the diversity index. Overall data suggest that the multi-metric approach may to a useful tool for stream ecosystem management and the conventional diversity index may not effective unless the stream order is considered for the stream evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.549-556
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• 1984

Forty-eight fish species belonging to 38 genera and 10 families were collected along the Dongjin River from July 1982 to May 1984. The dominant species of them were Rhinogobius brunneus and Zacco platypus in the main stream and Abbottina springeri, Hemiculter eigenmanni and Moroco oxycephalus in the tributaries respectively. It was remarkable point in the distributional study of freshwater-fishes of Korea that both species of Pelteobagrus nitidus and Lefua costata were observed in the present studied areas for the first time. It was found that 6 species of Hypomesus olidus, Hemiculter eigenmanni, Pseudobagrus sp., Liobagrus mediadiposalis, Cobitis taenia striata, and Lepomis macrochirus inhabiting the seomjin River were unstably incorporated into the fish communities at the upper reaches of the Dongjin River which the Seomjin River flow down for the water power generation. It is suggested that the integradation between two subspecies of C. taenia occurs at the intermediate water areas in the mainstream of the Dongjin River, whereas C. t. striate is remained only at the upper reaches and C. t. lutheri is lived in the lower parts of the river. Population of C. koreensis found in the mainstream was exhibited considerable differences in the color patterns on the body sides of them in comparison with other populations, which was discussed in relation to the habitat variations adapted to the confluent condition of joining the Seomjin stream with the Dongjin River.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.71-85
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• 2018

A recent topic of interest within ecology is ecosystem services that are importantly connected with biodiversity. Biodiversity is a fundamental component of ecological studies and has been the subject of many studies worldwide. However, studies on the diversity and distribution of freshwater fish were not undertaken in earnest until 2000, and the number of internationally available studies is therefore still limited. In this study, we used data from "The Survey and Evaluation of Aquatic Ecosystem Health (hereafter SEAEH)" within the framework of which whole water systems on the Korean peninsula are annually monitored to investigate and determine the current status of the diversity and distribution of freshwater fish, as well as to elucidate major factors impacting freshwater fish. A total of 130 species from 28 families were identified at around 953 sites in the SEAEH investigation of 2014. The species Zacco platypus (relative abundance: 28.2%) and Z. koreanus (19.3%) were identified as the most abundant species on the Korean peninsula, and besides these 20 endangered species, 51 endemic species and 4 exotic species were also collected. Highest (96 species) and lowest (72 species) diversity were identified in the Han River Watershed and the Yeongsan/Seomjin River Watershed, respectively. The mean endemic rate was 32.7%, which is higher than the previous rate determined in 1995. The exotic species Micropterus salmoides, Lepomis macrochirus and Carassius cuvieri were found in the whole river system except north Yeongdong, whereas Oreochromis niloticus occurred only at three sites due to the cold water temperatures in winter. Totally, 28 species were found to be translocated to different water systems not connected with known original habitats, most translocations occurring in the Nakdong River and the Yeongdong region. Among the translocated species, Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, and Erythroculter erythropterus were dominantly distributed in the mid- to lower reaches of Nakdong River where they may be harmful to the native fish assemblages due to their strong predation. The construction of weirs in connection with the "4 River Project" generated changes in fish assemblages before, during and after the project, resulting in altered habitat condition. Especially, a decrease in the number of endemic species and an increase in the abundance of lentic species were seen. Human-induced global warming will allow exotic species requiring high water temperatures to adapt to the environmental conditions of the Korean peninsula, which may enhance the diversity of native fishes and create changes in distribution. For the establishment of realistic and efficient management and protection strategies for Korean freshwater fish, SEAEH, which produces fundamental and quantitative data for Korean streams, is an important and necessary tool.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.2 s.116
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• pp.198-208
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• 2006

This research was to apply a multi-metric approach, so called the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) as a tool for biological evaluations of water environments, to a wadable stream. For the study, we surveyed 5 sampling locations in Kap Stream during August 2004 ${\sim}$ September 2005. We also compared the biological data with long-term water quality data, obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea and physical habitat conditions based on the Quantitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI). We used ten metric systems for the IBI model to evaluate biological stream health. Overall IBI values in Kap Stream averaged 24 (range: 20${\sim}$30, n=5), indicating a "fair ${\sim}$ poor" conditions according to the modified criteria of Karr (1981) and US EPA(1993). Exclusive of 4th survey, average IBI values at the upstream reach (S1 ${\sim}$ S3)and downstream reach (S4 ${\sim}$ S5) were 20 and 24, respectively. However, in 4th survey the averages were 21 and 20 in the upstream and downstream reaches, respectively. This difference was larger in the upstream than in the downstream because of physical condition disturbed during summer monsoon. Values of the QHEI varied from 75(fair condition) to 148 (good condition) and values of QHEI in the S3 were significantly (P=0.001, n=5) lower than other sites. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were greater by 3 ${\sim}$ 8 fold in the downstream than in the upstream reach. We believe that present IBI approach applied in this study may be used as a key tool to set up specific goals for restoration of Kap Stream.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2015

Siniperca scherzeri is major target species for restocking and restoration project as it is one of the economic species in South Korea. In this study, to investigate their ecological characteristics movement pattern and habitat characteristic of S. scherzeri were analyzed using radio telemetry. Three specimens released during spawning season, moved more than 10 km toward upstream from the release site. Whereas the remains released after spawning season, settled within 400 m of their release site except two specimens (Ss 11, 3.2 km; Ss, 15, 1.4 km). One of possible reason of upstream movement during spawning season is reproduction. The conditions of their settlement area is similar with reference conditions of their spawning ground. S. scherzeri were mainly detected near the edge of the water, and it may related with the facts that rocks are mainly located at the edge of the water and S. scherzeri prefers rocks for their shelter. AMD (Accumulated movement distance) positively related with body weight and condition factor K, but no significant relationship was identified with gender and total length. Daily movement boundary of S. scherzeri was $214.94m^2{\sim}3,257.19m^2$, and their movement was restricted near the edge of the water. The results of this study could be useful to restocking and restoration.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.523-528
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• 1984

The small filefish, Rudarius ercodes, generally spawning from mid May to early October in the natural habitat, was exposed to various photoperiod and temperature regimes. These environmental effects on the gonad activity, regression and recrudescence were experimentally investigated based on the mechanism of reproductive cycle. Spawning season was initiated in the early spring with the gonad activated by long photoperiod(13L) and stimulated by compensatory temperature rising. Even when the gonad activated readily at the above critical daylength (12L to 13L)was kept back at the below if, it went on maturing. At the end of spawning period (mid September), since the shortening of daylength (12L) resulted in the gonad regression regardless of temperature, the short daylength might be related to the termination of spawning in situ. When the regressive gonad at the post spawning period was treated by the above 13L: $20^{\circ}C$ condition, it could recrudesce and bring forth even spawning. From this fact, the feasible control of annual reproductive cycle of small filefish was recognized. But even in the long daylength, the temperature above $28^{\circ}C$ was preventive of gonad maturation.