• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.419-428
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• 2013

The objectives of this research were to determine ecological characteristics and chemical gradients in two different loach populations-Misgurnus anguillicaudatus ($M_a$) and Koreocobitis rotundicaudata ($K_r$). Eight chemical parameters were compared to test the chemical preferences between the two species. The population of Kr occurred more in better water quality, compared to the $M_a$-population. The $M_a$-population co-occurred more with tolerant species (TS) and omnivores, whereas the $K_r$-population co-occurred more with sensitive species (SS) and insectivores. The differences in the tolerance and trophic composition matched well with the result of stream health assessment, based on the multi-metric model of Index of Biological Integrity (IBI). The IBI value in habitat with the $M_a$-population was "19.6" (range: 8~40) indicating a fair condition, and the IBI values of $K_r$-population was 29.4 (range: 12~40) indicating good condition. Similar results were found in physical habitat health analysis (QHEI). Overall, data analysis showed that the $M_a$-population belong to the tolerant species and $K_r$-population belong to sensitive species in the tolerance classification.

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

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.490-498
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• 2008

This study was to analyze fish composition and ecological indicator characteristics from eight sampling sites of Geum River, October 2007. Total number of family and species sampled were 9 and 40. The most dominant family was Cyprinidae (27 species, 85%), and then followed by Cobitidae, Odomtobutidae, and Gobiidae. Constancy values of Zacco platypus and Zacco temminckii were 1.00 and 0.30, respectively, and the relative abundance of Acheilognathus koreensis and Pseudogobio esocinus were greater than 5% of the total. The number of Korean endemic species sampled in this Geum River study was 7 family 19 species, which is 47.5% of total 40 species, and endangered species of Pseudopungtungia nigra and Gobiobotia brevibarba were only 0.5% of the total and these species were only distributed within the upstream regions. Exotic species, Micropterus salmoides, which is known as large-mouth bass, were observed in two sites of G3 and G7. Analytical results of fish community showed that community dominance index was 0.19, which is low, and the species evenness index (0.74), diversity index (2.03), and richness index (3.00) appeared high. These results indicate that structure of fish community is stable in the Geum River. According to various guilds analysis, the relative abundance of tolerant and omnivores at all sites were 40% and 47% of the total, respectively. This monitoring data may contribute changes of fish fauna and compositions in relation to habitat modifications and chemical water quality degradations in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-45
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• 2015

Water chemistry and fish community, based on fish compositions and ecological characteristics(trophic/tolerance guilds and condition factor), were compared in Gucheon Reservoir($G_cR$) and Yeoncho Reservoir($Y_cR$). Chemical parameters of water quality such as BOD, COD, nutrient(N, P) and suspended solids indicated that water quality was better in the $Y_cR$ than $G_cR$, and the temporal variability in seasonal and interannual patterns were greater in the $Y_cR$. The greater variability was mainly attributed to intense dilutions of reservoir water by Asian monsoon rain during July-August. Fish guild analysis indicated that species diversity was higher in the $G_cR$ than the $Y_cR$, and that the proportion of tolerant and omnivore species were greater in the $Y_cR$. Regression analysis of body weight-total length showed that the regression coefficient(b value) was lower in the $G_cR$(2.15 ~ 2.40) than the $Y_cR$(2.59 ~ 3.14). Condition factor(K) of fish against the total length showed negative slope of Zacco temminckii, Carassius auratus, Pseudorasbora parva and Rhinogobius brunneus population in the $G_cR$, and a positive slope of Carassius auratus and Rhinogobius brunneus population in $Y_cR$. Overall, our data suggest that the growth of the fish populations, based on the length-weight relations and condition factor, reflected the trophic regime of nutrients and organic matter.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.403-411
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• 2007

