• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.459-470
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• 2010

In this study, we analyzed fish tolerance guilds in mainstems and tributaries of 65 streams and rivers arid their relations to water quality using dataset sampled from April to November, 2009. For the study, water quality parameters including biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), electric conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N), nitrate nitrogen ($NO_3$-N) and phosphate phosphorus ($PO_4$-P) were analyzed in the laboratory and also tolerance ranges in 3 category fishes of sensitive, intermediate, and tolerant species with high abundance were analyzed. According to fish guild analysis, tolerant species was 58% of the total community and the proportion of omnivore species was 63% of the total, indicating a degradation of habitats and water quality. Water quality was shown typical longitudinal gradients from the headwater to the down-river; TN and TP increased toward the down-rivers except for the big point-source area and ionic contents, based on, electric conductivity showed same pattern. Tolerance guild analysis of 9 major species with high abundance indicated that sensitive groups had narrower tolerance range in the water quality than the groups of intermediate and tolerant species. In contrast, tolerant groups including Zacco platypus, Carassius auratus, and Opsarichthys uncirostris amurensis had wider tolerance ranges than the groups of sensitive and intermediate species. Thus, each group was evidently segregated from the tolerance levels. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) employed for the relations of water quality to fish species in each groups suggests that water quality had highest eigenvalues with fish species in the 1st axis of the PCA and nitrogen (TN, $NH_3$-N, $NO_3$-N) and phosphorus (TP) were key components differentiating three groups of sensitive, intermediate and tolerance guilds.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.263-270
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• 2012

The objectives of the study were to determine fish fauna and compositions during 2010~2011 in Walpyung Conservation Park along with analysis of fish community structures and trophic and tolerance guilds. Total number of species and individuals sampled were 31 and 2667, respectively and dominant species was Zacco platypus (46.6%) and subdominant species was Acheilognathus lanceolatus (8.7%), which were composed of >50% of the total. Total number of Korean endemic species including Microphysogobio yaluensis was 10 and the proportion of the individuals was 8.7%. Also, natural monument No. 454 of Iksookimia choii, which is endangered species and legal protected species, was sampled and the total number of individuals was only three. According to the analysis of fish community structures, species richness index in the mid-stream reach ($M_r$) was 3.145, which is higher than any other stream reaches ($U_r$ and $D_r$). In contrast, the richness index was 2.180 in the up-stream reach ($U_r$), which is minimum among the sampling sites. Species diversity index was 1.785 and 1.975, respectively in the headwater ($U_r$) and mid-stream reach ($M_r$) and the low values in the down-stream reach ($D_r$, 1.660) were due to the influences of pointsource (i.e., road construction) and non-point sources (sporadic agricultural spots). According to analysis of tolerance guilds, the proportion of tolerant species (TS), based on the number of individuals, was composed of 64.2% and sensitive species (SS) was only 3.3%, indicating a predominance of tolerant fishes in the compositions. The proportion of omnivore species (OS), however, was composed of 64.0% and insectivore species (IS) was 29.3%, indicating a predominance of omnivore fishes in the stream. The high proportions of tolerant and omnivore species in this stream indicates that the water quality and physical habitat environments were degradated in this system. For these reasons, especially natural monument and endemic fish species in this region should be protected from the massive constructions and required to provide efficient stream management strategies.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.144-154
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• 2018

This study investigated the characteristics of fish communities at the Hangang River in Seoul from Jun 2016 to March 2017. During the survey period, there were 56 species of 17 families collected from 5 survey stations. The species that appeared mainly in the brackish water was Coilia nasus, Leiocassis nitidus, Lateolabrax maculata, Repomucenus olidus, Trachidermus fasciatus, Mugil cephalus, Chelon haematocheilus, Synechogobius hastus, Tridentiger bifasciatus and Takifugu obscurus. The migration fish of Anguilla japonica, C. nasus, Plecoglossus altivelis, Hypomesus nipponensis and T. obscurus appeared in this surveyed area. Korean endemic species were 11 species (17.9%) and accounted for a low rate. There were 6 species (10.7%) exotic species including Cyprinus carpio, Carassius cuvieri, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Megalobrama amblycephala, Lepomis macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides. The dominant species by stations were Acheilognathus gracilis (St. 1) and Hemibarbus labeo (St. 2, 3, 4, 5). Regarding the tolerance guild according to water quality, there were 3 (7.1%) sensitive species, 24 (42.9%) intermediate species, and 28 (50.0%) tolerance species. Twenty (35.7%) were insectivore species, 18 (32.1%) were omnivore species, 14 (25.0%) were carnivore species, and 4 (7.1%) were herbivore species, indicating the dominating presence of insectivore and omnivore fish species.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.503-510
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• 2007

