• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.99-110
• /
• 2016

The objective of this study was to analyze chemical water quality, ecological characteristics of fish compositions, and ecosystem health before- (B_wc; 2008-2009) and after-the weir construction (A_wc; 2011-2012) at Juksan Weir and Seungchon Weir of Yeongsan River watershed. Suspended solids (SS) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in Juksan Weir increased, whereas nutrients such as total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) decreased in the epilimnetic water. In Juksan and Seungchon weirs, fish species distribution analysis in the periods of B_wc and A_wc showed that sensitive species were rare and tolerant species were dominant in the community. In the analysis of trophic guild, relative abundance of carnivore species are increased to 22% and 12%, respectively, after the constructions of Seungchon Weir and Juksan Weir. Mann-Whitney U-tests of nonparametric statistical analysis indicated that omnivore and carnivore species had significant differences (p < 0.05) between the B_wc and A_wc. The massive population growth of an exotic species, Micropterus salmoides, was evident in Seungchon Weir to influence on the structures of fish communities. The model values of mean Index of Biological Integrity (IBI), based on fish assemblages, were < 15, which indicates "poor" condition in the river health, and the significant difference of IBI values was not found between the B_wc and A_wc.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.310-316
• /
• 2015

The seasonal and interannual variation in the species composition and abundance of the fish assemblage were studied. Fish samples were collected seasonally over 4 year (2005 to 2008) using pots in the southern coast of East Sea. During the study period, a total of 32 fish species belonging to 24 families were collected. The dominant species were Conger myriaster, Paracentropogon rubripinnis, Liparis tanakae, Parapercis sexfasciata, Eptatretus burgeri and Clupea pallasii pallasii, which accounted for 91.9% of the total number of individuals collected. The number of species, number of individuals, biomass, and diversity fluctuated with season. The peak number of species and number of individuals occurred were in August 2008, whereas the biomass was the highest in August 2005 and diversity was in May 2008. The abundance of dominant species also showed some seasonal and interannual changes. A one-way analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed that the fish assemblage in 2008 was significantly different from those of 2005, 2006 and 2007, whereas there was no significant difference among seasons over 4 years.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.294-304
• /
• 2023

Seasonal variations in the community structure of larval fish assemblage in the coastal waters off Gadeok-do were investigated in May, August and November of 2019, and February in 2020. During the study period, a total of 85 larvae species belonging to 45 families were collected. The dominant species were Engraulis japonica, Gobiidae sp., Clupea pallasii, Decapterus maruadsi, and Callionymidae sp.. These five species accounted for 84.1% of the total number of larvae during the survey period. E. japonica, Gobiidae sp., D. maruadsi, and Callionymidae sp. were the dominant species in the summer, while C. pallasii was the dominant species in the winter. The Species Diversity Index was highest in the summer and lower in the fall and winter months, with the lowest values in the spring. As a result of cluster analysis using the number of individual larval fish showed that they are divided into four seasonal groups. In particular, due to seasonal changes in water temperature, an appropriate growth environment was formed in the summer, and an appropriate hatching water temperature for winter spawning fish species was formed in winter, reflecting the seasonal characteristics of the larval fish community.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.8-18
• /
• 2019

The objectives of this study were to analyze the influence of chemical water quality on fish guilds, pollution tolerance and the multi-metric ecological health, based on the Fish Assessment Index (FAI) in the main stream of Mangyeong River between 2009-2016. The quality of water with specific conductivity, TP, and $NH_4-N$ got worse dramatically in the down region. During the study, a total of 50 species were collected and the most dominant species was Zacco platypus. Also known as tolerant species, accounted 22.9% of the total abundances, thus indicating a trophic degradation. The downstream region (S5) had the highest number of fish external abnormalities, indicating a degradation of ecological health, based on the fish assemblages. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that relative abundance of tolerant fish species and omnivore fish species had a significant positive correlation(r>0.30, p<0.05) with values of BOD, conductivity and $NH_4-N$. Whereas, the relative abundance of the sensitive species and insectivore species had a significant negative relations (r<-0.30, p<0.001) with the parameters. The mean obtained from the multi-metric fish model, based on the FAI of all sites was 47 (n=40). This indicated a "fair condition" in the ecological health, and the downstream regions (S3-S5) were judged as "bad condition", indicating an influence of the chemical degradation on the ecological health.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.841-857
• /
• 2012