The purpose of the study was to evaluate fish community, based on conventional at Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H'), and ecological health, based on the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) using fish assemblage in the eight sites of Nakdong River during June${\sim}$August 1999. Total number of species sampled was 19 species, and two sensitive species of Zacco temminckii (51%) and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (28%) dominated the fish community. Also, trophic guild analyses showed that insectivore was 87% of the total and omnivore was rare, indicating that the ecological health is well maintained in the system. The pattern of spatial variation in the diversity index(H') was very similar to patterns of the species number and individual number, whereas the pattern of H' was not matched with the tolerance and trophic guild data. The diversity index (H') showed highest (1.56) in Site 6 where the proportion of sensitive species and tolerant species was minimum and maximum, respectively, and where the insectivore and omnivore were minimum and maximum. In other words, the diversity index was not matched at all with the trophic and tolerant guilds, indicating that the conventional index did not reflect the ecological characteristics of fish community in the system. In the mean time, the ecological health (IBI) averaged 33.5 (n=8), indicating "good${\sim}$fair condition" and the IBI values matched with trophic and tolerance guilds. Maximum IBI occurred in Site 2 where the sensitive and msectivore species were nearly maximum, and the tolerant and omnivore species were almost minima, indicating that IBI values were closely associated with the ecological functions and health conditions. Overall data suggest that the conventional diversity index may not effective for a evaluation of fish community, and that in contrast the IBI approach may be a useful tool for diagnosis of stream community.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.196-203
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• 2013

Seungchon Weir was constructed in 2010 on the downstream region of Yeongsan River watershed for four major river projects. The purpose of our study was to determine whether fish compositions and distributions differ between the upper ($U_w$) and lower regions ($L_w$) of Seungchon Weir during May - December 2011 along with hydroacoustic fish surveys using Eco-Sounder monitoring ($E_SM$) technique. Total number of fish species sampled by conventional fish sampling at all sites was 29, and 21 and 24 species occurred in the $U_w$ and $L_w$, respectively. Most dominant species was Hemiculter eigenmanni (43%) in the $U_w$ and Opsaiichthys uncirostris amurensis (21%) in the $L_w$, indicating a distinct differences of the species composition. According to hydroacoustic approach of ESM, fish density was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the $L_w$ section of 250 m than any other sections, This outcome indicates that fishes moving toward the upstream were blocked by weir construction. According to analysis of tolerance guilds, tolerant species (TS) were made of 88% and 79% in the $U_w$ and $L_w$ region, respectively, while the proportions of sensitive species were < 0.1% of the total in the both regions. Trophic guild analysis showed that the proportion of omnivore species were 58% and 40% in the $U_w$ and $L_w$ region, respectively, while insectivores were made of 16% and 21% in the $U_w$ and $L_w$ region, respectively. Both analyses of tolerance guilds and trophic guilds indicate the biological degradation of the waterbody. Fish community structure analysis, based on species diversity, dominance, and evenness indices, showed higher community stability in the $L_w$ region than $U_w$ region. Exotic species of largemouth bass were largely increased in this survey (14%), compared to the past (< 1%), indicating a modification of fish trophic structure.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.172-182
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• 2009

This study was to analyze characteristics based on tolerance and trophic guilds and to determine the level of total mercury in tissues of sentinel species, Zacco platypus at 3 sampling sites of the Mangyeong River in 2007. Total sampled fishes were 26 species and the most dominant species was Zacco temminckii (47%). Fish community analysis was resulted that eveness index and diversity index showed low value at S1. However, diversity index and richness index at other sites showed high. According to various guilds analysis, relative abundance of sensitive species was 70% and 42% at S1 and S2, respectively. While sensitive species were decreased (1%) and tolerant species were increased (60%) at S3. It was mainly carried to the impacts of wastewater treatment plants near the location. Relative abundance of insectivore species was decreased from up (S1) to midstream area (S3). In addition, chemical water quality, based on analyses of BOD, COD, TP, TN, EC, MPN and SS concentration showed similar trends. Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) was averaged 164, judged as "good" habitat condition. Average concentrations of total [Hg] was 146.9 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$. In the muscles of total [Hg] was the highest, and then followed by kidney, vertebrae, liver, and gills. According to FDA standards (500 ${\mu}g$ $kg^{-1}$) of Korea, total [Hg] has not affected to the individual fish health.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.109-125
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• 2023

