• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.509-513
• /
• 2018

Present study was performed to survey infection status of digenetic trematode metacercariae in 2 alien fish species, Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass) and Lepomis macrochirus (bluegill), in 2 rivers draining Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea. A total of 107 largemouth bass and 244 bluegills were caught in Daecheong-ho (ho=lake) and Musim-cheon (a branch of Geum-gang), in Chungcheongbuk-do April-July 2015. Additionally, 68 native fish of 5 species, i.e., Zacco platypus, Hemibarbus longirostris, Carassius auratus, Pseudogobio esocinus and Puntungia herzi, were caught from the same water bodies. All of the fish collected were examined by artificial digestion method. The metacercariae of Centrocestus armatus, Clinostomum complanatum, Metagonimus sp. and Diplostomum spp. were detected from 4 out of 5 native fish species in Daecheong-ho. However, any metacercariae were not found from 87 M. salmoides and 177 L. macrochirus in Daecheong-ho. In Musim-cheon, metacercariae of Exorchis oviformis and Metacercaria hasegawai were detected from 78% Z. platypus and 34% L. macrochirus, but any metacercariae not found in M. salmoides. We report here that the 2 alien fish species were less infected with the metacercariae than the native ones. Surveys on the metacercariae in the alien fish species in geographically various rivers should be undertaken for better understanding on the role of alien fish species in the trematode infections in Republic of Korea.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2023

Alien species are known to threaten regional biodiversity globally, which has increased global interest regarding introduction of alien species. The Ministry of Environment of Korea designated species that have not yet been introduced into the country with potential threat as alert alien species to prevent damage to the ecosystem. In this study, potential habitats of Esox lucius and Maccullochella peelii, which are predatory and designated as alert alien fish, were predicted on a national basis. Habitat suitability was evaluated using EHSM (Ecological Habitat Suitability Model), and water temperature data were input to calculate Physiological Habitat Suitability (PHS). The prediction results have shown that PHS of the two fishes were mainly controlled by heat or cold stress, which resulted in biased habitat distribution. E. lucius was predicted to prefer the basins at high latitudes (Han and Geum River), while M. peelii preferred metropolitan areas. Through these differences, it was expected that the invasion pattern of each alien fish can be different due to thermal preference. Further studies are required to enhance the model's predictive power, and future predictions under climate change scenarios are required to aid establishing sustainable management plans.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.581-590
• /
• 2018

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the species composition of fish and benthic macroinvertebrates in the Namgang Dam reservoir and assess the reservoir's ecological quality. Methods: Fish and benthic macroinvertebrates were seasonally sampled around the Namgang Dam reservoir from October 2013 to September 2014. Results: A total of 970 fish specimens were collected for this survey, including 4 orders, 14 families, and 25 species. Fourteen endemic species were observed, including Coreoleuciscus splendidus. The most observed among the endemic species caught was Zacco koreanus (14.4%). A total of 9,093 benthic macroinvertebrates, including 51 families and 92 species, were also found. The predominant species in the study area was Chironomidae sp. 1. Diplonychus esakii, whose habitat is distribution-specific as designated by the Korean National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), were also observed. A total of 386 specimens were collected of the invasive alien species Lepomis macrochirus, and the percentage of Lepomis macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides made up 42.0% of all specimens collected in the area. Conclusion: The mean ecological score of the benthic macroinvertebrate community (ESB) ranged between 24 and 40, which indicates that the environmental condition of the target sites is somewhat poor. Based on the results of this research, building habitats for benthic macroinvertebrates should be considered, and extermination plans for invasive alien fish species should be prepared.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.41-53
• /
• 2022

