• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.86-95
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to describe the development and testing of an initial ecological health assessment model, based on the index of biological integrity (IBI) using fish assemblages, before establishing the final and currently used model for ecological health assessment, conservation and management of freshwater fish in Korea. The initial fish IBI model was developed during 2004~2006 and included 10 metrics, and in 2007 the final IBI 8-metric model was established for application to streams and rivers in four major Korean watersheds. In this paper, we describe how we developed fish sampling methods, determined metric attributes and categorized tolerance guilds and trophic guilds during the development of the multi-metric model. Two of the initial metrics were removed and the initial evaluation categories were reduced from six to four (excellent, good, fair, poor) before establishing the final national fish model. In the development phase, IBI values were compared with chemical parameters (BOD and COD as indicators of organic matter pollution) and physical habitat parameters to identify differences in IBI model values between chemical and physical habitat conditions. These processes undertaken during the development of the IBI model may be helpful in understanding the modifications made and contribute to creating efficient conservation and management strategies for stream environments to be used by limnologists and fish ecologists as well as stream/watershed managers.

• River and Culture
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.64-68
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• 2006

기존의 수환경 평각가 BOD 및 COD 개념의 이화학적 평가법 이었다면, 현재 우리나라 환경부에서 개발 추진 중에 있는 수질평가 기법은 생물 지표특성을 이용해 생태건강성을 평가한다는 점이다. 즉, 기존의 인간위주의 개념에서 탈피하여 인간과 함께 실제 생태계내에 사는 생물관점에서 평가된다는 것, 즉 수환경 관리정책의 페러다임이의 전환이라 할 수 있다.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.454-459
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• 2008

하천의 건강성을 유지하고 수환경의 정상적인 기능을 회복하기 위해서는 수서생물들에게 알맞은 서식환경 조성, 점오염원 및 비점오염원 차단, 적절한 유량과 같은 다양한 조건이 요구된다(Gore 1895; Gore et al. 1989). 이 중 유량은 수생태계를 이루는 물리적, 화학적, 생물학적 요소들 가운데 기본이 된다고 할 수 있다(Bunn and Arthington 2002; Nilsson and Svedmark 2002; Arthington et al. 2006). 국내 하천관리를 위한 하천유지유량의 산정에서 고려하고 있는 갈수량, 하천생태계, 하천수질 등 8가지 항목 가운데 최근 생태계와 환경에 대한 사회적 국민적 관심이 증가하면서 하천생태계를 고려한 환경유량의 중요성이 부각되었으나, 현실적으로 생태계를 고려한 정량적 조사자료 구축 및 환경유량산정 등의 객관적 자료는 미흡한 실정이다. 특히, 과거 해당수계 및 하천의 어류분포 현황 파악을 중심으로 이루어진 어류조사는 환경유량 산정 시 기초자료로 활용하거나 직 간접적으로 어류상이 변화하는 원인을 분석하는 자료로 활용하기에는 객관성이 결여되어 있다고 할 수 있다. 어류모니터링 기법 확립은 환경유량산정에 있어 요구되는 정량화와 자료의 객관성을 높이기 위한 작업으로 문헌조사와 청문조사를 포함한 사전조사, 현장조사, 조사결과 정리, 고찰 등의 총 4가지 과정을 기본으로 실시하는 것으로 정하였다(그림. 1), 청문조사와 문헌조사 등의 사전조사를 통해 기존자료를 확보하고 현장의 답사, 조사구간, 방법, 시기 등의 선정을 통해 두 번째 단계인 현장조사의 효율성을 높였다. 현장조사에서는 어류분포 현황 외에도 해당지점의 하상재료, 식생, 유속, 수심, 수질 등 조사지점의 수 환경요소 전반을 기록하여 어류의 서식과 물리 화학적 수환경과의 상호관계를 파악하고자 하였다. 마지막으로 고찰단계에서는 조사 대상 지역 전반적인 어류상 특징과 함께 보호종, 한국고유종, 외래도입종 출현유무 및 빈도, 물리적, 화학적 수환경의 특징, 수환경에 따른 어류상 특징 등의 분석과 함께 조사하천의 건강성을 평가하고자 하였다. 본 연구는 어류모니터링 기법 확립을 통해 환경유량산정 시 요구되는 객관적 기초자료를 구축하고 나아가 오염물질 유입, 하천정비사업 등의 각종 교란요인에 의해 발생할 수 있는 문제점들에 능등적으로 대처하고 교란에 의해 악화된 수환경의 복원을 위해 요구되는 객관적 기초자료 생산에 목적이 있다.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.481-491
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• 2009

