• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.352-358
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• 2018

This study aimed to develop a species identification method for the egg and fry of the three Korean bitterling fishes (Pisces: Acheilognathinae), including Acheilognathus signifer, Acheilognathus yamatsutae and Rhodeus uyekii based on the PCR-based Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) markers. We conducted a field survey on the Deokchicheon River from the North Han River basin, where the three Acheilognathinae species co-occur, and also analyzed the existing sequence dataset available from the GenBank. We found coexistence of the three species at the study site. The egg and fry were obtained from the host mussels (Unio douglasiae sinuolatus) by hand from May to June 2015 and in May 2017. To develop PCR-based RFLP markers for species identification of the three Acheilognathinae fish species, restriction enzymes pinpointing species-specific single nucleotide variation (SNV) sites in mitochondrial DNA COI (cytochrome oxidase I) and cyt b (cytochrome b) genes were determined. Genomic DNA was extracted from the egg and fry and RFLP experiments were carried out using restriction enzymes Apal I, Stu I and EcoR V for A. signifer, A. yamatsutae and R. uyekii, respectively. Consequently, unambiguous discrimination of the three species was possible, as could be seen in DNA band patterns from gel electrophoresis. Our developed PCR-based RFLP markers will be useful for the determination of the three species for the young and would assist in studying the spawning patterns and reproductive ecology of Acheilognathinae fishes. Furthermore, we believe the obtained information will be of importance for future maintenance, management and conservation of these natural and endangered species.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2019

This study was conducted from 2017 to 2018 to determine habitat aspects of Acheilognathus signifier, an endangered species reintroduced (2010~2012) to Heukcheon Stream, a tributary of the Hangang River, Korea. A total of 329 individuals were collected in 2017 (two surveys) and 723 individuals were collected in 2018 (four surveys) at about 5 km habitat area, including the discharge station. A. signifier's habitat was about 0.4 to 1.2 meters deep in slow water flow upstream of the discharge area. It was a place with many boulders and cobbles. The spawning period was estimated from April to June in terms of spawning behavior and collected juvenile size. Sex ratio of females (438) and males (412) was 1 : 0.94. Estimated age of A. signifier based on their total length distribution during the spawning period (April) indicated that 1-, 2-, 3-year old groups and more than 4-year-old group were 32~43 mm, 50~61 mm, 62~75 mm, and 76~89 mm, respectively. Age-specific composition costs differed depending on the timing of the collection. They were relatively high in the order of first-year (juvenile)>third-year> and fourth-year or higher, showing a stable age structure. Thus, A. signifier reintroduced to Heukcheon Stream has successfully settled down and formed a stable population, showing a tendency to proliferate.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2019

Investigations on the study of the distribution aspects and extinction threat evaluation of the Korean endemic species, Iksookimia pacifica were done from 2017 to 2018 in Korea. During the study period, the samples of I. pacifica were collected in 17 streams, 46 sites (from Baebongcheon Stream of Goseong-gun to Gunsuncheon Stream of Gangneung-si) among the noted 33 streams and 104 sampling sites investigated. The population size of I. pacifica was relatively large in streams such as Bukcheon, Baebongcheon, Hwasangcheon, Cheonjincheon, Ohhocheon Stream etc., but the population size was small in streams such as Sacheoncheon, Namcheon, Gangneung Namdaecheon Stream etc. The main habitat of I. pacifica was the downstream pool of clean water with slow velocity and sand bottoms, and their sensibility was estimated to be due to river work and water pollution. Comparing the previous records of the appearance of I. pacifica, they were first seen in Sampocheon Stream, but they did not appear in Jusucheon, Jeoncheon, Samcheok Osipcheon Stream. Given this evidence as noted for the 19.5% reduction in occupancy within 3 generations, in small appearance range ($1,343km^2$) and small occupancy area ($184km^2$), the number of locations were many (18) and the population was relatively large within the range of habitat. Therefore, I. pacifica is now considered a Near Threatened (NT) based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.278-286
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• 2021

