• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.311-321
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate effect of stream channel naturalness on ecological health by using environmental factors and Fish Assessment Index (FAI) in the Han River of South Korea. These samples and data have been released from the research project titled Stream/River Ecosystem Survey and Health Assessment, which was conducted in 444 sites in the Han river watershed from 2008 to 2016. All samples were classified into five groups according to a degree of morphological changes of stream. Water chemistry analyses indicated a decline in water quality by decreasing stream channel naturalness, it is assumed that channelized stream was vulnerable to aquatic pollution compared to the natural meandering stream. In the result of frequency of dominant species, sensitive species and insectivore such as Zacco koreanus, Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and Pungtungia herzi were frequently dominated in the natural meandering stream while tolerant species and omnivores such as Carassius auratus and Cyprinus carpio were more dominated in the channelized streams. The FAI in the channelized stream shows decline to average of $46{\pm}25$ compared with that of the natural meandering stream ($80{\pm}20$). The decrease in FAI was highly influenced by changes in matrixes of fish assemblage structure such as number of sensitive species (M3), portion of omnivores (M5) and insectivores (M6). Moreover, annual average FAIs from 2008 to 2016 were significantly correlated with water chemistry, especially TN, TP and BOD ($r^2=0.59$, p<0.0001). Taken together, all the results suggest that the stream channelization could negatively impact on the water quality and fish assemblage structure, leading to degradation in aquatic ecosystem health.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.516-527
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• 2009

We assessed fish fauna and habitat suitability indexes in the Geum river basin. Field monitoring was conducted for ecological and habitat condition assessment at 23 sites from October 2007 to March 2009. The habitat suitability indexes established for dominant fish species using the monitoring data were employed to assess riverine health conditions such as composition ratio of fish species, richness and dominance indexes, bio-diversity(dominance index, diversity, evenness and richness), and water depth, velocity and substrate size. Twenty-one species(42%) including Rhodeus uyekii and Pseudopungtungia nigra were found endemic out of the 50 species in 11 families sampled during this study period. The most frequently found one was Zacco platypus(34.3%) followed by Z. koreanus(10.2%) and Coreoleuciscus splendidus(8.4%). For Z. platypus, the dominant fish species in the basin, the favored habitat conditions were estimated to be 0.1~0.9 m for water depth, 0~0.9m/s for flow velocity and silt(<0.1mm)~cobbles(100.0~300.0mm) for substrate size, respectively. Overall, it was concluded that the Geum river basin has been relatively well protected from the anthropogenic disturbance for the legally protected species including the endemic species studied in this study.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2018

Fish assemblages in a sandy shore and an eelgrass bed were compared based on monthly samples in the southern coastal water of Korea. Samples were collected by a beam trawl in the sandy shore and a surf net in the eelgrass from March to February 2012. The common fish species were Syngnathus schlegeli, Pseudoblennius cottoides, Pholis nebulosa, Favonigobius gymnauchen, Gymnogobius heptacanthus, Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae, Takifugu niphobles. Among them S. schlegeli, Urocampus nanus, P. cottoides, P. nebulosa, T. niphobles were high abundance in the eelgrass bed than in the sandy shore, whereas Acanthogobius flavimanus, Acentrogobius pflaumi, F. gymnauchen, G. heptacanthus, P. yokohamae were high in the sandy shore. Aulichthys japonicus, Hippocampus coronatus, Sebastes inermis, Lateolabrax japonicus, Siganus fuscescens were found in the eelgrass bed, and Thryssa hamiltoni, Mugil cephalus, Inimicus japonicus, Platycephalus indicus, Hexagrammos otakii, Furcina ishikawae, Liparis tanakae, Repomucenus curvicornis, and Eutaeniichthys gilli were observed in the sandy shore. Species composition and abundance varied seasonally in two habitats; The number of species and abundance was high in August and September, while biomass was the highest in April and September. Fish numbers as well as biomass were lowest in February. Number of individuals and biomass of fish in the eelgrass bed were significantly higher than those of in the sandy shore. Some fish preferred to live in the eelgrass were collected in the sandy shore, while fish preferred to live in the sandy shore were rarely collected in the eelgrass.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.4 s.109
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• pp.462-468
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• 2004