In this study, a comprehensive field monitoring was conducted to understand habitat conditions of fish species in the upper Geum river. Based on the monitoring data, riverine health conditions such as composition ratio of fish species, richness and dominance indexes, bio-diversity (dominance index, diversity, evenness and richness), and index of biological integrity were assessed, and optimal ecological flowrates were estimated using the habitat suitability indexes established for three fish species Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Zacco platypus and Pseudopungtungia nigra selected as icon species using the physical habitat simulation system (PHABSIM). The total number of species sampled was 20 species, and two sensitive species of C. splendidus (22.4%) and Z. platypus (22.0%) dominated the fish community. The estimated IBI values ranged from 34 to 42 with average being 38 out of 50, rendering the site ecologically fair to good health conditions. An optimal ecological flowrate of 9.0 cms was recommended for the representative fish species at the site.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.282-293
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• 2020

This study investigated a long-term variation trend of water quality, fish compositions, and ecological health conditions in the Gwanpyeong stream located in the nearby Daejeon metropolitan city to understand the impact of urban development projects on the aquatic ecosystem. The sampling was made in four surveys (2009, 2010, 2016, 2019) before and after urbanization. The urban development was conducted in 2008, resulting in the stream's ecological disturbance, and the stream restoration was conducted in 2012. Thus, stream monitoring was conducted to analyze the ecological trends before and after the restoration. The multi-metric models for Fish Assessment Index(FAI) and necropsy-based Health Assessment Index(HAI) were applied in the fish community and organ-level, respectively, to assess the ecological health of the stream. Minimum turbidity and chlorophyll-a(Chl-a) occurred in the mid-stream(St. 2), and this was probably due to rapid current velocity in the riffle zone. We collected 18 fish species, and the dominant species was Zacco platypus (40.6%). In 2016 immediately after the stream restoration, the relative proportions of sensitive species and insectivore species were the highest along with highest values in the species diversity and species richness index, resulting in the best condition in the ecological health, based on FAI model values. However, the ecological health, based on the FAI, became worse in the latest survey conducted in 2019. The analysis of the HAI model based on the organ-level approach showed skin erosion in the fish of upper stream, kidney defects in downstream, and the liver and gill defects observed in all sites, indicating that the anatomical health was also affected.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.533-544
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• 2017

In this study, the fauna of freshwater fish were investigated from March until October of 2016 in 24 independent streams in the Jeonnam and Jeonbuk provinces, which were flowing into the Yellow Sea. The health of the aquatic ecosystem in those streams was assessed through the biological and abiological character index (BAc index). During the surveyed period, a total of 4,127 individuals were collected; they belonged to 59 species of 44 genera in 18 families. The most dominant species identified was Zacco platypus, and 12 species were endemic species of Korea, including Rhodeus uyekii. The BAc index indicated a statistically significant correlation (p<0.01 or 0.05). The stage distribution of the aquatic ecosystem health assessment showed the highest rating of 41.7% at the "Fair" stage. The "Good" and "Poor" stages accounted for 20.8% while the "Excellent" stage took up 16.7%. It has been confirmed that the aquatic ecosystem health of independent streams is influenced more by the abiological character index as a consequence of geographical characteristics and artificial/natural limiting factors, than by the biological character index.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.130-142
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• 2007

This study was to examine impacts of turbid water on fish community in the downstream of Yongdam Dam during the period from June to October 2006. For the research, we selected six sampling sites in the field: two sites were controls with no influences of turbid water from the dam and other remaining four sites were the stations for an assessment of potential turbid effects. We evaluated integrative health conditions throughout applications of various models such as necropsy-based fish health assessment model (FHA), Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) using fish assemblages, and Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI). Laboratory tests on fish exposure under 400 NTU were performed to find out impact of turbid water using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results showed that fine solid particles were clogging in the gill in the treatments, while particles were not found in the control. This results indicate that when inorganic turbidity increases abruptedly, fish may have a mechanical abrasion or respiratory blocking. The stream health condition, based on the IBI values, ranged between 38 and 48 (average: 42), indicating a "excellent" or "good" condition after the criteria of US EPA (1993). In the mean time, physical habitat condition, based on the QHEI, ranged 97 to 187 (average 154), indicating a "suboptimal condition". These biological outcomes were compared with chemical dataset: IBI values were more correlated (r=0.526, p<0.05, n=18) with QHEI rather than chemical water quality, based on turbidity (r=0.260, p>0.05, n=18). Analysis of the FHA showed that the individual health indicated "excellent condition", while QHEI showed no habitat disturbances (especially bottom substrate and embeddeness), food-web, and spawning place. Consequently, we concluded that the ecological health in downstream of Yongdam Dam was not impacted by the turbid water.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.90-90
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• 2017