Background: Due to the rapidly changing climatic conditions, South Korea faces the grand challenge of exotic species. With the increasing human movement, the influx of alien species to novel regions is prevalent across the globe. The latest research suggests that it is easy to prevent the introduction and establishment of alien species rather than controlling their spread and eradication. Like other countries, the Korean Ministry of Environment released a list (in 2018) of 45 potential risky exotic fish species considered likely to be invasive candidate fish species if they ever succeed in entering the Korean aquatic ecosystems. Results: The investigation into the invasion suitability traits showed that potential risky fish species could utilize those features in becoming invasive once they arrive in the Korean aquatic ecosystems. If the novel species establish viable populations, they are likely to incur higher economic costs, damage the native aquatic fauna and flora, and jeopardize the already perilled species. Furthermore, they can damage the installed infrastructure, decline overall abundance and biodiversity, and disturb the ecosystem services. Here we reviewed the list of fish species concerning their family, native origin, preferred aquatic biomes, main food items, current status in Korea, and potential threats to humans and the ecosystems. Data shows that most species are either already designated as invasive in the neighboring counties, including Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and China, or originate from these countries. Such species have a higher climate match with the Korean territories. Conclusions: Therefore, it is exceptionally essential to study their most critical features and take regulatory measures to restrict their entry. The incoming fish species must be screened before letting them in the country in the future. The regulatory authorities must highlight the threatening traits of such species and strictly monitor their entrance. Detailed research is required to explore the other species, especially targeting the neighboring countries fish biodiversity, having demonstrated invasive features and matching the Korean climate.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.27 no.11
• /
• pp.1105-1115
• /
• 2018

The aim of this study was to collect crucial data for the improvement of water quality and ecosystem conservation by analyzing water samples, sediments, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish in the Seosan reservoir. The average values of water quality parameters from 2001 to 2016 were a chemical oxygen demand of 10 mg/L, total nitrogen of 1.22 mg/L, and total phosphorus of 0.074 mg/L. Cadmium was detected in the range of 0.531-0.748 mg/kg in the reservoir sediment. Fish belonging to 6 families and 9 species were identified in the reservoir. The dominant species were Carassius auratus and Micropterus salmoides. Benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 22 families and 28 species were identified. The ecological score of the benthic macroinvertebrate community was 15 inside the reservoir (St. 2). Micropterus salmoides, an invasive alien species, was determined to be the subdominant fish species based on the number of captures, and the presence of the invasive species, Sicyos angulatus L. and Paspalum distichum L. was confirmed among the land flora.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.169-180
• /
• 2023

Oreochromis niloticus is the most ecologically and economically important fish in tropical and sub-tropical aquatic systems. Recently, due to sever anthropogenic stressors, hydrological variations and infestations of invasive alien species in Ethiopian water bodies, fish community structure and ecosystem of Lake Tana is changing alarmingly. So far, there is paucity of information on the morphometric relations and diet composition of O. niloticus in Lake Tana, gulf of Gorgora. A total of 309 fish samples were collected and their total length (TL), standard length (SL) and total weight (TW) were measured to determine morphometric relations; and gut contents were examined to identify most important food item in the diet of the fish. Results indicated that, the relation between TL and SL was significant (p < 0.001) and linear (SL = 0.942TL-2.41) while the relation between TL and TW was curvilinear (TW = 0.014 TL^2.8) indicating allometric growth. Among the total guts scrutinized, 53 (17.3%) of them were empty and the remaining 256 (82.7%) were non-empty. Phytoplankton constituted the largest bulk and occurred in 77% of the guts examined and volumetrically accounted 44.3%. Detritus and zooplankton had an intermediate importance by occurring 60.2% and 63.3% of all guts scrutinized and constituted about 25.6% and 15.5% of the total volume respectively. Contributions of macrophytes, insects, nematodes and unidentified food items were relatively low in their importance. Ontogenetic dietary shift was observed in the diet indicating an omnivorous feeding habit of the adult fish.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.206-213
• /
• 2008

Fish fauna and community structure were investigated at 2003, 2004 and 2006 in Lake Paldang and its inflows. In this survey, we collected 54 species belong to 14 families. Family Cyprinidae take 51.9% (28 species), Cobitidae and Gobiidae occupied 7.4% (each 4 species), respectively. E. erythropterus (11.8%) was dominant species and L. macrochirus (10.2%), designated as an ecosystem-invasive alien fish species by Ministry of Environment, M. yaluensis (9.1%), Z. platypus (7.7%) and R. brunneus (6.7%) were dominated in turn. H. molitrix, C. lutheri, P. altivelis, S. microdorsalis, L. costata. S. gracilis majimae, A. rivularis, P. koreanus. S. scherzeri and O. platycephala were rare species (less than 0.1% in relative abundance). In-lake area, 36 species of fishes belonging to 11 families were collected, and 48 species of 13 families were from inflows. The number of Korean endemic species were 19 species (35.2%), and 4 kinds of exotic species (7.4%), that is, C. cuvieri, H. molitrix, L. macrochirus and M. salmoides were found at this survey area. It was revealed by the analysis of fish community that diversity and richness indices were prominent at tributaries, and dominance index was high at the main body of Lake Paldang. Fish fauna showed rapid decline after dam construction which make the mid-Han river systems to lentic ecosystem, so many of meander-riffle fishes were disappeared dramatically. But after 1990s when installation of small scale wastewater treatment plants started in watershed, the water quality of small tributaries was improved. And also, expansion of the natural macrophytic vegetation of littoral zone should contribute to the development of diverse fish fauna in Lake Paldang.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.96-101
• /
• 2021