Most of the surveys of periphyton carried out for environmental and ecosystem health assessment of streams have considered the impact made on their fixative substrates (stones, rocks, sand, silt, clay and other abiotic matters), but there has been virtually no research that considered moving substrates. This study attempted to make an analysis and assessment of the habitat environments of the microalgae attached to the skin surfaces of fish living in small streams, with a focus on their species composition and community structure. The dominant fish in the this survey were Zacco temmincki and Zacco platypus, which are usually found in the streams, and rivers, and they accounted for 62% and 19%, respectively, in relative abundance. Substrates of fish, a representative organism with the trait of moving a long distance, show a marked contrast with those of organisms fixed at a certain place. Characteristics of both the upstream and the downstream reach well reflected in the microalgae attached to the skin surface of fishes, of which diatoms took the major composition. The result of this observation is considered to be useful to provide basic data in assessment of stream health. Also it may be suggested as a biological tool for the assessment of aquatic environment in the future.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.541-550
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to understand the distribution characteristics of largemouth bass as an exotic species in relation to water chemistry. The survey was conducted in 10 reservoirs in Korea that showed different properties in size, location and eutrophic state. Total number of fish species observed in the artificial reservoirs was 52 (13 family) and the relative abundance of the bass was 13% of the total, which is the third dominant species in the whole sample. The relative abundance of bass was the highest in the Pyungtak reservoir (60%), whereas the Daechung reservoir showed the lowest abundance (only 3%). Although no significance difference statistically were founded in the relationship between bass abundance and water quality parameters. The reservoir trophic state showed some relationships. As result, the higher abundance was observed in hypertrophic reservoirs that located in the esturine regions compared to other large and medium reservoirs classified as meso- or eutrphic state. In conclusion, bass distribution in the reservoir ecosystem can not be directly explained by water chemistry only but other environmental factors should be considered.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.285-293
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• 2016

This study conducted the evaluations of stable channel and physical disturbance improvement for optimal construction of river structures by focusing on Wonju River. A stable slope was analyzed sectionally for stable channel design, and in order to satisfy the stable slope, river structure improvement scenarios were deduced. Accordingly, through physical disturbance improvement evaluation for each scenario, the study extracted the optimal scenario for stable channel design and physical disturbance improvements. The changes in physical habitat were analyzed when river structure improvements were made for stable channel design and physical disturbance improvement. Zacco koreanus, an indicator fish of the soundness of the aquatic ecosystem, was selected as a restoration target species by investigating the community characteristics of fish fauna and river environments in the Wonju River. The habitat suitability was investigated by the PHABSIM model with the habitat suitability index of Zacco koreanus. The results of the prediction evaluation showed a slight decrease in habitat suitability and weighted usable area. However, it was not influenced by the improvements in the river structure. The study suggested river structure arrangement methods that can improve physical soundness and safety of Wonju River, and confirmed that there were no effects to the changes in the physical habitat.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2004.05b
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• pp.977-981
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• 2004

