• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 2012

Coarse woody debris (CWD) is generally considered dead woody material in various stages of forest decomposition and has been hypothesized to be an important habitat feature for mammals in forests of the Pacific Northwest, USA. Sherman and pitfall trapping were conducted for 2 years on three paired sites with low and high amounts of CWD. Deer mice was the dominant species with a total capture of 605 (45.6%). Four species of insectivores were captured, including Sorex moncicolus, S. trowbridgii, S. vagrans, and Neurotrichus gibbsii. A Poisson regression model was used to test whether 11 CWD variables could predict insectivore captures. The volume of logs and mean decay were important variables for deer mice use of CWD. Mean distance from pieces of CWD to the capture point was significantly related to the total number of captures of trowbridge shrew (Sorex trowbridgii) and all insectivore species. Vagrant shrews (Sorex vagrans) were significantly associated with log volume. Retaining large size CWD should be part of a management plan for ground-dwelling insectivores in forests to secure their biodiversity.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.144-154
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• 2018

This study investigated the characteristics of fish communities at the Hangang River in Seoul from Jun 2016 to March 2017. During the survey period, there were 56 species of 17 families collected from 5 survey stations. The species that appeared mainly in the brackish water was Coilia nasus, Leiocassis nitidus, Lateolabrax maculata, Repomucenus olidus, Trachidermus fasciatus, Mugil cephalus, Chelon haematocheilus, Synechogobius hastus, Tridentiger bifasciatus and Takifugu obscurus. The migration fish of Anguilla japonica, C. nasus, Plecoglossus altivelis, Hypomesus nipponensis and T. obscurus appeared in this surveyed area. Korean endemic species were 11 species (17.9%) and accounted for a low rate. There were 6 species (10.7%) exotic species including Cyprinus carpio, Carassius cuvieri, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Megalobrama amblycephala, Lepomis macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides. The dominant species by stations were Acheilognathus gracilis (St. 1) and Hemibarbus labeo (St. 2, 3, 4, 5). Regarding the tolerance guild according to water quality, there were 3 (7.1%) sensitive species, 24 (42.9%) intermediate species, and 28 (50.0%) tolerance species. Twenty (35.7%) were insectivore species, 18 (32.1%) were omnivore species, 14 (25.0%) were carnivore species, and 4 (7.1%) were herbivore species, indicating the dominating presence of insectivore and omnivore fish species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.261-273
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• 2018

This study investigated the characteristics of fish communities in the streams flowing into the Han river in Seoul in May 2016 through April 2017. The investigated streams were Ui stream, Danghyeon stream, Cheonggye stream, Yangjae stream, Mokgam stream, Dorim stream, and Hongje stream, which were restored to their natural form. We collected 41 species of 10 families using skimming nets and cast nets from 21 points during the investigation period. There were 7 Korean endemic species, or 17.1% in collected species, such as Acheilognathus yamatsutae, Acheilognathus gracilis, Scrcocheilichthys nigripinnis morii, Squalidus japonicus coreanus, Zacco koreanus, Coreoperca herzi, and Odontobutis interruta. There were 5 (12.2%) exotic species: Cyprinus carpio (fancy type), Carassius auratus (goldfish), Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus, and Micropterus salmoides. The dominant species were Zacco platypus, Carassius auratus, Acheilognathus lanceolatus, Acheilognathus gracilis, and Oryzias sinensis. The Yangjae stream showed more stable fish community than other streams as it showed higher species diversity, and evenness and richness indices. Regarding the fish tolerance guild according to water quality, there were 3 (7.3%) sensitive species, 16 (39.0%) intermediate species, and 22 (56.7%) tolerant species. Twelve (29.3%) were insectivore species, 23 (56.1%) were omnivore species, and 6 (14.6%) were carnivore species, indicating the dominating presence of omnivore fish species.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.spc
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• pp.100-115
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• 2014