Preliminary ecological environmental assessments including physico-chemical constituents, water quality, fish fauna analysis, physical habitat health, and ecological health assessment were conducted as a primary step for Jeungchon micro-habitat ecosystem restoration in 2012. Water chemistry analysis of conductivity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a and etc. indicated that there were no significant differences(p < 0.05) among 6 sites between the headwaters and downstream. Multi-metric model analysis of Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index(QHEI) showed that brooklets were at "good condition" as a mean QHEI of 158.7(n = 6) and the longitudinal differences of the model values between the sites were minor(QHEI range: 153 - 165). Total fish species and the number of individuals were 12 and 481, respectively, and dominant species were Zacco platypus(49.5%) and Zacco koreanus(36.8%). Tolerance guild analysis showed that the proportion of sensitive species($S_S$) had a negative linear function[$S_S=86.35-0.31(D_H)$; $R^2$ = 0.892, p < 0.01] with a distance from the headwaters, while the proportion of tolerant species($T_S$) had a positive linear function($R^2$ = 0.950, F = 90.28, p < 0.001) with the distance. Trophic feeding guild analysis showed that the proportion of insectivore species($I_n$) had a negative linear function($R^2$ = 0.934, p < 0.01) with a distance from the headwaters, while the proportion of omnivore species($O_m$) had a positive linear function($R^2$ = 0.958, p < 0.001) with the distance. Index of Biological Integrity(IBI) model, based on fish assemblages, showed a "fair condition" as a mean IBI of 23(n = 6), and there was a distinct differences of ecological health between the headwaters(S1 = 30; "good condition") and the downstreams(S6 = 14; "poor condition"). Overall, the preliminary environmental impact assessments suggest that water quality, physical habitat conditions(QHEI model), and ecological health(IBI model) were maintained well, even if the state was not an excellent conditions.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.186-194
• /
• 2010

Seasonal variation in species composition and abundance of fish assemblage in the coastal waters off Gori were determined using monthly samples collected by a three-side fyke net in 2006. Of a total of 59 fishes collected, the dominant species were Trachurus japonicus, Mugil cephaIus, Konosirus punctatus, Apogon lineatus, Chelidonichthys spinosus, Ditrema temmincki, Sebastes schlegeli and Apogon semilineatus. These 8 fishes accounted for 92.7% of the total number of individuals collected. The number of fish species, number of individuals, biomass and species diversity indices fluctuated with the seasons. The peak number of fishes occurred in December, whereas biomass of fishes was the highest in March. The number and biomass of fishes were lower in January corresponded with the low temperatures, and the diversity indices were lower in December than in any other month.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.314-321
• /
• 2011

The potential effects of increased water temperature on fish assemblages and their habitats were studied in the streams of the Han River watershed when the water temperature was supposed to increase by $1^{\circ}C$, $2^{\circ}C$, and $3^{\circ}C$ in each sampling site. The percent changes in suitable habitats for each species and in species number within a site were determined, based on the estimated maximum thermal tolerances of 51 fish species whose habitats were classified into four reaches: upstream, up-/midstream, midstream, and mid-/downstream. The maximum thermal tolerance ranged between $25.0^{\circ}C$ and $31.0^{\circ}C$ and significantly increased as the habitat reaches move from upstream to mid-/downstream. With the increases in water temperature, the average suitable habitats for all 51 species were decreased by 31% ($+1^{\circ}C$), 46% ($+2^{\circ}C$), and 60% ($+3^{\circ}C$). The increased water temperature, however, did not induce significant differences in the changes in suitable habitats among four reaches within each level of temperature increase. The relative frequencies of the sampling sites classified into six levels according to the percent change in the number of species in each site were significantly different among three levels of water temperature increase, with relatively greater changes in the sites where 0~20% and 61~100% of species were affected.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.71-85
• /
• 2018