댐 건설로 인한 인위적인 당류량 조절은 댐 하류지역에서 홍수 피해저감에 기여하고 있지만, 자연적인 유출 리듬이 파괴되며 유속, 수심, 건조지 확대와 같은 수량의 변동과 용존산소량, 영양염류, pH 같은 수질 변화, 그리고 하천 형태의 변화를 가져오게 된다. 하천에서의 생물 서식공간은 산림 등 육지 지역과는 단리 무엇보다 하천의 유체역학적인 영향을 받아 형성되고 발달한다. 인위적인 댐 방류량은 하류지역의 건조 면적을 증가시키기 때문에 하천 형태가 변화하는 결과를 가져오고, 댐 건설로 인하여 자연적인 홍수 유출이 급감하게 되면 건조면적이 확산되어 수변식물과 어류의 서식처 환경 변화를 유발하여 기존의 생태 균형이 파괴될 것으로 예상된다. 지금까지 국내에서 댐 건설로 발생되는 피해를 분석한 연구들을 분석해 보면, 수량 및 수질 변화에 대하여는 많이 제시하고 있지만 생태변화에서는 정량적인 피해를 제시한 연구가 없기 때문에 용담댐 건설로 인한 하류구간의 수변식물과 어류를 대상으로 정량적인 피해를 분석하는 것이 매우 필요하다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 용담댐 건설로 인한 인위적인 유출량 감소가 댐 하류 8km 구간에서 수변식물과 어류에 미치는 영향을 예측하고자 하였으며, 이를 위해 용담댐 기점 약 5km지점(조사지점 I)인 전북 진안군용담댐 감동리 주변지역에서 수변식물과 어류 군집에 내하여 2003년 5월부터 7월까지 3회 조사하였고, 추가로 약 1km지점(조사지점II)인 전북 진안군 용담면 월계리 주변지역에서 수변식물을 중심으로 2003년 9월에서 10월까지 2회 조사하였다. 수변식물은 조사지점(I)인 5km지점에서는 전체적으로 13과 21종으로, 벼과가 4종, 국화과가, 3종, 버드나무과, 콩과, 마디풀과가 2종씩, 바늘꽃과, 속새과, 십자화과, 장미과, 사초과, 삼과, 현삼과, 닭의장풀과가 각 1종씩 조사되었으며, 조사지점(II)인 1km지점에서는 15과 26종으로, 벼과가 4종, 마디풀과, 국화과가 3종, 버드나무과, 십자화과, 콩과가 2종씩, 바늘꽃과, 속새과, 자라풀과, 장미과, 사초과, 백합과, 현삼과, 골풀과, 닭의장풀과가 각 1종씩으로, 조사지점( I )보다 좀 더 많은 종이 분포하는 것으로 조사되었다. 또한 어류는 조사지점( I )에서 3회에 걸쳐 총 396개체가 채집되어 3목 8과 21종이었다. 이 중 한국 고유종은 11종이었고, 외래 어종은 검정우럭과 2종이 조사되었으며, Zacco platypus(피라미), Zacco temmincki(갈겨니), Acheilongnathus koreanus(칼납자루), Odontobutis platycephala(동사리), Coreoleuciscus splendidus(쉬리) 순으로 분포하고 있었고, Acheilognathus signifer(묵납자루)는 댐 건설 전에는 많이 분포하였으나 현장조사에서 서식을 확인 할 수 언어 개체수의 큰 감소내지 멸종된 것으로 추정되었다.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.210-224
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• 2007

Fish community study by a gill net in four coastal waters of Southern Sea, Korea were simultaneously conducted to determine seasonal variation of species composition and abundance from March to November, 2006. A total of 68 species and 577,422.9 g by four study waters were caught during the survey period. The dominant species were Platycephalus indicus, Mugil cephalus, Cynoglossus robustus and Argyrosomus argentatus of 58.2% in total catch and they occupied 63.1% in IRD (index of relative distribution). By regional community, fishes that compromised 18 species and 53,148.8 g in Tongyeong Donam were caught and the dominant species were Platycephalus indicus, Hexagrammos otakii, Liparis tessellatus, Paralichthys olivaceus. In Yeosu Gyedong, fishes of 44species and 123,926.9 g were caught and the dominant species were Platycephalus indicus, Muraenesox cinereus. In Jangheung Sumoon, fishes of 44 species and 123,926.9 g were caught and the dominant species were Mugil cephalus, Platycephalus indicus, Cynoglossus robustus, Liparis tessellatus. And in Jindo Modo, fishes of 32 species and 171,426.3 g were caught and the dominant species were Platycephalus indicus, Argyrosomus argentatus, Cynoglossus robustus. Therefore, the species composition and abundance of fish by region were very different. These results seem to be related to differences of regional environmental condition, productivity, and fish ecological habits. And the fish catch in four study waters were high from April to July, and the number of fish species and diversity index had a tendency to increased from March to November. The ranges of environmental factors caught fish were $8.3{\sim}28.5^{\circ}C$ in temperature, 26.59~34.92 in salinity and also these factors were correlated to seasonal variation of fish.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.229-239
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• 2021

