• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.163-172
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• 2007

In this study, fish fauna and stream characteristics were surveyed during October-November 2003 in 31 small streams, which are small sub-tributaries of Geum River. The small streams were classified into 4 types of steep mountainous (SM), mountainous-flatland (MF), flat land (FL), and agricultural watercourse (AW) streams, and their types were categorized by features of stream width, water depth, bottom substrate, riparian vegetation, and landuse patterns. The fishes collected during this survey were identified 4 families and 8 species. Dominant family was Cyprinidae, and the most dominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus with 73% (419 individuals) of the total. Only one species of R. oxycephalus was observed in the all five steep mountainous streams, which was surrounded by 100% forest area and had no point-and non-point pollution sources. The observed frequency of R. oxycephalus (as a relative proportion of species) showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.754, p<0.001, n=31) with the substrate composition of bedrock and boulder, indicating that the species prefer the bedrock and boulder rather than the sand or small pebble. Evidently, all five steep mountainous streams were judged as excellent condition (1st rank) according to the criteria of biological water quality, the Ministry of Environment, Korea. This result was accord with a general tendency of the species in most upper stream of the Koreas streams. One family and one species were found at the steep mountainous types and 4 families 6 species were at the mountainous-flatland. Four families 8 species were found at the flat land, which showed most diverse habitat, and 2 families 2 species were collected agricultural watercourse. These study results of 1st-order streams suggest that R. oxycephalus was considered as one of 1st rank ecological indicator species, and that the dominant area should be protected from various pollutions and disturbances.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.326-332
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• 2004

A study of freshwater ichthyofauna was conducted in order to clarify its significance at 14 upstream sites in Muju, Jangsu, Geochang and Hamyang districts in Deogyusan National Park, enclosing Baekdudaegan. The freshwater fish fauna of the Park was measured at the 14 sampling locations from May 2003 to September 2003. The fifteen species gauged included four Korean endemic species and or subspecies (Squalidus japonicus coreanus, Iksookimia longicorpa, Coreoperca herzi, Odontobutis platycephala). Fourteen species were found in the Keum River and seven species in the Nakdong River. However, common species were Punchocypris, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, Zacco temmincki, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, Coreoperca herzi, and Odontobutis pzatycephala. The dominant species of these regions were Zacco temmincki and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus. Past studies conducted in Baekdudaegan mostly concernedflora and vegetation. In the future, new study concepts for stream corridors involving both animal and plant should be introduced.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.241-248
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• 2019

The freshwater fish fauna for the whole water system of Geogeumdo Island was surveyed at a total 10 sites from March 2018 to February 2019. During the surveyed period, 13 species belonging to 5 families and 4 orders were collected. Cyprinidae (68.84%) and Gobiidae (18.21%) were the dominant family, and the dominant species was Zacco temminckii (53.71%), and the subdominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (10.78%). Kichulchoia brevifasciata (1.27%) that endangered species were found in this study, but the habitat was confirmed in one site in Sinpyeongcheon compared to previous literature. Three endemic species of Korea were found in this island such as Iksookimia hugowolfeldi (5.07%), Liobagrus somjinensis (2.99%) and K. brevifasciata (1.27%). According to analysis of fish community structure based on average diversity, evenness index, dominance and richness indices in Geogeumdo Island were 1.666, 0.649, 0.645 and 1.713, respectively.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2011

Fish community structure in the Pyeongchanggang River was investigated from April to November 2009. About 900 individuals representing 24 species from eight families at six sites in the Pyeongchanggang River were collected. It was similar to the 2001's survey and it was less than 2006's survey. The Korean endemic species, Zacco koreanus was the most abundant, whereas subdominant species were native species, such as Pungtungia herzi, Zacco platypus, Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus. Three endangered species were collected at the sampling area, Acheilognathus signifier (relative abundance [RA] 0.9%), Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa (RA 1.4%), and Cottus koreanus (RA 3.6%). One natural monument species, Hemibarbus mylodon, was included. According to the analysis of ecological indicator characteristics, the relative proportion of tolerant species was 6.3% (57 individuals), whereas the proportion of sensitive species was 65.9% (593 individuals). Species evenness, richness and diversity indices decreased gradually through the month from April to November during the study. Community indices in Pyeongchanggang River showed a high evenness index (J'>0.6), a low level of species richness (R<3.5) and a medium level of diversity (1.5