The purposes of the study were to analyze the seasonal effects on the fish fauna and compositions including trophic guilds and tolerance guilds. For the study, we collected fish samples twice in June as premonsoon period and early September 2007 as monsoon periods in five sampling sites of the Gap Stream, and then biological oxygen demand (BOD), nutrients (TN, TP) and suspended solids (SS) were compared with the guild data along the gradient of upstream-to-downstream. Chemical water quality, based on BOD, TP, and TN degraded gradually from the upstream to downstream reach and there were about 3 fold difference between S1 and S5. Water quality was worse in the premonsoon than the monsoon, and the heavy monsoon resulted in a dilution of the polluted river by rain water, especially, in the downstream reach. Total number of fish species, based on the catch per unit effort (CPUE), showed a distinct difference between the two seasons; 30 species were sampled in premonsoon, but 23 species were sampled in the monsoon, indicating a seasonal difference in the fish fauna. Tolerant species dominated the fish community (48.3%) in the stream, and the proportions prior to physical disturbance by the monsoon rain were evidently greater in the downstream reach than the upstream. This reflected the characteristics of urban stream polluted by nutrient enrichment as shown in the BOD and TP values. Sensitive species in the premonsoon decreased from the gradient of upstream-to-downstream reach. Such seasonal modifications in the trophic and tolerance guilds were evident. In the analysis of trophic guild and habitat guild, during the premonsoon the proportion of insectivore and riffle-benthic species were largely greater in the upstream reach than the downstream, whereas the proportions were opposite along the gradient of the stream in monsoon. Thus, the patterns of chemical water quality along the longitudinal gradients reflected the premonsoon conditions of insectivores and tolerant species, indicating that summer monsoon data of fish may not match with water quality due to large physical disturbance by flow regime. Seasonal monsoon in this region as well as the chemical pollution may act as a key role influencing the fish compositions of trophic and tolerance guilds and fauna. The data collected during the premonsoon rather than the monsoon, thus, may be better predictor for a diagnosis of stream health conditions.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2019

The variation of fish community by reduced amount of water in the Cheonggye Stream was investigation from April to October 2018. Water depth decreased by 10~50 cm according to the stations, compared with 2011, before the amount of water decreased. Twelve species of five families appeared during the survey period. Short barbel gudgeon and Zacco koreanus belonging to the Korean endemic species such appeared in the stations. Seven species of Rhodeus uyekii, Acheilognathus yamatsutae, Acheilognathus gracilis, Hemibarbus labeo, Abbottina rivularis, Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, and Erythroculter erythropterus did not appear in 2018. After the decreased amount water, the fish species which increased rapidly was Zacco platypus and increased to 24.9% in the relative abundance of fishes. Dominant species of each station were Acheilognathus yamatsutae (St. 4) and Zacco platypus (St. 1, 2, 2). Results to water quality tolerance guild analysis of fish, number of species belonging to sensitive species decreased from 34.0% to 8.5%, there was no significant difference inter-mediate species, and tolerance species increased from 50.2% to 75.5%. Insectivore species sharply decreased from 48.1% to 19.2%, there was no significant difference carnivore and herbivore, and omnivore rapidly increased from 51.6% to 80.7%. Dominant index 0.76 from 0.62 to increased, diversity index 1.80 from 1.33 to reduced, evenness index 0.57 from 0.42 to reduced, and richness index 3.02 from 2.90 to decreased.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.195-211
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• 2015