For this study, we collected fishes of seven times at the 51 sites by stream orders (2-6) from November 2007 to September 2010. In the results, 55 species belonging 12 families were collected. And there were one species (1.8%) of Natural monument, 6 species (10.9%) of endangered and 22 species (40.0%) of Korea endemic. Dominant species was Zacco koreanus and subdominant species was Zacco platypus in whole. Stream orders (2-6) increased with increasing species, diversity (H'), evenness (EI), richness (RI), tolerant (TS), omnivore (OS) and decreasing individual, dominance (DI), sensitive (SS) insectivore (IS), total IBI score. Principal component analysis results showed location of variable (species, individual, community index, relative abundance of tolerant, sensitive, omnivore, insectivore species) and each site changes in upstream and down-stream changes in their distribution. Correlation analysis showed significant differences between stream orders (2-6) and variable (species: Sp, diversity index: H', omnivore species: OS, stream depth: SD, stream width: SW and water temperature: WT).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.684-693
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze fish communities in the Wonju stream located in Wonju-si in Gangwon-do, and to evaluate the health of the stream through past and present changes. We performed investigations four times from May 2015 to September 2016. In the survey, 5,201 individuals which belonged to 27 species and 9 families were collected. Zacco platypus was the dominant species and Pungtungia herziwas the subdominant species. Eight Korean endemic species (Acanthorhodeus gracilis, Zacco koreanus, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Squalidus gracilis majimae, Microphysogobio yaluensis, Iksookimia koreensis, Koreocobitis rotundicaudata, Coreoperca herzi) were observed and showed a ratio of 16.54%. The fish community of dominance ($0.72{\pm}0.10$), diversity ($1.37{\pm}0.32$), evenness ($0.61{\pm}0.13$), and richness ($1.70{\pm}0.23$) were evaluated. According to our analysis of tolerance guilds, the total individual number of intermediate species was higher than the sensitive and tolerant species. As a result of the trophic guild analysis,the omnivore and insectivore species were relatively high. The value of the qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) in the wonju stream was averaged 121.2 (${\pm}23.4$), indicating a suboptimal condition. Stream health showed that the fish assessment index (FAI) value was an A to C grade in the Wonju stream. A correlation coefficient analysis with FAI and various factors was analysed statistically, and had a high correlation in QHEI, with the omnivore species, insectivore species, intermediate species, sensitive species, dominance, diversity, evenness, and richness.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.282-293
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• 2020

This study investigated a long-term variation trend of water quality, fish compositions, and ecological health conditions in the Gwanpyeong stream located in the nearby Daejeon metropolitan city to understand the impact of urban development projects on the aquatic ecosystem. The sampling was made in four surveys (2009, 2010, 2016, 2019) before and after urbanization. The urban development was conducted in 2008, resulting in the stream's ecological disturbance, and the stream restoration was conducted in 2012. Thus, stream monitoring was conducted to analyze the ecological trends before and after the restoration. The multi-metric models for Fish Assessment Index(FAI) and necropsy-based Health Assessment Index(HAI) were applied in the fish community and organ-level, respectively, to assess the ecological health of the stream. Minimum turbidity and chlorophyll-a(Chl-a) occurred in the mid-stream(St. 2), and this was probably due to rapid current velocity in the riffle zone. We collected 18 fish species, and the dominant species was Zacco platypus (40.6%). In 2016 immediately after the stream restoration, the relative proportions of sensitive species and insectivore species were the highest along with highest values in the species diversity and species richness index, resulting in the best condition in the ecological health, based on FAI model values. However, the ecological health, based on the FAI, became worse in the latest survey conducted in 2019. The analysis of the HAI model based on the organ-level approach showed skin erosion in the fish of upper stream, kidney defects in downstream, and the liver and gill defects observed in all sites, indicating that the anatomical health was also affected.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.19-29
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• 2012

Numerous studies suggested that fish assemblage structure reflects the status of stream ecosystems. The status of streams integrity, including various trophic levels, water quality and habitat degradation, can be assessed by fish assemblages. In this study, we investigated the relationships between fish assemblages and streamline geometry of streams. Previous studies suggested that geomorphologic parameter can be a critical factor of permeability between adjacent two systems. From a landscape ecological perspective, edges may partially control the flow rate of energy between two adjacent systems. Thus, the Streamline geometry can be a geomorphologic parameter that exhibits the integrity of stream. We selected the Nakdong river for study areas, which is one of major rivers and the longest (525 km) River in South Korea. We used the revised IBI representing overall ecological characteristics of Korean fish assemblages and eight sub-assessment criteria of IBI, collected from 82 sampling sites in the Nakdong River. For calculating the Streamline geometry, we measured fractal dimension index that generally used in biology, ecology and landscape ecology. We used the digital land-use/land-cover map and generated a 1-km buffer for each sampling site and refined the shape of the Streamlines. Pearson correlation analyses were performed between Streamline geometry and IBI and sub-assessment criteria of IBI. The results show that IBI and eight sub-assessments of fish are significantly correlated with geometry of Streamline. The fractal dimension of Streamline geometry were related with IBI (r = 0.48) and six sub-assessments of IBI, including total number of native fish and native species, the number of riffle benthic species, sensitive species, tolerant species and native insectivore. Especially, the number of tolerant species(r = -0.52) and native insectivore(r = 0.52) show strong correlation with geometry of Streamline. These results indicate that lower Streamline geometry can result in poor fish assemblages, while higher geometry of Streamline can enhance fish assemblages by potentially supplying insects and better habitat conditions. We expect the results of our study to be useful for stream restoration and management. However, we see the necessity of study investigating the mechanisms how Streamline geometry affect fish assemblages.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.503-512
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate fish fauna, species composition, and various guilds against stream orders along with analysis of fish community structure and diversity in Geum River watershed from 2005 to 2007. The total number of fish collected was 4,216 representing 12 families with 56 species. Zacco platypus was the most abundant fish species with 26% in relative abundance (RA). Korean endemic species were 24 species including Zacco koreanus, Microphysogobio yaluensis, Gobiobotia nakdongensis, and Iksookimia koreensis, etc. We also collected endangered fish species such as G. nakdongensis, Liobagrus obesus, and Pseudopungtungia nigra, etc., and their new distribution sites were found in the survey, providing some sites of the fish conservation and protection. Fish tolerance and trophic guilds analysis showed that the proportion of sensitive species, intermediate species, and tolerant species were 33.4%, 29.3%, and 37.3%, respectively and omnivores and insectivores were 48.1 % and 38.4%, respectively. Analysis of site-base study indicated that tolerant species and omnivore species were high in some polluted tributary streams (i.e., Gap and Miho stream) and sensitive and insectivore species were low. In the functional relations, expressed as simple linear regression equations, of stream order on fish metric attributes, showed that the number of species and the number of individuals increased as the stream order increases. This phenomenon was explained by greater availability of stable water volume, rich food, and higher physical habitat capacity. Such guild compositions and stream order characteristics of the river influenced the community structures, based on species diversity, dominance and evenness index in the study. This study may be used as important data in the future for comparisons of fish fauna and compositions before and after two weir (dam) constructions in the middle of Geum River by the government.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.512-522
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• 2012

