• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.925-935
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• 2013

In this study, a comprehensive field monitoring was conducted to understand habitat conditions of fish species in up and downstream of Hoengseong Dam. Based on the monitoring data, riverine health conditions such as composition ratio of fish species, bio-diversity (dominance index, diversity, evenness and richness), index of biological integrity (IBI) and qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) were assessed, and optimal ecological flowrates (OEF) were estimated using the habitat suitability indexes (HSI) established for three fish species Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Pungtungia herzi and Microphysogobio longidorsalis selected as icon species using the physical habitat simulation system (PHABSIM). The total number of species sampled was 20 species, and two species of Zacco platypus (30.4%) and C. splendidus (20.9%) dominated the fish community. As a result, it was revealed that IBI and QHEI values decreased from upstream to downstream along the river. The estimated IBI value ranged from 24 to 36 with average being 30.9 out of 50, rendering the site ecologically fair to good health conditions. HSI for C. splendidus were determined according to three different month in terms of season: Spring (April), Summer (August) and Autumn (October). HSI for flow velocity were estimated at 0.7 to 0.8 m/s for the Spring, 0.5 to 1.0 m/s for the Summer and 0.8 to 0.9 m/s for the Autumn. HSI for water depth were estimated at 0.3 to 0.5 m for the Spring; 0.3 to 0.5 m for the Summer; and 0.3 to 0.4 m for the Autumn. OEF was estimated at 4.2 and $6.5m^3/s$ for the Spring and Autumn, and $12.0m^3/s$ for the Summer. Overall, it was concluded that the Hoengseong Dam has been relatively well protected from the anthropogenic disturbance for the legally protected species including the endemic species studied in this study.

• 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.42 no.3
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• pp.364-373
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• 2009

We evaluated stream health, based on integrative approaches of qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI), chemical water quality and the index of biological integrity (IBI) using fish assemblages in Daejeon Stream during August 2004 - October 2007. The QHEI values in this study averaged 78.2 (n=28, range: 47$\sim$124), indicating "fair" condition based on the criteria of US EPA (1993). The highest value was in the headwater site (S1) that was 112 (good), whereas the value in S3, mid and downstream was SS (fair-poor) that was the lowest owing to a disturbance on the bed and an artificial bank. Concentrations of chemical parameters such as BOD, TP and conductivity increased from the upstream to the downstream due to higher inputs of organic matters and nutrients from the urban area. Conductivity and TP showed a dilution of stream water by rainwater during summer monsoon. Analysis of fish compositions showed that total number of species was 24 and Zacco platypus was predominated (82%). The mean IBI was 17 (range: 12$\sim$30) during four years and the IBI values also decreased from S1 to S4. These results indicated that ecological health was degradated distinctly as the stream goes down through the city-center. We concluded that Daejeon Stream running through the city are influenced by chemical impact such as an influx of domestic sewage as well as the quality of habitat.

• 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.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2014

In order to establish fundamental data for stream restoration and environmental flow, we investigated optimal ecological flowrate (OEF) and riverine health condition in the Chogang Stream, a tributary to Geum River, Korea. The number of fish individuals sampled in this period were 4,669 in 36 species of 9 families. The most abundant species was Korean chub (Zacco koreanus, 34.0%) followed by pale chub (Z. platypus, 22.6%) and Korean shinner (Coreoleuciscus splendidus, 13.3%). Index of biological integrity (IBI) and qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) values decreased from upstream to downstream along the stream. The estimated IBI value ranged from 27.9 to 38.6 with average 32.2 out of 50, rendering the site ecologically fair to good health conditions. OEF was estimated by the physical habitat simulation system (PHABSIM) using the habitat suitability indexes (HSI) of three fish species Z. koreanus, C. splendidus and Pseudopungtungia nigra selected as indicator species. In Z. koreanus, HSI for flow velocity and water depth were estimated at 0.1 to 0.4 m/s and 0.2 to 0.4 m, respectively. In P. nigra, HSI for flow velocity, water depth and substrate size were estimated at 0.2 to 0.5 m/s and 0.4 to 0.6 m and fine gravel to cobbles, respectively. OEF values increasing from up to downstream was found to increase, weighted usable area (WUA) values increased accordingly.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.172-182
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• 2009

This study was to analyze characteristics based on tolerance and trophic guilds and to determine the level of total mercury in tissues of sentinel species, Zacco platypus at 3 sampling sites of the Mangyeong River in 2007. Total sampled fishes were 26 species and the most dominant species was Zacco temminckii (47%). Fish community analysis was resulted that eveness index and diversity index showed low value at S1. However, diversity index and richness index at other sites showed high. According to various guilds analysis, relative abundance of sensitive species was 70% and 42% at S1 and S2, respectively. While sensitive species were decreased (1%) and tolerant species were increased (60%) at S3. It was mainly carried to the impacts of wastewater treatment plants near the location. Relative abundance of insectivore species was decreased from up (S1) to midstream area (S3). In addition, chemical water quality, based on analyses of BOD, COD, TP, TN, EC, MPN and SS concentration showed similar trends. Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) was averaged 164, judged as "good" habitat condition. Average concentrations of total [Hg] was 146.9 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$. In the muscles of total [Hg] was the highest, and then followed by kidney, vertebrae, liver, and gills. According to FDA standards (500 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$) of Korea, total [Hg] has not affected to the individual fish health.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.845-856
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• 2011

