• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.262-269
• /
• 2022

A distribution survey was conducted from 2018 to 2020 to evaluate the distribution status, habitat characteristics, and extinction threat of the short ninespine stickleback Pungitius kaibarae (Gasterosteidae). Literature reports of P. kaibarae distribution have been sorted by each period, 1980~1996, 1997~2005, and 2007~2017, and the samples were collected in 32, 43, and 64 stations for each period. Among the 75 streams and 193 sampling sites investigated during the study period, 1,400 P. kaibarae individuals were collected from 26 streams at 39 sites. The main habitat of P. kaibarae was downstream or brackish water zones with a low altitude, slow water velocity, and many aquatic plants. The main reasons for the decline in population size were assumed to be drought and flood, river work for flood restoration and river maintenance, bridges construction, and predation by the exotic fish species Micropterus salmoides. Previous evidence reported a 42.6% reduction in occupancy within 10 years, a decline in habitat quality, and the spread and impact of the exotic fish species Micropterus salmoides. Therefore, P. kaibarae is now considered a Vulnerable (VU A2ace) species based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Therefore, P. kaibarae should be redesignated as an endangered species by the Ministry of Environment and systematically managed.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.39-48
• /
• 2020

The slender shinner (Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa), a tiny freshwater fish of about 8 to 10 cm belonging to Cyprinidae, is an endangered species found only in the Han and Imjin Rivers on the Korean Peninsula. During the breeding season, this species spawns in nests of Coreoperca herzi, a predator of this species, or small crevices on rocks. This unique reproductive ecology can make this species more vulnerable to anthropogenic perturbance that can further limit the places to spawn. Here, mtDNA and microsatellite loci were analyzed to identify the genetic diversity and structure of slender shinners and further to provide the basic data necessary for the conservation planning of this species. A total of 28 polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed using Illumina paired-end sequencing, and 67 slender shinners collected from three localities in the Han River were genotyped using these loci. This species showed a remarkably high level of genetic diversity with mean expected heterozygosity of 0.914 and mean allele number per locus of 27.9, and no signature of drastic demographic decline was detected. As a result of our microsatellite analysis, the genetic structure between the two stems of the Han River, North Han and South Han, was prominent. Such a genetic structure was also evident in the sequence analysis of 14 haplotypes obtained from mtDNA control region. Although slender shinners are only found in very limited areas around the world, the genetic structure indicates that there is a block of gene flow among the populations, which should be reviewed in the future if management and restoration of this species is needed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.432-441
• /
• 2014

April, 2005 to October, 2013. The collected species during the survey period were 17 species belonging to 6 families. Dominant species was Zacco koreanus(Relative abundance 59.9%) and subdominant species Pungtungia herzi(8.5%). Korea endemic species were 12, including Coreoleuciscus splendidus. The species of Hemibarbus mylodon was identified as natural monument, and Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa and Gobiobotia brevibarba were endangered species. Water quality assessment of Gapyeong Stream, had lately maintained the rating of "very good" for nine years, based on the Ministry of the Environment standards notice. It was found that there was a tendency for populations which is Coreoperca herzi carnivorous species decreases, increases omnivorous species Zacco platypus. As a result of community analysis, dominant index was 0.58~0.86, diversity index was 0.94~1.77 and richness index was 0.99~2.39. As a result of using the Rarefaction curve, were analyzed occurrence species expected each year, number of species is estimated from a sample of 151 individuals, up to 12(2005) was at least 5(2007) species. The regression coefficient (b) in relation to length-weight on Z. koreanus population were annual average $3.29{\pm}1.11$, condition factor slope $0.0034{\pm}0.0021$, which maintained good growth condition and stabilized population.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.61-69
• /
• 2011

Gene and promoter structures of metallothionein(MT) from Miho spine loach (Cobitis choii; Cypriniformes) were characterized, and the transcriptional responses to experimental exposures to heavy metals and heat stress were examined. The C. choii metallothionein displayed well-conserved features of teleostean metallothioneins at gDNA, mRNA and amino acid levels. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that the C. choii MT regulatory region potentially possessed various motifs or elements targeted by various transcription factors associated with metal-coordinating regulation (e.g., metal transcription factor-1), immune responses (e.g., nuclear factor kappa B), and thermal modulations (e.g., heat shock factor). Acute heavy-metal exposures to 0.5 or $1.0\;{\mu}M$ of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) or zinc (Zn) showed that MT transcription was significantly stimulated by Cd (9.6-fold relative to non-exposed control) and Cu (10.4-fold), only moderately by Mn (2.4-fold), but hardly by Ni and Zn. Elevation of water temperature from $25^{\circ}C$ to $31^{\circ}C$ caused a rapid modulation of MT mRNAs toward upregulation to 9.5-fold; however, afterward the elevated mRNA level slightly decreased during further incubation at $31^{\circ}C$ for 6 h. Results from this study suggest that MT-based expression assay could be a useful basis for better understanding the metal- and/or heat-caused stresses in this endangered fish species.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.48-55
• /
• 2012