The habitat characteristics and feeding ecology of the Siberian stone loach Barbatula toni were investigated in Bukcheon (Stream), Eocheonri, Ganseong-eup, Goseong-gun, and Gangwon-do, Korea from January to December 2013. B. toni lived in rapids or slow rapids from the upper stream to downstream, with the largest number of inhabitants in the middle-downstream regions. As a result of analyzing habitat preferences by age, 0+ and 1+ to ≥3+ showed differences. Ages of 0+(juveniles) lived mainly in rapidly flowing water (37.6±26.79 cm/sec) and low water depths (13.3±9.47 cm) in the pebble bottoms (substratum particle size 9.5±6.66 cm), but ages 1+ to ≥3+ lived mainly in relatively slowly flowing water (13.3±17.33 cm/sec) and relatively deep depths (25.9±10.31 cm) in stone and large stone bottoms (substratum particle size 18.0±7.63 cm). B. toni was mainly eaten from March to December when the temperature was above 5℃, and the amount of food eaten peaked in June and October. Their main food sources analyzed by the index of relative importance (IRI) included Diptera (57.0%), Ephemeroptera (29.3%), and Trichoptera (13.5%). The juveniles (age 0+) fed on small-sized prey such as Diptera and Trichoptera whales, but as they grew, they mainly ate large-sized Ephemeroptera. These feeding habits and changes in food according to the growth of B. toni were very similar to those of sibling species, B. nuda.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.74-83
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• 2021

Distribution status, habitat characteristics, and extinction threat evaluation of the endangered species, Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis were investigated in 2015 and 2019. Historical distribution reports of B. l. tsinlingensis were divided into before 1990, 1997~2006, 2000~2011, and 2010~2019. Among the 150 sampling sites investigated during the study period, number of individuals of B. l. tsinlingensis were collected 542 individuals from 67 sites. The streams inhabited of B. l. tsinlingensis were Naerincheon (11 stations), Odaecheon (11 stations), Bukcheon (10 stations), Bangtaecheon (8 stations), Songjeongricheon (4 stations), Suipcheon (3 stations), Inbukcheon (3 stations), Hyeondongcheon (3 stations) etc. The main habitat of B. l. tsinlingensis was upstream of the river with a high altitude of more than 400 m, 4~20 m water flow width, 1~2 m water depth, and high ratio (70~80%) boulder bottoms. The main reasons for the decline in population size were assumed as river works, construction of reservoirs and bridges, discharge of contaminated water into the river, the inflow of summer vacationers, and weir. Compared to our results there exists evidence that states a 20.7% reduction in occupancy within 10 years, in a small appearance range (7,732 km²) and occupancy area (268 km²), number of disconnected locations (15 locations), and a decline in habitat quality. Therefore, B. l. tsinlingensis is now considered as Near Threatened (NT) based on the results (Near meets VU A2acd, B1b(i,ii,iii)+B2b(i,ii,iii)) of IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.615-626
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• 2022

This study investigated the habitat characteristics and spawning ecology of Hippocampus haema (Syngnathidae) in Soando Island, Korea, from May 2015 to December 2016. The survey site where seahorses inhabit was mainly formed by seagrass of Zostera marina populations. Total density and biomass (Mean±SE) of Z. marina were the highest at 136±14.4 shoots/m² and 489.8g DW/m², respectively, in spring (May), while the total density was lowest at 93±7.0shoots/m²in autumn (October), and biomass was the lowest and at 122.3g DW/m² in winter (February). During the study period, 293 individuals were identified through a diving and kick net survey, and the total length of H. haema ranged from 10.1 to 87.0mm. Male individuals nurturing fertilized eggs or larvae appeared beginning in May and were collected until October in both 2015 and 2016. Juvenile individuals were captured beginning in July 2015 and June 2016. As a result of a comprehensive analysis of the spawning season characteristics, it was estimated that the spawning season of H. haema was from April to October. The number of fertilized egg or larvae inside the male brood pouch were 38.3±14.8 (20-76), and the number of fecundity identified from female were 47.2±8.6 (31-59). The male-to-female ratio of H. haema was 1:1.7, indicating the dominance of males.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2023

