• 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.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.553-562
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• 2023

The Gobiobotia naktongensis is a species endemic to Korea, and it has recently been designated as a class I endangered species of freshwater fish. Naeseong Stream, one of the tributaries of the Nakdong River, where the Gobiobotia naktongensis was first discovered, provided an optimal habitat for the Gobiobotia naktongensis in the past with fine sand beds and riffle. Currently, due to the construction of Yeongju Dam and the excessive dredging of river channels by the local government, the riverbed armoring in the downstream area of the dam is undergoing rapid changes, and as a result, the habitat environment of the Gobiobotia naktongensis is deteriorating. In this study, the variations of the habitat suitability of the Gobiobotia naktongensis due to the change in the riverbed grain size of the Naeseong Stream were analyzed based on the WUA (weight usable area) using the physical habitat model, River2D. The study domain is the reach from Seoktap Bridge to Hoeryong Bridge downstream of Yeongju Dam. The change in riverbed grain size was analyzed using D50 acquired in 2010 and 2020, respectively. The substrate grain size of Naeseong Stream in 2020 was thicker than that in 2010, and the riverbed coarsening phenomenon was evident overall. As a result of the River2D analysis, the area in which the Gobiobotia naktongensis could inhabit was only about 0.75% in 2010 compared to the entire area of the flow, and even this decreased to 0.55% in 2020 due to riverbed armoring.

• 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.26 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2014

Population ecology of Gobiobotia naktongensis was investigated at the Gamcheon stream, Nakdonggang River in Korea from March to November in 2010 and June in 2012. It mainly inhabited on the slow-flowing waters 0.11~0.44 m/s (mean: 0.32) and shallow depth 11~69 cm (mean: 28). As a result of the sieve analysis, size of the particles in the stream bottom beds consisted of 1.71% (>3.35 mm), 71.3% (>0.500 mm) and 26.9% (>0.106 mm). The standard length of the population indicated that the age for 25~30 mm group is one 31~41 mm group is two and longer than 42 mm group over three (May in 2010). The spawning period was from June to July with water temperatures ranging from 28.0 to $31.0^{\circ}C$. The sex ratio of female to male was 1 : 0.64 while the number of eggs in the ovaries was 1,067~7,298 (mean: 2,827). The number of matured eggs size in ovaries was 0.71~1.04 mm (mean: 0.79) and the stomach contents were mainly Chironomidae. The individual number of stomach contents was increased at noon and showed the highest rate from noon to 3 pm.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2013

Egg development and early life history of the endangered species, Gobiobotia naktongensis were investigated to provide basic information regarding biological characteristics and restoration. Eggs were obtained from the females with Ovaprim (0.5 mL/kg) injecting and then fertilized using the dry method in the laboratory. Number of spawned eggs were $1,015{\pm}199$. Spawned eggs were strongly adhesive, opaque and grayish and measured $0.74{\pm}0.08mm$ (mean${\pm}$SD) in diameter. Fertilized egg size continuously increase until $2.94{\pm}0.10mm$ for 9 h 30 min at $23^{\circ}C$. Fertilized eggs hatched 26 h after fertilization, and newly hatched larvae an average were $3.4{\pm}0.07mm$(TL). The yolk sacs of the larvae were of most absorbed of 3 days after hatching and $4.4{\pm}0.1mm$ (TL). About at 13 days after hatching, they became to juvenile stage and reached $16.8{\pm}0.50mm$ (TL). At 80 days after hatching, the band patterns and external form of juveniles were similar to those of adults, and they averaged $27.7{\pm}2.32mm$(TL).

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.356-367
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• 2012

Community structure of fish and inhabiting status of endangered species, Cobitis choii and Gobiobotia naktongensis were investigated in the Ji Stream, a tributary of the Geum River Drainage System of Korea from May to October 2011. Ten to 23 fish species inhabited upper stream (St. 1~St. 4) with a Aa-Bb river type composed of mostly pebble and cobble bottoms, 16~28 species did middle stream (St. 5~St. 7) with a Bb type composed of mostly cobble and boulder bottoms, and 20-29 species did lower stream (St. 8~St. 10) with a Bb-Bc type composed of mostly sand bottoms. A total of 44 species belonging to nine families were found in the stream during the survay. The dominant species were in the order of Zacco platypus (37.2%), Pungtungia herzi (5.8%) and Pseudogobio esocinus (5.5%). Other abundant species included Acheilognathus lanceolatus (5.3%), Zacco koreanus (5.2%), Hemibarbus longirostris (4.9%) and Squalidus gracilis majimae (3.5%). Among residing species, 16 species were endemic to Korea, two (Cobits choii and Gobiobotia naktongensis) were endangered, and one (Micropterus salmoides) was non-indigenous. The similarity index based on species composition and abundance clearly delineated the fish community of the Ji Stream according to the three major sections, which were defined at the above. Dominance index gradually decreased toward downstream, while diversity, evenness and species richness indexes gradually increased toward downstream. The two endangered species, C. choii and G. naktongensis co-occurred at the lower stream due to the prevalence of a sandy substratum.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2005