This study was conducted to select target fish species as baseline research for accumulation analysis of major hazardous chemicals entering the aquatic ecosystem in Korea and to analyze the impact on fish community. The test bed was selected from a sewage treatment plant, which could directly confirm the impact of the inflow of harmful chemicals, and the Geum River estuary where harmful chemicals introduced into the water system were concentrated. A multivariable metric model was developed to select target candidate fish species for hazardous chemical analysis. Details consisted of seven metrics: (1) commercially useful metric, (2) top-carnivorous species metric, (3) pollution fish indicator metric, (4) tolerance fish metric, (5) common abundant metric, (6) sampling availability (collectability) metric, and (7) widely distributed fish metric. Based on seven metric models for candidate fish species, eight species were selected as target candidates. The co-occurring dominant fish with target candidates was tolerant (50%), indicating that the highest abundance of tolerant species could be used as a water pollution indicator. A multi-metric fish-based model analysis for aquatic ecosystem health evaluation showed that the ecosystem health was diagnosed as "bad conditions". Physicochemical water quality variables also influenced fish feeding and tolerance guild in the testbed. Eight water quality parameters appeared high at the T1 site, indicating a large impact of discharging water from the sewage treatment plant. T2 site showed massive algal bloom, with chlorophyll concentration about 15 times higher compared to the reference site.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.288-297
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• 2010

This study was to evaluate the ecological stream health through the Multimetric Fish Assessment Index (MFAI) along with fish fauna analysis based on the tolerance and trophic guilds at Miho stream in 2008 and 2009. Also, we analysed total mercury concentration in fish tissues to examine heavy metal contamination. Total sampled fish were 40 species and 2,557 individuals and Zacco platypus was the most dominant with 35% relative abundance. It was sampled with 11.4% RA for Korean endemic species (10 species 291 individuals) less than average RA 39.3% for the Geum river watersheds. According to the tolarance guild analysis, tolerant species was more dominant with 58.9% RA (15 species, 1,507 individuals) than sensitive species with 6.6% RA. Trophic guild analysis also suggested that omnivores were more dominant (60.5% RA) than insectivores (31.5% RA). Riffle-benthic species was also sampled with 7.7% RA. Ecological stream health based on the MFAI were averaged 25.3 (n=3) with fair-poor condition in 2008 and also 26.3 (n=3) with fair condition in 2009, just slightly increased than 2008. Qualitative habitat evaluation index was averaged 134 (n=3) with fair condition but most of sites had sediment accumulation that reflected substrate degradations proceeding. From the result of total mercury accumulation in fish tissues, kidney and liver tissues showed the highest but the lowest for gill tissues. Overall mercury concentration were not exceed the national standards by Korean Federation of Drug and Administration (KFDA). Consequently, our result could correspond with the characteristics of Miho stream where point sources such industrial complexes and wastewater treatment plant widely distributed around the stream along the gradient of up and downstream.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.302-313
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• 2014

This study was conducted to compare the characteristics of fish distribution according to sand type stream and cobble type stream the 4 stream selected every season. The collected Korea endemic species during the survey period were 24, including Acheilognathus gracilis. Dominant species of Hongcheon stream and Muju Namdae stream was Zacco koreanus, each accounting for 39.9% and 28.4% in order, and dominant species in Yanghwa stream was Rhodeus notatus, 13.6%, and those in Gap stream was Z. platypus, by 26.0%. As a result of community analysis, dominant index was 0.27~0.63, diversity index was 1.92~2.67, evenness index was 0.6~0.79, richness index was 3.09~3.53, and dominant index was the highest in Hongcheon stream, and the indices of diversity, evenness and richness were the highest in Yanghwa stream. As a result of tolerance guild analysis, Hongcheon stream and Muju Namdae stream with a variety of substrates accounted for relatively higher rate by 50.1% and 46.4% in sensitive species respectively, and Yanghwa stream and Gap stream with greater sand substrates had 0.5% and 5.3% scarce rate of sensitive species. As a result of similarity analysis using the species, population and substrate structures of the fisheries appeared in each stream, cobble type streams such as Hongcheon stream and Muju Namdae stream were the most similar by 50.4% in species and population, 95.2% in bed structure. As a result of IBI analysis, Hongcheon stream and Muju Namdae stream appeared as 'Class A,' Yanhwa stream and Gap stream as 'Class B' and the two groups of cobble type stream and sand type stream were divided as a result of principal components analysis.