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.303-317
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• 2007

The fish community of small freshwater ecosystems gets easily disturbed by direct or indirect human induced disturbances during the period of urbanization. Urbanization is one of factors that generate changes in stream and influences fish fauna in developed countries. This study was conducted in Busan Metropolitan City from 2001 to 2004. In order to investigate the fish community, the city was divided into 3 parts, eastern, central and western. A total of 3,206 individuals of 46 species from 19 families were collected from 55 sites. The dominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, whereas Zacco temminckii was the subdominant species. Cluster analysis was conducted using primary freshwater fish species collected from each stream. As a result of the analysis, study sites were well differentiated into 3 parts. Two species of Z. temminckii and R. oxycephalus represented the upper part of the stream and Carassius cuvieri, Acheilognathus rhombeus, Hemiculter eigenmanni and Micropterus salmoides represented the middle and lower parts of the stream. When compared with previous studies, fish community of the eastern part of the Busan city where urbanization is in progress, showed similar patterns to the central part. At the time of the habitat restoration of fish fauna in stream, appropriate selection of fish species should be made through analysis of stream character and biogeographic distribution of fish, and long-term monitoring is also needed for sustaining the management of fish fauna.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.677-685
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• 2019

We investigated the ecological characteristics of kumgang fat minnow (Rhynchocypris kumgangensis) in the Eocheon stream from October 2017 to September 2018. The water temperature was 10.2- 14.3℃ and remained below 15℃ during the year. The fishes in cohabitation with kumgang fat minnow were Cottus koreanus (16.62%), Phoxinus phoxinus (10.74%), Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (1.55%), Oncorhynchus mykiss (0.56%), Zacco koreanus (0.28%), and Iksookimia koreensis (0.14%%). The ratio of females to males was 1:0.91 and did not vary widely. The frequency analysis of total length indicated that the fishes with less than 40 mm in total length were one year old, those with 40 - 69 mm were two years old, those with 70 - 84 mm were three years old, and those with 85 mm or more were four years old for individuals collected in May through June. The sexually mature fishes were over two years old. The spawning season was from late May to late August, and the water temperature was 12.5~14.5℃ during the period. The prosperous spawning season was from June to July, and the water temperature was 13.6 - 14.5℃ during the spawning period. The average number of eggs in the ovaries was 1,006 (664 - 1,666) per matured female, and the matured eggs were yellowish and spherical with a mean diameter of 1.34±0.17 mm. The length-weight correlation of R. kumgangensis was BW = 0.00003TL^2.77 with the constant a as 0.00003, b as 2.77, the average condition factor (K) as 1.04(0.65~1.48), and the slope as -0.0012. The kumgang fat minnows inhabiting in the spring water had a longer spawning period, a fewer number of eggs in ovaries, and the lower condition factor (K) than those inhabiting other areas.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.878-886
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• 2011

The fish fauna and characteristic of population of Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis at the 7 stations in the Bonghwa-gun were investigated from June 2010 to May 2011. The collected species during the survey period were 15 species belong to 7 families. Protected species by the legal were B. lenok tsinlingensis, Koreocobitis naktongensis, and Cottus koreanus. Korean endemic species were Microphy sogobio yaluensis, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Zacco koreanus, Cobitis hankugensis, K. naktongensis, Iksookimia longicorpa, Niwaella multifasciata, Liobagrus mediadiposalis, C. koreanus, and Coreoperca herzi, which showed a ration of 66.7% in collected species. Dominant species were Z. koreanus(St. 1), B. lenok tsinlingensis(St. 3, 4, 5), and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus(St. 2, 6, 7). Length-weight relation in the population of B. lenok tsinlingensis was BW = $0.000008TL^{3.02}$, and condition factor in the population was average 0.84. Frequency analysis of total length indicated that the group 80~180 mm in total length is represented by one-year-old individuals, the group 200~300 mm by two-year-old individuals, and the group over 300 mm by three-year-old individuals. The density of population was presumed average 17 individuals per 100$m^2$ and total 4,760 individuals in the reservation for B. lenok tsinlingensis.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2016

