• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.481-491
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• 2009

In this study, a comprehensive field monitoring was conducted to understand habitat conditions of fish species in the upper Geum river. Based on the monitoring data, riverine health conditions such as composition ratio of fish species, richness and dominance indexes, bio-diversity (dominance index, diversity, evenness and richness), and index of biological integrity were assessed, and optimal ecological flowrates were estimated using the habitat suitability indexes established for three fish species Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Zacco platypus and Pseudopungtungia nigra selected as icon species using the physical habitat simulation system (PHABSIM). The total number of species sampled was 20 species, and two sensitive species of C. splendidus (22.4%) and Z. platypus (22.0%) dominated the fish community. The estimated IBI values ranged from 34 to 42 with average being 38 out of 50, rendering the site ecologically fair to good health conditions. An optimal ecological flowrate of 9.0 cms was recommended for the representative fish species at the site.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.19-32
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• 2015

In Korea, significant riparian areas have been developed due to river maintenance projects. Introduction of new riparian facilities can negatively affect wildlife in the riparian areas. This study focuses on selecting core conservation areas for Eurasian Otter(Lutra lutra) to support decision making process for development of riparian areas. For the study, first of all, field data of study site were collected by field surveys. Secondly, stream naturalness was assessed to understand physical environments of the study sites. Thirdly, habitat suitability was assessed using occurrence data of Eurasian Otter and environmental data. Lastly, core areas for conservation was selected by comparing and synthesizing stream naturalness map and habitat suitability map. The selected core areas showed several characteristics. The number of artificial facilities is low in the core areas. Rocks which are preferred by Eurasian Otter to eat and excrete are plentiful in the core areas. Also, the ratio of adjacent farmland is high. Based on the analyses, it is expected that this study can contribute to decision making process for environmental spatial plans to better conserve habitats of Eurasian Otter.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.2B
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• pp.153-160
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• 2006

To recommend ecological flow for major tributaries in Han River basin, the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) have been applied. In particular physical habitat simulation using PHABSIM have been selected for microhabitat variables and QUAL2E model have been used to implement macrohabitat simulation. Habitat Suitability Criteria (HSC) for different life stages in accordance with different hydraulic variables (depth and velocity) have been presented by the field surveying data. We review IFIM procedures and discuss limitations of habitat simulation with specific reference to Han River basin. The results of this research can be used as reference flow for estimation of instream flow in Han River.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.177-188
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to analyze the distribution patterns of two exotic disturbing fish species (largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides and bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus), their physical habitat features, and chemical water qualities from 13 sites of Dongjin River. The relationships between the fish distributions and water chemistry and physical habitat characteristics (i.e., bottom substrate) were evaluated by comparing dominant vs. absent regions of largemouth bass and bluegill. The relative abundance of the two species decreased sharply with decreased in the water quality in terms of BOD, PO₄-P and pH, but not with NO₃-N and conductivity. The bluegill showed no difference in habitat preference between the two regions with regard to the bottom structure, while the largemouth bass had significant differences in the bottom structures of silt, coarse gravels and boulders. The dominant species were Zacco platypus (14.6%), Lepomis macrochirus (14.0%), and Micropterus salmoides (9.8%) in the order of relative abundance, indicating that exotic species (24% in total) dominated the fish community, perhaps ensuing large ecological disturbances on the ecosystem. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the distribution of the two exotic species may be largely influenced by water quality of organic matter and nutrient pollutions.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.591-607
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• 2013

The objectives of the study were to evaluate the aquatic environment of an urban stream using various ecological parameters of biological biomarkers, physical habitat quality and chemical water quality and to develop a "Multimetric Eco-Model" ($M_m$-E Model) for the ecosystem evaluations. For the applications of the $M_m$-E model, three zones including the control zone ($C_Z$) of headwaters, transition zone ($T_Z$) of mid-stream and the impacted zone ($I_Z$) of downstream were designated and analyzed the seasonal variations of the model values. The biomarkers of DNA, based on the comet assay approach of single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE), were analyzed using the blood samples of Zacco platypus as a target species, and the parameters were used tail moment, tail DNA(%) and tail length (${\mu}m$) in the bioassay. The damages of DNA were evident in the impacted zone, but not in the control zone. The condition factor ($C_F$) as key indicators of the population evaluation indicator was analyzed along with the weight-length relation and individual abnormality. The four metrics of Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) were added for the evaluations of physical habitat. In addition, the parameters of chemical water quality were used as eutrophic indicators of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and conductivity. Overall, our results suggested that attributes of biomarkers and bioindicators in the impacted zone ($I_Z$) had sensitive response largely to the chemical stress (eutrophic indicators) and also partially to physical habitat quality, compared to the those in the control zone.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2022

Koreoleptoxis nodifila (Martens, 1886) is an endangered species only living in the central and north streams of South Korea. However, there is a lack of information on physical habitat characteristics of K. nodifila. We aimed to determine preference ranges for water depth, current velocity, streambed substrate of K. nodifila. The weibull model was used to estimate the habitat suitability based on distribution of individual abundance by physical factors. Optimal depth preferences ranged from 0.53~17.17 cm, current preferences ranged from 48.40~81.03 cm s^-1 and substrate (𝜱_m) preferences ranged from -4.36~ -2.26. Median values of central tendency were determined as follows: water depth 16.73 cm, current velocity 65.23 cm s^-1, substrate -3.51. Mean values of central tendency were determined as follows: water depth 21.32 cm, current velocity 65.65 cm s^-1, substrate -3.63. Mode values of central tendency were determined as follows: water depth 5.17 cm, current velocity 64.77 cm s^-1, substrate -3.24. Based on the habitat suitability analysis, the microhabitat types of K. nodifila were determined as riffle and coarse-grained streambed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.397-405
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• 2009