Egg development and early life history of the slender shinner, $Pseudopungtungia$ $tenuicorpa$ were investigated to provide basic information regarding biological characteristics and restoration in 2010. Eggs were obtained by injecting females with Ovaprim and then fertilized using the dry method in the laboratory. Matured eggs were strongly adhesive, opaque and grayish and measured $1.96{\pm}0.08mm$(mean${\pm}$SD) in diameter. Fertilized eggs hatched 240 h after fertilization at $23^{\circ}C$, and newly hatched larvae an average $8.6{\pm}0.25mm$ in total length. At 2 days after hatching, larvae averaged $9.0{\pm}0.37mm$ in total length and their yolk sacs had been completely absorbed. About at 10 days after hatching, they beacme to juvenile stage and reached $10.6{\pm}0.44mm$ in total length. At 70 days after hatching, the band patterns and external form of juveniles were similar to those of adults, and they averaged $36.0{\pm}2.13mm$ in total length.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.235-243
• /
• 2017

Reproductive characteristics of Rhodeus pseudosericeus (Pisces: Acheilognathinae) was investigated at the Heukcheon (River), Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, Korea from January to July in 2012. This fish prefers heavily vegetated stagnant pool with Phragmites japonica and Salix koreensis and area with high proportions of sand and mud. The standard length of the population indicated that 13~22 mm group is 0-year old, 30~45 mm group is 1-year old, 45~55 mm group is 2-year old and 45~70 mm group is more than 3-year old (June in 2012). The sex ratio of female to male was 1 : 0.80. The spawning season was from March to June with water temperatures in the range $11.0{\sim}26.2^{\circ}C$. The embryos were found with no egg mass in Unio douglasiae sinuolatus and the number of those was 1~22 ($5.8{\pm}5.51$). The number of the embryos found in each of the four parts of the mussel gill was 1~9 ($2.7{\pm}2.16$) in left outer, 1~2 ($1.5{\pm}0.71$) in left outer, 1~5 ($1.8{\pm}1.79$) in left outer and 1~22 ($5.8{\pm}5.51$) in left outer.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.335-352
• /
• 2014

In this study, we investigated and analysed the water quality, distribution of the vegetation and the wildlife to seven wetlands in Donghae city. As a result, most of the wetlands was found to be very poor water quality and some specific pollutants from entering the wetland. A total of 234 taxa on vegetation were identified including 207 species, 24 varieties, 3 formaes, 168 genera and 69 families. 2 species were recorded as designated rare plant of Korea Forest Service. The naturalized plants were 27 species. The urbanization rate of naturalization index was 8.4% and 11.6% respectively. The number of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa was 35 species, 26 families, 12 orders, 5 classes and 3 phylums. Rare species were recorded 3 species. Taxa for fishes were 5 family and 5 species. Endangered wildlife was found 1 species. Most wetlands in Donghae city were the relatively small in size, and some wetlands were separately located from forest and river ecosystems. It was limited inflow and outflow of species into a wetland from the outside. However, various vegetation were found at whole wetlands and some special species also inhabited. The wetlands performed the role as a habitat of wild life.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.181-189
• /
• 2018

This study was performed to analyze the dynamics and distributional condition of biological community and to support the basic information about the estuarine ecosystem management by using the intensively surveyed results by each taxon experts around Tamjin river. We analyzed the biological diversity, abundance, correlation among species, and ecological characteristics about 11 taxa groups including vegetation, fish, birds, mammals, etc. in the Tamjin river estuarine ecosystem. We classified vegetation types into 7 physiognomic types and 18 communities according to habitat conditions with the physical environments and salinity. In total, 1125 species including 9 species of endangered species were identified in research area. The species composition and distributional characteristics of each taxon were corresponded to the environmental characteristics of the estuarine ecosystem. Especially, the species diversity and distribution were clearly distinguished in the river according to the difference of the environmental factors such as flow rate, salinity, and soil. Despite the disturbance factors such as barrage and levees, the biodiversity and its distribution were evaluated to be high level under the current environmental conditions. However, loss or reduction of wildlife habitat due to reclamation, embankment, barrage installation and expansion of farmland has been identified as a major threat to the diversity and health of the local ecosystem. The results of this study can be used as a basic data to cope with various development pressure and damage crisis of the whole estuaries including Tamjin river.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.47 no.spc
• /
• pp.100-115
• /
• 2014

For this study, we collected fishes of seven times at the 51 sites by stream orders (2-6) from November 2007 to September 2010. In the results, 55 species belonging 12 families were collected. And there were one species (1.8%) of Natural monument, 6 species (10.9%) of endangered and 22 species (40.0%) of Korea endemic. Dominant species was Zacco koreanus and subdominant species was Zacco platypus in whole. Stream orders (2-6) increased with increasing species, diversity (H'), evenness (EI), richness (RI), tolerant (TS), omnivore (OS) and decreasing individual, dominance (DI), sensitive (SS) insectivore (IS), total IBI score. Principal component analysis results showed location of variable (species, individual, community index, relative abundance of tolerant, sensitive, omnivore, insectivore species) and each site changes in upstream and down-stream changes in their distribution. Correlation analysis showed significant differences between stream orders (2-6) and variable (species: Sp, diversity index: H', omnivore species: OS, stream depth: SD, stream width: SW and water temperature: WT).