The ichthyofauna and fish community were studied in Miho Stream from May 2004 to August 2005. During the surveyed period 41 species belonging to 10 families were collected. Twelve of the species (29.3%) are endemic to Korea. Exotic fishes were Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus, and Micropterus salmoides. Dominant species was Zacco platypus (54.7%). Comparing the present result with that of Son (1982), the indices of diversity,evenness and richness were lower and the dominance index was higher; Lampetra reissneri, Anguilla japonica, Acheilognathus macropterus, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Pseudopungtungia nigra, Gobiobotia naktongensis, Lefua costata, Pseudobagrus koreanus, Monopterus albus and Iksookimia choii did not appear; Carassius auratus, Rhodeus uyekii, Rhodeus notatus, Acheilognathus lanceolatus, Pseudogobio esocinus, Hemibarbus longirostris, Microphysogobio yaluensis, Cobitis lutheri, Iksookimia koreensis, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco, and Rhinogobius brunneus, remarkably decreased, and Z. platypus, Pseudorasbora parva, and Squalidus gracilis majimae increased.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.512-512
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• 2023

내성천은 대한민국의 대표적인 모래하천으로서 흰수마자(Gobiobotia naktongensis)의 최적 서식처로 알려져 있다. 흰수마자는 낙동강에서 채집되어 새로운 종으로 보고된 한국 고유종이지만 최근 멸종위기야생생물 I급 담수어류로 지정되었다. 흰수마자는 입자가 1 mm 이하의 가는 모래로 90% 이상 구성된 모래하상과 수질이 양호한 곳에서 서식하는 것으로 알려져 있다(Kim et al, 2014). 특히 낙동강 중류의 감천과 상류의 내성천 수계에서 비교적 많은 개체수가 출현하고 있는 것으로 보고되었다(Na et al., 2015). 그러나 영주댐 건설 이후, 댐 하류 내성천에서 흰수마자의 개체수가 급격히 줄어들었다. 2021년 내성천 유역 자연성생태계모니터링 보고서(환경부, 2022)에 따르면 내성천에서 흰수마자가 2016년에 492개체가 채집된 이후 2019년 7월엔 1개체만이 채집되었으며 이후 2022년 8월까지 채집되지 않았다. 반면 망둥어과 어류 중 입자가 굵은 하상환경에서 주로 서식하는 밀어의 개체수는 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 이는 내성천 유역의 하상환경변화가 어류서식에 직간접적으로 영향을 미친것으로 해석할 수 있다. 본 연구는 물리서식처 모형인 River2D를 활용하여 내성천 석탑교(No. 46) 에서 회룡교(No. 4)까지 약 40 km 구간을 대상으로 2010년 하상 입자와 2020년 하상 입자 크기에 따른 흰수마자의 서식처 적합도 변동양상을 분석하였다. River2D 모형을 통해 계산되는 어류 서식처 적합도는 물리서식처 모의시스템에서 사용되는 가중가용면적(WUA: Weighted Usable Area)에 근거하여 산출된다. WUA는 대성어종의 특정 성장단계별, 서식처 특성별로 주어진 구간을 이용할 수 있는 순수적합도(net suitability)에 대한 하나의 지표이다. WUA가 크다는 것은 그만큼 대상어종의 서식처 및 활동 영역이 크다는 것을 의미한다. WUA는 각 절점에서 평가되어지는 복합서식처 적합도 지수에 의해 계산된다. 본 연구에서는 곱셈방법을 적용한 복합 서식처 적합도 지수를 산정하여 하상입자에 따른 흰수마자의 서식처 적합도 변동양상을 분석하였다.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.38-50
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• 2015

Appearance patterns of freshwater fish were investigated in the western Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) adjacent areas near Imjin River in Gyeonggi-do, Korea, of 2014. A total of 61 species belonging to 14 families were found in the river during the survey. The dominant and subdominant species were Zacco platypus (Relative abundance, 20.3%) and Zacco koreanus (12.6%), respectively. Other abundant species include Rhinogobius brunneus (9.2%), Pungtungia herzi (4.4%), Acheilognathus yamatsutae (4.4%), and Pseudogobio esocinus (4.0%). Among the residing species, 24 species (39.3%) were endemic to Korea; and 1 species, Carassius cuvieri, was non-indigenous species. Hemibarbus mylodon is a natural monument, and Lethenteron reissneri, Acheilognathus signifer, Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa, Gobiobotia brevibarba, G. macrocephala, and G. naktongensis are endangered species in Korea. In addition, Anguilla japonica and Plecoglossus altivelis are catadromous and amphidromous species, respectively. Among the investigated sites, the lower part of Sami Stream (St. 5, 6) and Gunnarm-dam region (St. 11, 14) are particularly valuable for the conservation of species diversity, because many fish species (33~42 species) including a natural monument and several endangered species inhabit in these regions.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.375-383
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• 2023

To determine the cause of the population decline in Gobiobotia naktongensis, substrate preference and burying behaviour were investigated in this study. In general, the species was shown to prefer a substrate size of 1 mm or less, depending on the flow. In addition, the burying depth varied according to the size of the fish and increased with a decrease in water temperature. Our findings showed that the main cause of the population reduction was the physical changes in the substrate structure due to the dams or barrages construction. Notably, the accumulation of silt and mud in the substrate upon the formation of an upstream lentic water region for structural construction and bed armouring caused by scouring and reduced downstream inflow of fine sediment were deterministic in the fish habitat changes, causing problems in burying. As sand substrate structure is critical for the survival and inhabitation of psammophilous species, efficient strategies should be developed with proper habitat management to reduce the anthropogenic damage