The objectives of this research were to determine mean and maximum tolerance ranges of Carassius auratus ($C_a$) and Cyprinus carpio ($C_c$) populations on various physico-chemical parameters and ecological indicator metrics. Little is known about chemical tolerance ranges of the two species, even though these species are widely distributed species in aquatic ecosystems. Maximum tolerance ranges of $C_a$-population to total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were $20.3mgL^{-1}$ and $2.0mgL^{-1}$, respectively. Optimal ranges of TN and TP in the $C_a$-population were $1.7-5.0mgL^{-1}$ and $0.06-0.30mgL^{-1}$, respectively. Such nutrient regimes of the $C_a$-population were evaluated as hypereutrophy, indicating high tolerance limits. The $C_c$-population had similar ecological characteristics to $C_a$-population, but the mean tolerance ranges of TN, TP, BOD, and COD were significantly (p < 0.05) greater than the $C_a$-population. Ecological patterns of trophic composition and tolerance guilds in the $C_a$-population were similar to those of the $C_c$-population. The model value of Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) of the habitat where C. auratus and C. carpio co-occurred averaged $15.0{\pm}4.3$ and $12.9{\pm}3.6$, respectively. Based on the modified criteria of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (Klemm et al. 1993), it indicated poor ecological health of both species. These results suggest that both species are highly tolerant to chemical and physical habitat conditions of waterbodies, and that the chemical tolerance range of $C_c$-population was higher than $C_a$-population.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.441-448
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to analyze chemical water quality, fish trophic guilds, tolerance indicators, and fish community conditions in the Gap Stream and to compare the stream conditions between the unimpacted site and impacted site. This study was conducted in the physically stable season (May 2008) to minimize physical impacts such as flow and hydrological disturbance, and applied the study in the Gap Stream with two sites of unimpacted upstream site (Unim-S), mainly surrounded by forested area and impacted site (Im-S), influenced by the wastewater disposal plants and industrial complex in the urban region. Chemical data analysis showed that the degree of organic matter pollution, based on BOD, and COD, was $2{\sim}3$ fold greater in the Im-S than the Unim-S, and that TP, as eutrophication indicators, was 4.7 fold greater in the Im-S. Also, $NH_3-N$ was in 8.2 fold greater in the Im-S ($6.25\;mg\;L^{-1}$) than the Unim-S ($0.76\;mg\;L^{-1}$), indicating a massive influence of wastewater from the disposal plant. Similar results were found in other chemical parameters. Thus, chemical impacts in the Im-S were evident, compared to the unimpacted site. Evaluations of tolerant indicator species indicated that sensitive species were dominant in the Unim-S (23.9%) and tolerant species were dominant (97.8%) in the Im-S. Condition factor (CF) was averaged 0.95 ($0.68{\sim}1.18$) in the Unim-S and 1.08 ($0.93{\sim}1.22$) in the Im-S. Fish community in the Unim-S and Im-S was categorized as Zacco-community and Hemibarbus-community, respectively, and the community diversity index (H') was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the Unim-S (0.810) than the Im-S (0.466). Overall, our results suggest that the comparison approach of various chemical and ecological indicators provide important information in identifying multiple stressors in the stream ecosystems.

• 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.32 no.3
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• pp.261-273
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• 2018

This study investigated the characteristics of fish communities in the streams flowing into the Han river in Seoul in May 2016 through April 2017. The investigated streams were Ui stream, Danghyeon stream, Cheonggye stream, Yangjae stream, Mokgam stream, Dorim stream, and Hongje stream, which were restored to their natural form. We collected 41 species of 10 families using skimming nets and cast nets from 21 points during the investigation period. There were 7 Korean endemic species, or 17.1% in collected species, such as Acheilognathus yamatsutae, Acheilognathus gracilis, Scrcocheilichthys nigripinnis morii, Squalidus japonicus coreanus, Zacco koreanus, Coreoperca herzi, and Odontobutis interruta. There were 5 (12.2%) exotic species: Cyprinus carpio (fancy type), Carassius auratus (goldfish), Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus, and Micropterus salmoides. The dominant species were Zacco platypus, Carassius auratus, Acheilognathus lanceolatus, Acheilognathus gracilis, and Oryzias sinensis. The Yangjae stream showed more stable fish community than other streams as it showed higher species diversity, and evenness and richness indices. Regarding the fish tolerance guild according to water quality, there were 3 (7.3%) sensitive species, 16 (39.0%) intermediate species, and 22 (56.7%) tolerant species. Twelve (29.3%) were insectivore species, 23 (56.1%) were omnivore species, and 6 (14.6%) were carnivore species, indicating the dominating presence of omnivore fish species.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.307-318
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were to identify multi-level stressors from blood biomarkers to community-level bioindicators and diagnose the stream ecosystem health in polluted streams. Blood chemistry such as total protein ($T_{Pro}$), blood urea nitrogen ($B_{UN}$), total cholesterol ($T_{Cho}$) and $A_{lb}$umin ($A_{lb}$) were analyzed from sentinel fish tissues; the functions of kidney, gill and liver were significantly decreased in the impacted zone ($I_z$), compared to the control zone ($C_z$). Histopathological analysis showed that fish liver tissues were normal in the $C_z$. Fish liver tissues in the $I_z$, however, showed large cell necrosis and degeneration and also had moderate lobular inflammation and inflammatory cell infiltration of lymphocytic histocytes. Species biotic index (SBI) at species level and stream health assessment (SHA) at community level indicated that chemical impacts were evident in the $I_z$ (ecological health; poor - very poor), and this was matched with the blood tissue analysis and histopathological analysis. The impairments of the streams were supported by water chemistry analysis (nitrogen, phosphorus). Tolerance guild analysis and trophic guild analysis of fish were showed significant differences (P < 0.01) between $C_z$ and $I_z$. Overall, multiple parameter analysis from biomarker level (blood tissues) to bioindicator level (community health) showed significantly greater impacts in the $I_z$ than $C_z$. This approach may be effective as a monitoring tool in identifying the multilateral and forthcoming problems related to chemical pollution and habitat degradation of stream ecosystems.