A recent topic of interest within ecology is ecosystem services that are importantly connected with biodiversity. Biodiversity is a fundamental component of ecological studies and has been the subject of many studies worldwide. However, studies on the diversity and distribution of freshwater fish were not undertaken in earnest until 2000, and the number of internationally available studies is therefore still limited. In this study, we used data from "The Survey and Evaluation of Aquatic Ecosystem Health (hereafter SEAEH)" within the framework of which whole water systems on the Korean peninsula are annually monitored to investigate and determine the current status of the diversity and distribution of freshwater fish, as well as to elucidate major factors impacting freshwater fish. A total of 130 species from 28 families were identified at around 953 sites in the SEAEH investigation of 2014. The species Zacco platypus (relative abundance: 28.2%) and Z. koreanus (19.3%) were identified as the most abundant species on the Korean peninsula, and besides these 20 endangered species, 51 endemic species and 4 exotic species were also collected. Highest (96 species) and lowest (72 species) diversity were identified in the Han River Watershed and the Yeongsan/Seomjin River Watershed, respectively. The mean endemic rate was 32.7%, which is higher than the previous rate determined in 1995. The exotic species Micropterus salmoides, Lepomis macrochirus and Carassius cuvieri were found in the whole river system except north Yeongdong, whereas Oreochromis niloticus occurred only at three sites due to the cold water temperatures in winter. Totally, 28 species were found to be translocated to different water systems not connected with known original habitats, most translocations occurring in the Nakdong River and the Yeongdong region. Among the translocated species, Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, and Erythroculter erythropterus were dominantly distributed in the mid- to lower reaches of Nakdong River where they may be harmful to the native fish assemblages due to their strong predation. The construction of weirs in connection with the "4 River Project" generated changes in fish assemblages before, during and after the project, resulting in altered habitat condition. Especially, a decrease in the number of endemic species and an increase in the abundance of lentic species were seen. Human-induced global warming will allow exotic species requiring high water temperatures to adapt to the environmental conditions of the Korean peninsula, which may enhance the diversity of native fishes and create changes in distribution. For the establishment of realistic and efficient management and protection strategies for Korean freshwater fish, SEAEH, which produces fundamental and quantitative data for Korean streams, is an important and necessary tool.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.235-246
• /
• 2002

The fish farming using net cages has been developed in many semi-closed bays in the southern coast of Korea for the last two decades. The intensive cage cultures of fishes generate considerable amounts of organic waste in the form of uneaten food and faeces. In order to evaluate the effect of fish farming activities we collected the benthic macrofauna near the fish farm area located in Wolho Islet of Gamak Bay and in Haklim Island of Tongyeong in November 1998. Benthic macrofaunal assemblages showed dramatic changes in species number, species diversity, and faunal abundance in the region of the fish farm. These changes were clearly observed even at a distance of up to 30 m from the fish farming cage area. Within 5 m from the cage, there was a zone with low species diversity and highest density, dominated by opportunistic polychaete worm, Capitella capitata. By a distance of 15-30 m, this zone presents highest species number and higher density. Our results clearly demonstrated that fish farm area was highly enriched with organic materials, and implied that the fish farm industry and adjacent benthic ecosystem in semi-closed bay will be seriously damaged by self produced organic wastes in the near future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.10-24
• /
• 2021

A seasonal characteristic of fish assemblages in the coastal waters of Gapa-do was determined using samples collected by a trammel net from 2015 to 2019. Annual mean temperature and salinity were 18.9℃, 33.6 psu (2015), 19.5℃, 33.6 psu (2016), 18.9℃, 33.8 psu (2017), 18.8℃, 34.5 psu (2018) and 19.5℃, 33.7 psu (2019), which show a stable water mass. During the survey period, a total of 50 species (30 families and 8 orders) of fishes were identified, including Scorpaeniformes (3 families and 9 species) and Perciformes (18 families and 29 species) that accounted for 68% of the total number. The number of species was higher in summer than in winter, showing the peak in the summer by 35 species and the low in the winter by 20 species. The number of individuals and the biomass peaked in the summer by 690 individuals and 151.4 kg, and were the lowest in the autumn by 336 individuals and 76.6 kg. The annual diversity index, evenness index and richness index were appeared to be 2.54-2.75, 0.68-0.76 and 5.32-6.65 at each stations. The dominance index was appeared to be the highest in 2018 and the lowest in 2015. Marbled rockfish (Sebastiscus marmoratus), rock fish (Sebastes inermis), filefish (Stephanolepis cirrhifer), rabbit fish (Siganus fuscescens), porcupine fish (Diodon holocanthus) and smallscale blackfish (Girella melanichthys) were dominant species, which occurred abundantly during the entire survey period. Subtropical fishes were identified as a total of 24 species (48.0%) and the number of species was higher in 2019 by 20 (60.6%) species and lower in 2015 by 13 (44.8%) species. The dominant species of the subtropical fishes were appeared to be rabbit fish, porcupine fish, smallscale blackfish, flag fish (Goniistius zonatus), stripey (Microcanthus strigatus), grunter (Parapristipoma trilineatum), and bluestriped angelfish (Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis) at the study sites.