This study is focused on fish fauna and distributional features along with physical gradients and stream orders in the Tamjin River basin, Korea. Fish sampling and investigation were conducted for 2 years from 2009 to 2010. Total number of fish species collected were 47 species of 16 family. The group of cyprinidae was mostly abundant. Both fish abundance and biotic index were declined with increasing altitude and longitudinal distance from the river mouth. Two species of Zacco temminckii and Pungtungia herzi were prevalent in most of sampling sites and showed no altitudinal and longitudinal differences. Most other species, however, were spatially restricted to specific regional altitudes. Several species including Zacco platypus, Squalidus gracilis majimae and P. herzi were broadly distributed from river mouth to 50 km. Eight species including Z. temminckii and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus only appeared in over 10 km from the river mouth. Both Odontobutis platycephala and Pseudobagrus koreanus were classified as "upstream dewelling species" observed only in over 30 km from the river mouth. High proportion of tolerant and omnivorous species were more dominated in the downstream zone of the dam, whereas intolerant and insectivorous species were abundant in the upstream zone of the dam. The variable of stream order showed positive relationship between number of fish species and total individuals collected. Sensitive species including insectivore had a declining tendency with increasing stream order, while tolerant specie including omnivore species had relatively increased with stream order. Overall, our study suggested that fish distribution considerably depends on altitudinal gradient and longitudinal distance from the river mouth as well as physical habitat.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.263-270
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• 2012

The objectives of the study were to determine fish fauna and compositions during 2010~2011 in Walpyung Conservation Park along with analysis of fish community structures and trophic and tolerance guilds. Total number of species and individuals sampled were 31 and 2667, respectively and dominant species was Zacco platypus (46.6%) and subdominant species was Acheilognathus lanceolatus (8.7%), which were composed of >50% of the total. Total number of Korean endemic species including Microphysogobio yaluensis was 10 and the proportion of the individuals was 8.7%. Also, natural monument No. 454 of Iksookimia choii, which is endangered species and legal protected species, was sampled and the total number of individuals was only three. According to the analysis of fish community structures, species richness index in the mid-stream reach ($M_r$) was 3.145, which is higher than any other stream reaches ($U_r$ and $D_r$). In contrast, the richness index was 2.180 in the up-stream reach ($U_r$), which is minimum among the sampling sites. Species diversity index was 1.785 and 1.975, respectively in the headwater ($U_r$) and mid-stream reach ($M_r$) and the low values in the down-stream reach ($D_r$, 1.660) were due to the influences of pointsource (i.e., road construction) and non-point sources (sporadic agricultural spots). According to analysis of tolerance guilds, the proportion of tolerant species (TS), based on the number of individuals, was composed of 64.2% and sensitive species (SS) was only 3.3%, indicating a predominance of tolerant fishes in the compositions. The proportion of omnivore species (OS), however, was composed of 64.0% and insectivore species (IS) was 29.3%, indicating a predominance of omnivore fishes in the stream. The high proportions of tolerant and omnivore species in this stream indicates that the water quality and physical habitat environments were degradated in this system. For these reasons, especially natural monument and endemic fish species in this region should be protected from the massive constructions and required to provide efficient stream management strategies.