In this study, we wanted to obtain the information of the ecological impact of alien species on native fish communities. The Ichthyofauna and fish community in Joongchosan Reservoir and Bukchosan Reservoir in Gunsan-si Korea were investigated over the period from March to October 2020. During the survey period, a total of 1,895 individuals representing eight species, five families, and four orders were caught in the Joongchosan Reservoir. In the Bukchosan Reservoir, a total of 171 individuals were caught, representing seven species, five families, and three orders. The dominant species and subdominant species of Joongchosan Reservoir were Pseudorasvora parva (661 individuals, RA: 34.7%), and Rhodeus ocellatus (660 individuals, RA: 34.7%). Conversely, Micropterus salmoides (77 individuals, RA: 45.0%), and Carassius auratus (60 individuals, RA: 35.1%), were the two most common species in the Bukchosan Reservoir. The community indices showed a dominance of 0.697, diversity of 1.483, evenness of 0.713, and species richness of 0.928 in the Joongchosan Reservoir. In comparison, the community indices in the Bukchosan Reservoir showed a dominance of 0.801, diversity of 1.304, evenness of 0.670, and species richness of 1.167. This study confirms that the number of native fishes and the associated community diversity have decreased due to the influence of Micropterus salmoides. This highlights the need for removal of alien species from reservoirs, while simultaneously preventing future introductions.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.333-341
• /
• 2022

Despite rapidly increasing demand for fishing, there is a lack of studies and information related to fishing, and there is a limit to obtaining the data on the global distribution of fish resources. Since the existing method of investigating fish resource distribution is designed to collect the fish resource information by visiting the investigation area using a throwing net, it is almost impossible to collect nation-wide data, such as streams, rivers, and seas. In addition, the existing method of measuring the length of fish used a tape measure, but in this study, a FishingTAG's smart measure was developed. When recording a picture using a FishingTAG's smart measure, the length of the fish and the environmental data when the fish was caught are automatically collected, and there is no need to carry a tape measure, so the user's convenience can be increased. With the development of a global fishing application using a FishingTAG's smart measure, first, it is possible to collect fish resource samples in a wide area around the world continuously on a real time basis. Second, it is possible to reduce the enormous cost for collecting fish resource data and to monitor the distribution and expansion of the alien fish species disturbing the ecosystem. Third, by visualizing global fish resource information through the Google Maps, users can obtain the information on fish resources according to their location. Since it provides the fish resource data collected on a real time basis, it is expected to of great help to various studies and the establishment of policies.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.185-196
• /
• 2012

The fish community within the lake and 5 tributaries of Lake Chungju in spring and autumn, 2009 was surveyed. In this study, the total 128,506 individuals were collected belonging to 11 families 29 genera 34 species. The most dominant species was Squalidus japonicus coreanus that account for 91.6% of population and 49% of biomass of fish community. In the point of population, dominant species were small-sized species, which became the prey of big-sized predatory species. In the point of biomass, dominant species were predatory species which were large-sized. The most dominant species in lacustrine area was S. japonicus coreanus which accounted for 92.2% of total population and 49.1% of total biomass. The most dominant species of tributary streams was Tridentiger brevispinis which accounted for 66.4% of total population and 55.1% of total biomass. The site of C3 in lacustrine area and Dongdal-cheon in tributary streams collected the most number of species. Through ecological health evaluation of five tributary streams using 8 metric index of biological integrity (IBI) model, two streams (Dongdal-cheon, Kwang-cheon were evaluated as, "B", "good" condition, and Jangsung-cheon obtained grade C indicating "Fair" condition, Jecheon-cheon obtained grade D indicating "Poor" condition based on IBI model. Lepomis macrochirus which was designated as a domestic ecosystem-disturbing alien species with wide food niche have shown tendency to increase the number of individuals since 1991 indicating the adverse effect on not only fish community but also aquatic ecosystem food web of Lake Chungju.