물리서식처 분석 하천에서 유량에 따른 수심, 유속, 기층 등의 물리서식처 조건의 변화가 서식처 적합도에 미치는 영향을 수치모의를 통하여 분석하는 방법이다. 기존 물리서식처 분석은 어류를 중심으로 수생태계 평가 및 생태유량산정 등의 다양한 하천관리 문제에 적용되었다. 어류의 경우 수생태계의 최상위 포식자이며 상대적으로 모니터링하기에 용이하고 수생태계에 빠르게 반응하고 이동 및 이주가 단기간에 나타나는 특징이 있다. 또한 상업 및 레크리에이션으로의 활용도가 높기 때문에 사회적인 이목이 어류로 집중되었다. 따라서 많은 연구들이 어류를 중심으로 물리서식처 분석을 실시하였으며, 저서무척추 동물에 대한 분석은 미흡한 실정이다. 저서무척추 동물은 어류의 중요한 먹이원이자 수생태계의 건강성을 나타내는 중요한 지표로 활용되고 있으므로, 수생태계의 통합 및 먹이사슬의 보존을 위하여 저서무척추 동물에 대한 물리서식처 평가는 중요하다. 이 연구의 목표는 하천에서의 저서무척추동물의 군집을 평가할 수 있는 서식처모형을 제시하는데 있다. 이를 위해 저서무척추 동물을 서식기능군에 근거한 기는무리, 붙는무리, 헤엄치는 무리, 굴파는 무리로 분류하여 서식처 적합도 지수를 제하고 보철거 사례에 적용하여 모형의 검증성을 확인하였다.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-43
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• 2017

The objectives of the study were to evaluate fish compositions, endangered species, community structure, physical habitat, and general water quality for a preliminary environmental impact assessment of Jeokbyeok River on the road construction between two regions. Total number of species and total number of individuals, based on CPUE, were 23 and 1186, respectively. The endangered species (I, II) as the legal protection species were Pseudopungtungia nigra (79 samples) Gobiobotia brevibarba) (5) Gobiobotia macrocephala (2), indicating a requiring of endangered species conservation. In the meantime, exotic species and ecological disturbing species such as Micropterus salmoides and Lepomis macrochirus, were not present, indicating a well conserved area. According to fish community analysis, values of species diversity index were high (range: 0.788 - 1.030), and the dominance index were low (range: 0.097 - 0.183), indicating that the fish community in this area was maintained well without high dominacne by specific species. Also, fish analysis on tolerance guilds and trophic guilds showed that the proportions of sensitive species were largely exceeded the proportions of the tolerant species, while the proportions of insectivore species were largely exceeded the proportions of the omnivore species. This outcome suggests that the ecosystem was well maintained in terms of tolerance and trophic compositions (food chain). Ecological health, based on the multi-metric fish model of Fish Assessment Integrity (FAI), reflected those fish conditions. In other words, values of FAI model averaged 82.4, which means a "good condition" in the criteria of ecological health by the Minstry of Environment, Korea. In addition, general water quality and physical habitat analyses showed that the system was in good condition. Under these conditions, if the road constructions between the two regions happen in the future, inorganic suspended solids may increase in the waterbody, and this may result in indirect or direct influences on the physical habitats and food chain as well as fish compositions, so the ecological protections and prevention strategy from the soil erosion are required in the system.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.280-289
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• 2009

The fish communities and physical habitat conditions of fifteen tributaries of Lake Paldang in spring and autumn, 2008 were surveyed to evaluate the ecological health of the streams. The total 2,746 individuals were collected belonging to 11 families 31 genera 40 species. Two new species (Cottus koreanus, Gnathopogon strigaus) that have never been reported as yet in Lake Paldang watershed were found for the first time. The most dominant species in the tributaries was Acheilognathus yamatsutae (19.9%) which is Korean endemic species. Ecological health evaluation of fifteen tributaries using index of biological integrity (IBI) model for fish community and qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) was performed. According th the IBI analysis, four streams (Siwoo-Stream, Jojong-Stream, Moonho-Stream and Mugab-Stream) were evaluated as "good" condition (B grade), Woosan-Stream were "poor" condition (D grade) and others were "fair" condition (C grade). Qualitative habitat evaluation index values of the four streams were the grade "II" indicating "good" condition and those of eleven streams were the grade "III", indicating 'fair' condition. On the whole, dataset of IBI and QHEI showed that ecological health of Jojong-Stream has been well maintained compared to other tributaries of Lake Paldang.