• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.283-293
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• 2008

The objectives of the study were firstly to provide fundamental data for establishment of total maximum daily load (TMDL) management in Ulsan City, and secondly to make practical application of stream health assessment with tolerance range by each species when physiochemical and fish investigations were carried out together. A total of 44 sites in Taehwa River, Hoiya River, Dong Stream, and Cheongryang Stream were selected to monitor water qualities seasonally and fish investigation was performed in August 2006. Among the parameters of water quality, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and dissolved oxygen (DO) related to respiration, total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) related to nutrient and eutrophication, and total suspended solids (TSS) and $NH_4$-N were compared with vertical box plot by 8 dominant species. According to the fish investigation, 12 families 33 species were found including endangered species (Pungitius kaibarae) and introduced species (Lepomis macrochirus, Micropterus salmoides), and appearance rate of Korean endemic species was greater in Taehwa River (29.2%) than others. As the results of tolerance range by species, Zacco koreanus, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, Iksookimia longicorpa, and Squalidus gracilis majimae had limited low range by water quality parameters indicating preference of good water quality. Whereas, Carassius auratus and Pseudorasbora parva were found downstream and urban-streams which were exposed from frequent inflow of pollutants. It concludes that the results help distinguishing sensitive, intermediate, and tolerant species when we evaluate stream health assessment with fish, and further making practical application for conservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.747-759
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare the trophic structures and the energy flows in the Lake Namyang and the lower reaches of the Nakdong River using the Ecopath model. The sampling and analyses were carried out at 6 sampling sites of the Lake Namyang and the lower reaches of the Nakdong River respectively on March and November in 2007. As a result, the Lake Namyang was consisted of producers(Detritus, Macrophytes, Phytoplankton), primary consumers(Zooplankton, Zoobenthos, Carassius cuvieri, Carassius auratus, Other fishes) and secondary consumer(Cyprinus carpio, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco) and the lower reaches of the Nakdong River was consisted of producers(Detritus, Macrophytes, Phytoplankton), primary consumers (Zooplankton, Zoobenthos, Cyprinus carpio, Hemibarbus labeo, Other fishes) and secondary consumer (Micropterus salmoides). The food-chain length of the Lake Namyang was relatively short when compared with the lower reaches of the Nakdong River. The shortness of food-chain length in the Lake Namyang could be attributed to the low biomass of the top predators. The total system throughput of the lake Namyang was estimated at 14.3 kg $m^{-2}\;year^{-1}$ including a consumption of 39.0%, exports of 21.0%, respiratory flows of 12.0% and flows into detritus of 28.0% and the total system throughput of the lower reaches of the Nakdong River was estimated at 2.8 kg $m^{-2}\;year^{-1}$ including a consumption of 52.0%, exports of 9.1%, respiratory flows of 18.0% and flows into detritus of 20.9% in the lower reaches of the Nakdong River.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.99-111
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• 2014

Community structure of fish and inhabiting status of natural monument and endangered species, Cobitis choii were investigated in the Baekgok Stream, a tributary of the Geum River drainage system of Korea from May to November 2012. Ten-15 fish species inhabited upper stream (St. 1~St. 3) with a Aa or Aa-Bb river type composed of mostly pebble and cobble bottoms. 15~21 species did middle stream (St. 4~St. 5) with Aa or Aa-Bb type composed of mostly cobble, boulder and pebble bottoms. Nine species did Reservoir Baekgok (St. 6) with composed of mostly mud bottoms, and Seven species did Reservoir Baekgok outflow (St. 7) with Aa-Bb type composed of mostly boulder and cobble bottoms. And 20~23 species did lower stream (St. 8~St. 9) with a Bb-Bc type composed of mostly cobble and sand bottoms. A total of 35 species belonging to ten families were found in the stream during the survey. The dominant species were in the order of Zacco platypus (34.7%), Pungtungia herzi (9.4%) and Microphysogobio yaluensis (9.0%). Other abundant species included Tridentiger bifasciatus (8.2%), Pseudogobio esocinus (5.9%), Carassius auratus (4.6%), Squalidus chankaensis tsuchigae (3.7%), Rhinogobius brunneus (3.0%). Among residing species, ten (28.6%) species were endemic to Korea, one (Cobits choii) was endangered, and two (Micropterus salmoides and C. cuvieri) were non-indigenous. Natural monument and endangered species, C. choii were only inhabited St. 5, and they are inhabited 30~100 cm in water depth, sand bottom and slowly velocity. Using the mark-recapture method, populations were estimated at $7,838{\pm}6,290$ individuals. Age group in May estimated from total length indicated that the 38~45 mm group is 0 year old, the 46~60 mm group is 1 years old, the 61~80 mm group is 2 years old, and the 81~93 mm group is more than 3 years old. Condition factor (${\times}10^5) was 0.36~0.39 and 0.35~0.38 for female and male, respectively, and they are 13.5% were infected with parasites (digenea). We are discussed the health status, threats and conservation strategies of C. choii in the Baekgok Stream.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.603-617
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• 2018

This study surveyed the diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and freshwater fish, which are the main animal classifications in a hydro ecosystem, from May to September 2017 in the western plains of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The results showed a total of 125 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 66 families, 19 orders, and four phyla in the streams and wetlands. Among benthic macroinvertebrates, Coleoptera (27 spp.: 21.60%) was the largest group in terms of species richness followed by Odonata (26 spp.: 20.80%), non-Insecta (22 spp.: 17.60%), and Hemiptera (11 spp.: 8.80%) occupying in the lentic area. Of the feeding function groups (FFGs), predators (51 spp.: 56.67%) showed a relatively larger presence, indicating the dominance of hygrophilous invertebrates that usually inhabit the freshwater wetlands or ponds. Of the habitat oriented groups (HOGs), climbers (33 spp.: 24.44%) and burrowers (17 spp.: 12.59%) were the dominant groups. This observation is typical in a slow flowing habitat and can lead to the disturbance of the ecosystem due to cannibalism among predators. Cannibalism can be caused by stress induced by various population and environmental factors. For the ecosystem services benchmark (ESB) value, site 13 appeared to be the highest with 82 marks while other sites showed relatively lower rates and indices (III water quality class with ${\alpha}$-mesosaprobic). The analysis result of stability factors showed that almost all sites were evaluated to be the I characteristic group with high resilience and resistance or the III characteristic group that was sensitive to environmental disturbance and formed uneven and unstable communities. Of the freshwater fishes, 46 species (3,405 individuals) belonging to 39 families and 18 orders were identified in all the investigated sites. Among them, Cyprinidae (30 spp.: 65.2%) was the largest group, and Zacco koreanus was identified as the dominant species (728 individuals, 21.4%). The survey of freshwater fish communities found both stable communities (sites 7 and 13) with low dominant index (0.39) and high diversity index (2.29) and unstable communities (sites 2, 3, 8, and 10) in opposite tendency. This survey found five Korean endemic species, 17 species belonging to the export controlled species, two endangered species level II (Lethocerus deyrollei and Cybister chinensis), and rare species (Dytiscus marginalis czerskii) among benthic macroinvertebrates. The survey also found an invasive species, Ampullarius insularus, which was distributed throughout the whole area and thus can continuously disturb the ecosystem in the western plain area in the DMZ. Of freshwater fish, one natural monument (Hemibarbus mylodon) and three endangered species level II (Acheilognathus signifer, Gobiobotia macrocephalus, and G. brevibarba) were observed. The survey also found four introduced species (Pomacea canaliculate, Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus, Micropterus salmoides) in the western DMZ area, indicating the need for the protection and conservation measures.