In order to establish fundamental data for stream restoration and environmental flow, we investigated inhabitation and species diversity of fish to substrate size in the typical streams of Geum River Basin. Field monitoring including fish sampling was conducted from October 2007 to October 2009. Substrate size was determined according to six different : silt (Si), sand (Sa), fine gravel (Fg), coarse gravel (Cg), cobbles (Co) and boulders (Bo). A total number of fish caught in the 18 sites was 7,649 representing 10 families 50 species, and Si, Sa, Fg, Cg, Co and Bo stations occupied 30, 29, 38, 30, 27 and 17 species, respectively. The most frequently found species in number was pale chum (Zacco platypus, 29.7%, n=2,275) followed by Z. koreanus (22.5%, n=1,720) in total stations. Biological diversity with increase of substrate size from the dominance of part species showed higher values as dominance index, lower and diversity, richness and evenness index. Index of biological integrity (IBI) and qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) scores decreased with increase of substrate size. Therefore, it is necessary to make an effort on stream rehabilitation with evaluation of physical habitat condition by indicator species in order to maintain biodiversity and perform ecological restoration.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.631-648
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• 2012

The integrative ecological approaches of chemical assessments, physical habitat modelling, and multi-metric biological health modelling were applied to Gwanpyeong Stream within Gap-Stream watersheds to evaluate environmental impacts on the constructions of residential and commercial complex. For the analysis, the surveys conducted from 45 sites of reference streams within the Gap-Stream watershed and 3 regular sites during 2009 - 2010. Physical habitat health, based on the habitat model of Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index(QHEI) declined from the headwaters(good - fair condition) to the downstream(poor condition). Chemical water quality, based turbidity and electric conductivity(EC), was degraded toward to the downstream, and especially showed abrupt increases, compared to the values of control streams(CS). Also, concentrations of chlorophyll-a in the downstreams were greater compared to the control stream(CS), indicating an eutrophication. Biological health conditions, based on the Index of Biological Integrity(IBI) using fish assemblages, averaged 19.3 which is judged as a fair condition by the biological criteria of the Ministry of Environment, Korea. The comparisons of model metric values in sensitive species and riffle-benthic species on the Maximum Species Richness Line(MSRL) of 45 reference streams indicated a massive disturbances in all sampling locations. Also, tolerance guild and trophic guild analyses suggest that dominances of tolerant species and omnivores were evident, indicating a biological degradation by habitat disturbances and organic matter pollutions. There was no distinct longitudinal variations of IBI model values from the headwater to the downstream in spite of slight chemical and habitat health gradients among the sampling sites. Overall, integrative ecological health(IEH) scores, based on the chemical, physical, and biological parameters, were low compared to the 45 reference streams due to physical and chemical disturbances of massive constructions of the residential and commercial complex. This stream, thus showed a tendency of typical urban streams which are disturbed in the chemical water quality, habitat structures, and biological integrity. Effective stream management plans and restoration strategies are required in this urban stream for improving integrative stream health.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.730-744
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• 2016

In this study, fish fauna and stream characteristics were surveyed from June to October of 2014 in 31 sites of 23 small streams of Namhae Island. During the study period, 38 species belonging to 30 genera under 13 families were collected. Cyprinidae and Gobiidae fish occupied 28.9% (11 species) and Cobitidae fish accounted for 10.5% (4 species). The dominant family was Cyprinidae, and the most dominant species was Zacco koreanus with 30.3% (1,089 individuals) of the total. Eight species (33.8%) such as Zacco koreanus, Squalidus gracilis majimae, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Pseudobagrus koreanus, Iksookimia hugowolfeld, Iksookimia longicorpa, Silurus microdorsalis and Liobagrus mediadiposalis were Korean endemic and one species of Micropterus salmoides was exotic. According to the analysis of the community based on the diversity, evenness and richness indices, fish community seems to be more stable in the S7. The small streams were classified into three types of steep mountainous, mountainous-flatland, and flat land streams, and their types were categorized by their features of stream width, water depth, bottom substrate, riparian vegetation, and land use patterns. Principal component analysis based on species abundance classified fish communities into three main groups according to human impact and land-use pattern change. These results suggest that fish community structures were primary affected by the longitudinal environmental changes and these were modified by the habitat condition in accordance with the land use pattern change in the small streams.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.419-428
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• 2013

The objectives of this research were to determine ecological characteristics and chemical gradients in two different loach populations-Misgurnus anguillicaudatus ($M_a$) and Koreocobitis rotundicaudata ($K_r$). Eight chemical parameters were compared to test the chemical preferences between the two species. The population of Kr occurred more in better water quality, compared to the $M_a$-population. The $M_a$-population co-occurred more with tolerant species (TS) and omnivores, whereas the $K_r$-population co-occurred more with sensitive species (SS) and insectivores. The differences in the tolerance and trophic composition matched well with the result of stream health assessment, based on the multi-metric model of Index of Biological Integrity (IBI). The IBI value in habitat with the $M_a$-population was "19.6" (range: 8~40) indicating a fair condition, and the IBI values of $K_r$-population was 29.4 (range: 12~40) indicating good condition. Similar results were found in physical habitat health analysis (QHEI). Overall, data analysis showed that the $M_a$-population belong to the tolerant species and $K_r$-population belong to sensitive species in the tolerance classification.