Thamnaconus modestus, distributed in the Northwest Pacific, has high economic value and is used in various seafood. In this study, the morphological and genetic characteristics of T. modestus and T. septentrionalis were compared and analyzed. We observed the external and internal morphology of T. modestus, sketched skeletal elements, and analyzed phylogenetic evolutionary relationships using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene on mitochondrial DNA compared to T. septentrionalis. The T. modestus observed in this study had blackish-brown patterns irregularly scattered on the gray-brown body, and the fins were blue-green. Genetic analysis results based on the COI sequences of T. modestus showed seven types of base sequence variation; however, the homology was more than 98.8%. In addition, as a result of comparison of the COI nucleotide sequences and phylogenetic analysis in Tetraodontiformes, two T. septentrionalis sequences (JN813099, MW485059) were similar to T. modestus with 99% homology, and the other two T. septentrionalis sequences (EF607583, KP267619) were similar to those of species belonging to another genus Thamnaconus with 95% homology with T. modestus. It was not easy to classify the species based on morphological characteristics, and phylogenetic analysis between T. modestus and T. septentrionalis confirmed the difference in classification. These results provide the external and internal morphology of T. modestus and will be used as important information for the taxonomic study of T. modestus and T. septentrionalis.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.253-263
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• 2011

This study was conducted to gain preliminary data for restoration and management of constructed small-scale ponds in paddy fields through analysis of their physicochemical and biological properties. A field survey was performed at 13 small-scale ponds located in paddy fields from August 2009 to October 2010. Structural properties, water quality, soil characteristics and fish fauna were measured. Results showed that small-scale ponds without frames might lose their function over time because of crumbling walls. Therefore, it is necessary for these ponds to have frames for soil protection and sustainable maintenance. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentration were higher than the water quality standard for agricultural water in small-scale ponds. In particular, TN concentration was 8.03 mg $L^{-1}$ and over 8 times the water quality standard because of the presence of livestock such as cows and pigs in the study areas. Sand, organic matter and available phosphorus contents of soil in small-scale ponds was 53.4${\pm}$16.6%, 21.8${\pm}$9.74 g $kg^{-1}$ and 12.8${\pm}$7.59 mg $kg^{-1}$, respectively indicating that sand and available phosphorus contents were suitable for plants in small-scale ponds, but organic matter contents was somewhat low in newly constructed small-scale ponds, and would take some time to stabilize for plant growing. Fish fauna was not diverse with only 4 species at all sites surveyed. Collected fishes share a common feature that they all inhabit paddy fields or canals with shallow water depth. In this study, all ponds were not linked to the streams and canals around them. It appears that connection to adjacent streams was the major factor controlling fish fauna in small-scale ponds. The results of statistical analysis were classified into three groups. Factor 1 was 26.3%, which shows a structural properties such as area and depth of small-scale pond. As for factor 2, it appears on 20.1%, showing water quality like a TP, suspended solids (SS) and COD. Small-scale ponds were classified into three groups by factor scores. Group I consisted of 6 small-scale ponds, which were larger than the others. Group III had higher water quality than the others. We conclude that the most important points to be considered for restoration and management of small-scale ponds is connection with adjacent streams or ditches and depth and size of the small-scale pond.