We assessed the physical habitat conditions of pale chub (Zacco platypus) considering various stream order in the Geum river basin. Field monitoring was conducted for ecological and habitat conditions for 28 sites from October 2007 to October 2008. The number of Z. platypus sampled during this period was 2,362. In more than 3rd stream, water depth and velocity showing the highest number of samples were 0.8 m and $0.8\;m\;s^{-1}$, respectively. In addition, the highest number of samples was observed under the condition of total length (TL) (8~10 cm), velocity ($0.3\;m\;s^{-1}$), water depth (0.4 m), substrate size (send, 0.1~1.0 mm~coarse gravel, 50.0~100.0 mm) and habitat type (run). Based on the monitoring data (n=1059) the relationship between body weight (BW) and TL in male and female were estimated as $BW=0.0068{\times}TL^{3.0274}$ ($r^2=0.9102$) and $BW=0.0075{\times}TL^{2.9995}$ ($r^2=0.8517$), respectively. Growth equations on days after parturition (DAP) to the TL were estimated as TL=0.0108DAP+1.5795 ($r^2=0.9721$). By equations (TL 6.9 cm), BW were 2.7 g (male) and 2.4 g (female), and DAP was about 490 days.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.339-347
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• 2017

The objectives of this study were to analyze ecological characteristics of fish compositions and estimate the optimal ecological flow using the physical habitat simulation system (PHABSIM) in Wonju stream and Boseong river. We sampled fishes using two gears such as casting net and kicknet to determine fish distribution and also measured flow velocity, water depth, bed material at the point where fish collected. Total number of species and individuals sampled were 20 and 2,104, respectively and dominant species was Zacco platypus (39.7%) and subdominant species was Z. koreanus (RA: 15.8%) in Wonju stream. In Boseong river, collected fishes were 1,638 individuals, 28 species. Dominant and sub-dominant species was Z. platypus (RA: 22.0%) and Microphysogobio yaluensis (RA: 17.2%), respectively. For calculating habitat suitability index (HSI), we selected Z. platypus as representative fish species and analyzed water depth and flow velocity. Water depth and flow velocity were 0.2-0.6 m, 0.1-0.3 m/s, respectively in Wonju stream and 0.3-0.6 m, 0-0.3 m/s, respectively in Boseong river. According to the analysis of ecological flow simulation, optimal flow was 1.1 cms and 0.3 cms in Wonju stream and 0.4cms, 2.2cms in Boseong river at up and down stream respectively. WUA (Weighted Usable Area) was 9.5%, 26.6% in Wonju stream and 34.8%, 53.3% in Boseong river at up and down stream respectively.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.280-289
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• 2009

The fish communities and physical habitat conditions of fifteen tributaries of Lake Paldang in spring and autumn, 2008 were surveyed to evaluate the ecological health of the streams. The total 2,746 individuals were collected belonging to 11 families 31 genera 40 species. Two new species (Cottus koreanus, Gnathopogon strigaus) that have never been reported as yet in Lake Paldang watershed were found for the first time. The most dominant species in the tributaries was Acheilognathus yamatsutae (19.9%) which is Korean endemic species. Ecological health evaluation of fifteen tributaries using index of biological integrity (IBI) model for fish community and qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) was performed. According th the IBI analysis, four streams (Siwoo-Stream, Jojong-Stream, Moonho-Stream and Mugab-Stream) were evaluated as "good" condition (B grade), Woosan-Stream were "poor" condition (D grade) and others were "fair" condition (C grade). Qualitative habitat evaluation index values of the four streams were the grade "II" indicating "good" condition and those of eleven streams were the grade "III", indicating 'fair' condition. On the whole, dataset of IBI and QHEI showed that ecological health of Jojong-Stream has been well maintained compared to other tributaries of Lake Paldang.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.271-284
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• 2014

The objectives of this research were to analyse the microhabitat of Cobitis choii which is designated as an endangered fish species (I) and national monument species in Korea (No. 454), and provide valuable information of suitable replacement habitat in the future for a conservation of the population with rapid decreases by environmental pollution. Sampling and microhabitat analysis in three streams such as Baekgok, Yugu and Gap Stream, known as one of the least habitats in Korea showed that the mean number of Cobitis choii observed was 2.6. This result indicated that the richness was too low, so the species conservation was very urgent. Optimal physical microhabitat of the population was determined as environmental conditions with > 60% sand with 1 mm particle size, optimal water depth of 20 - 60 cm in the habitats, and the optimal current velocity of < 0.4 m/s. Under the circumstances of the microhabitat, optimal water volume (discharge) was 0 - 2 m3/s in the each sectional analysis and this reach was mainly composed of the stream section with intermittant slow runs and pools. These microhabitats were largely disturbed by physical modifications of habitat and chemical pollutions due to direct influences of nutrient-rich water inputs from the urban area and intensive agricultural pollutants. For these reasons, optimal habitat replacement are required in the future for the conservation of the species.