• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.1 s.110
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• pp.83-94
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• 2005

The objective of the study was to elucidate early life history of Rhinogobius brunneus, based on laboratory observations and field works, along with its courtship and spawning behaviors. The male and female fish matured were sampled for the lab experiments from Gap-Stream, which is one of the tributaries of Geum-River, Korea. The spawning behaviors and courtship of matured adults had a typical pattern; matured males of Rhinogobius brunneus built up spawning nests and had their own territory before the spawning, and the behavior then triggered the egg spawning of female with active courtship. The females attached elliptic egg mass as a single layer, on the stones below the spawning nest. After the spawning, the egg mass was guarded by males only until the hatching. The size of egg fertilized, measured by microscope was about 1.5${\pm}$0.1mm in length and 0.7${\pm}$0.1 mm in the egg's width. According to the lab experiments conducted under four temperature regime, the lapsed time for the hatching was shortened as temperatures increased in the treatments. On the contrary to the hatching time, the average length of newly hatched larvae showed a reverse relation with water temperature. The larvae, considered a final stage of the early life history was about 3.6 mm in total length for water temperature of $18^{\circ}C$, whereas they were between 3.1 mm and 3.2 mm for over $25^{\circ}C$. This indicates that higher water temperature may decrease the growth rate in the early life history. These results may provide valuable information for the population conservation and ecosystem protection under accelerated water pollution and habitat degradations in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.184-192
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• 2006

To investigate reproductive cycle of Tridentiger obscurus in Jeju, total 408 fish were collected in brackish area (May 2004 to August 2005) and total 271 fish were collected in tidal pool (July 2004 to August 2005), respectively. Water temperature ranged $11.0{\sim}21.6^{\circ}C$ in brackish area. Water temperature of tidal pool ($11.1{\sim}24.5^{\circ}C$) in 2005 was similar to that of brackish area although it were highest $30.1{\sim}29.2^{\circ}C$ from July to August in 2004. In brackish area, female gonadosomatic index (GSI) increased in April and maintained high values from May to August. The reproductive cycle can be grouped into the following successive stages in the ovary: immature (November to May), maturing (March to September), ripe and spawning (May to September), and degenerating (July to December). In the tidal pool, female GSI rapidly increased in April and maintained high values until July in 2005. However, it has been low in July 2004 when water temperature was highest. The reproductive cycle can be grouped into the following successive stages in the ovary: immature (August to April), maturing (March to August), ripe and spawning (March to July), and degenerating (July to August 2004 and August 2005). Fecundity of mature female ranged from 1,214 to 12,109 in brackish and ranged from 2,427 to 13,892 in tidal pool area. The fecundity of fish in the tidal pool was significantly higher than that of fish in brackish area. Fecundity was correlated positively with total length and body weigh. Although the large group (> 111 mm total length) in brackish area observed only in spawning season, one in the tidal pool observed from October 2004 until next spawning season. Frequency of the large group was 0 to 12% and 11.4 to 57.9% in brackish area and tidal pool, respectively. These results were indicated that gonadal development of T. obscurus was affected to water temperature and day length.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.637-656
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• 2023

River estuaries are dynamic and productive ecosystems with high regional biodiversity. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has become a useful approach to assessing biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. This study was conducted to investigate fish community characteristics and species diversity in two river estuary ecosystems, the Taehwa River and Changwon Stream. We further compared conventional and eDNA metabarcoding analyses of the fish communities. The conventional survey was performed in May, July, and October 2022, while the eDNA analysis was conducted only in May. We observed various fish species with different life histories, including carp, goby, and marine fish. We also found that migratory fish, such as dace Tribolodon hakonensis, sweetfish Plecoglossus altivelis, and eel Auguilla japonica, occurred in the Taehwa River, suggesting high river connectivity. Marine fish species were predominant in the Changwon Stream, as this river is located close to the sea. The diversity indices showed that the Taehwa River generally had higher species richness, evenness, and diversity values than the Changwon Stream. A total of 9-19 species were detected in the conventional survey for the three sites, whereas 11-18 species were found from eDNA analysis. The findings indicate that the sensitivity of eDNA was similar to or higher than that of the conventional method. Our study findings suggest the efficiency and efficacy of eDNA-based fish community monitoring, although with some shortcomings in applying the genetic marker to Korean fish, including no clear-cut distinction for Korean endemic species and/or genetically closely related species groups.