The feeding ecology of the eight barbel loach, Lefua costata, were investigated in the Jusucheon (Stream), Namyang-ri, Okgye-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, Korea from January to December 2013. L. costata mainly fed from March to December when the water temperature was higher than 5℃, and the feeding rate peaked in April~May and September~October. Their main food organisms analyzed by the index of relative importance (IRI) were Diptera (77.1%), Ephemeroptera (20.3%), Trichoptera (1.7%) and Odonata (0.4%) in Insecta. Other food organisms were various, such as Arhynchobdellida (0.6%) and Tubificida (0.1%) of Annelida, Nematoda (0.2%), fish (Actinopterygii, 0.1%), and Veneroida (0.01%) of the Mollusca. Major seasonal food organisms were Diptera (55.4%) and Ephemeroptera (41.6%) in spring, Diptera (92.7%) and Anelida (6.8%) in summer, Diptera (70.8%), Ephemeroptera (9.0%), Trichoptera (8.1%) and Annelida (7.7%) in autumn. By age, juvenile (0+) tended to eat only Diptera (mainly Chironomidae, 98.2%) that were relatively small in prey size. However, as it grew, the proportion of Diptera gradually decreased, and the proportion of relatively large Mayflies and Annelids increased. The size of the prey organisms showed rapid growth, with 2.5±1.05 mm for juvenile (0+), 3.2±1.29 mm for one year (1+), 3.7±2.05 mm for two years (2+), and 6.8±4.97 mm for three years or more (≥3+).

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2022

Total 418 Yellow Croaker Larimichthys polyactis were examined and the range of total length (TL) was 12.0~27.5 cm and average total length was 19.6 cm. The most important prey component in the diets of L. polyactis was Pisces that constituted 46.5% in %IRI (Index of relative importance). Euphausiacea was the second largest prey component. The result of analysis in ontogenetic and seasonal changes significantly exhibited. The proportion of Pisces increased as increasing body size, whereas the consumption of Macrura decreased gradually. The diets also were different among seasons, with the difference particularly being evident between warm (summer and autumn) and cold (winter and spring) seasons. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) revealed significant dietary differences by seasons (P=0.001).

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.160-170
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• 2023

Life history of the endangered endemic species, Rhynchocypris semotilus, was investigated to obtain baseline data for its ecological characteristics in Songhyeoncheon, Hyeonnae-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea from April to October, 2022. A total of 10 families and 18 species of fishes were collected from 4 survey stations, and R. semotilus was a subdominant species in the survey period (seven times). The main habitat of R. semotilus was the middle-upper stream of rock and boulder bottoms with aquatic plants and slow rapids and pools. The age groups for R. semotilus estimated by the frequency distribution of total length in spawning season (May) indicated the 4~12 mm is 0-year old, 32~49 mm is 1-year old, the 50~65 mm group is 2-years old, the 66~91 mm is 3-years old, and the 92~116 mm is more than 4-years old, and showed rapid growth from May to September. Total length range of female and male were the relatively similar, and sex ratio (♂/♀) was 0.78. The spawning period is from May to July (water temperature is 17 to 21℃), and gonad was developed more than three years old (more than TL 66 mm). In May, the gonadosomatic index (GSI) was 10.6±2.99% for females and 8.2±2.34% for males, fecundity was 6,830±1,943, and mature eggs size was 1.34±0.16 mm. Finally, life history characteristics of R. semotilus was discussed between the genus Rhynchocypris and Phoxinus species.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.97-107
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• 2006

The nektonic assemblages of upper tidal flat area located in the Jangbong Island, near Incheon, were studied using a fence net from March to November 2001. A total of 49 species were recorded, with a mean abundance and biomass of 489 individuals and 5,170.4 g, respectively. The most abundant species by number were Exopalaemon carinicauda(40.9%) and Johnius grypotus(13.2%). By catch weight the dominant species were Acanthogobius hasta(33.7%), Johnius grypotus(14.6%) and Scomberomorus niphonius(10.2%). The conventional multivariate statistics(Cluster analysis and non-metric Multi-Dimensional Scaling) applied to assess temporal variation in nektonic communities. As a result of cluster analysis and MDS ordination, the faunal group could be divided into spring and summer/autumn dominant species group. The spring species included the pisces Acanthogobius luridus, the crab Macrophthalmus japonicus and the gastropods Bullacta exarata and Lunatia gilva. The summer/autumn species were the pisces J. grypotus, Sardinella zunasi, Konosirus punctatus, Chelon haematocheila, S. niphonius and Takifugu niphobles, the shrimp Metapenaeus joyneri and the cephalopod Loligo beka.