The fauna of freshwater fish and water chemistry characteristics were investigated from June, 2014 to October, 2014 at 10 sites in Taebaeksan Provincial Park. A total of 7 species under three families were collected from the survey sites and among them one endangered species - Koreocobitis naktongensis - was identified. The endemic species of Korea were 2 species: Koreocobitis naktongensis, Iksookimia koreensis. Dominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus(89%) and subdominant species was Orthrias nudus(8.9%). Water quality including conductivity, turbidity, pH and total dissolved solids(TDS) varied largely depending on the sampling locations. Values of ambient conductivity and TDS were greater in the upstream than in the downstream, and seasonal variabilities were also higher in the upstream. The pH decreased towards the downstream, and especially showed a sharp decrease in S5. This phenomenon was evident due to a dilution by the influx in the acid mine drainage(AMD) of S4. Physical habit conditions, based on qualitative habitat evaluation index(QHEI) model, indicated a "Sub-optimal" condition(mean: 157.3; range: 78 ~ 194) in the Sodo stream watersheds.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.116-132
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• 2015

Freshwater fish fauna and community structure were investigated at 44 stations in upper reach of the Nakdong river, Korea from March to October 2014. During the surveyed period 42 species and 4 types belonging to 34 genera and 14 families were collected. In this collection fishes of Cyprinidae were 17 species and 4 types, most numerous possessing 43.2% of all. There were 17 Korean endemic species including Kichulchoia multifasciata, 3 endangered species such as Koreocobitis naktongensis, Lethenteron reissneri and Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis and 2 exotic species such as Lepomis macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides. Fish species transferred from other native rivers were 9 species including Hemibarbus mylodon, Coreoleuciscus slpendidus Han river type, Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, Iksookimia koreensis and Liobagrus andersoni. Dominant species based on the number of individuals was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (21.44%) and sub-dominant species were Zacco koreanus NE type (18.55%). The community analysis revealed that the structure of fish community in upper reach of the Nakdong river was very stable and diverse in having diversity 1.101, evenness 0.670, dominance 0.400 and species richness 4.454. Fish community was divided into 5 groups based on similarity indices among surveyed stations such as uppermost, upper I, upper II, mid-upper, middle reach group.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.392-402
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• 2012

In this study, to analyze the stream health using fish assemblage and make effective management, we conducted fish monitoring in the Hoeya River basin and neighboring streams. A total of 33 species classified into 12 families were collected from 29 sites in 2007. Dominant species was Zacco platypus (Relative abundance, RA: 24.8%), and subdominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (RA: 16.2%). Eight Korean endemic species and 4 exotic species were identified. Moreover, two species (Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis and Hemiculter eigenmanni) were translocated from other basin. To evaluate stream health of the study sites, Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) was applied, based on fish assemblages. Overall, IBI values were "C (Fair)" or "D (Poor)" condition, according to the grade except two sites which recorded "B (Good)". The correlation between land use pattern of surrounding watershed and IBI was analyzed to verify impact of development on stream health using fish assemblage. As a result, when percentage of the developmental groups increased, IBI values were decreased (Pearson correlation, r=-0.425, p=0.022). In contrast, increment of percent forest and grass land was positively correlated with IBI (r=0.556, p=0.002). The agricultural group and IBI did not significantly correlate with each other (r=-0.231, p=0.333). In this study, we identified a relationship between land use of surrounding watershed and stream health using fish data (i.e. IBI). These results could be provided useful fundamental information to establish management and restoration plan in the Hoeya River basin and other rivers distributed in Korea.