• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2008

The Korean bitterling, Acheilognathus signifer (Osteichthyes Cyprinidae), is an endemic and endangered species in Korea. During developmental stages, a small number of oculocutaneous albinism (with colorless body and eyeballs) were observed in the species. In order to investigate histological differences between normal and albinic bitterling, the dorsal skin and choroid-retina of the eyes were taken. The skin and eyes of normal and albino bitterling were similar in structure except for the presence or density of pigment cells. In normal bitterling, the epidermal melanocytes and dermal melanophores were abundantly developed in both the skin and epidermis of the eyes. But in the albino, the dorsal skin had few melanins, and the pigment cells over the choroid-retina pigment epithelium and iris of the eye were very small.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.446-455
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• 2004

The ichthyofauna and community structure in Hongcheon river, Korea, was investigated from April to October 2002. During the surveyed period, 52 species belonging 11 families were collected. There were 23 Korean endemic species (44.23%), including Rhodeus uyekii, Acheilognathus signifer, A. yamatsutae, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Koreocobitis rotundicaudata and Silurus microdorsalis. Dominant species were Zacco platypus (20.38%), and subdominant species were Z. temmincki (19.62%). Also, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (8.45%), Pungtungia herzi (8.01%), C. splendidus (6.63%) were numerous. Of the 6 introduced fishes in Hongcheon river Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides were originated from foreign countries but Anguilla japonica, Gymnogobius urotaenia, Rhinogobius giurinus were introduced from other native river systems. According to the fish distribution, the fish community of Hongcheon river was divided into 4 groups by principle component analysis (PCA).

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2019

This study was conducted from 2017 to 2018 to determine habitat aspects of Acheilognathus signifier, an endangered species reintroduced (2010~2012) to Heukcheon Stream, a tributary of the Hangang River, Korea. A total of 329 individuals were collected in 2017 (two surveys) and 723 individuals were collected in 2018 (four surveys) at about 5 km habitat area, including the discharge station. A. signifier's habitat was about 0.4 to 1.2 meters deep in slow water flow upstream of the discharge area. It was a place with many boulders and cobbles. The spawning period was estimated from April to June in terms of spawning behavior and collected juvenile size. Sex ratio of females (438) and males (412) was 1 : 0.94. Estimated age of A. signifier based on their total length distribution during the spawning period (April) indicated that 1-, 2-, 3-year old groups and more than 4-year-old group were 32~43 mm, 50~61 mm, 62~75 mm, and 76~89 mm, respectively. Age-specific composition costs differed depending on the timing of the collection. They were relatively high in the order of first-year (juvenile)>third-year> and fourth-year or higher, showing a stable age structure. Thus, A. signifier reintroduced to Heukcheon Stream has successfully settled down and formed a stable population, showing a tendency to proliferate.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.352-358
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• 2018

This study aimed to develop a species identification method for the egg and fry of the three Korean bitterling fishes (Pisces: Acheilognathinae), including Acheilognathus signifer, Acheilognathus yamatsutae and Rhodeus uyekii based on the PCR-based Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) markers. We conducted a field survey on the Deokchicheon River from the North Han River basin, where the three Acheilognathinae species co-occur, and also analyzed the existing sequence dataset available from the GenBank. We found coexistence of the three species at the study site. The egg and fry were obtained from the host mussels (Unio douglasiae sinuolatus) by hand from May to June 2015 and in May 2017. To develop PCR-based RFLP markers for species identification of the three Acheilognathinae fish species, restriction enzymes pinpointing species-specific single nucleotide variation (SNV) sites in mitochondrial DNA COI (cytochrome oxidase I) and cyt b (cytochrome b) genes were determined. Genomic DNA was extracted from the egg and fry and RFLP experiments were carried out using restriction enzymes Apal I, Stu I and EcoR V for A. signifer, A. yamatsutae and R. uyekii, respectively. Consequently, unambiguous discrimination of the three species was possible, as could be seen in DNA band patterns from gel electrophoresis. Our developed PCR-based RFLP markers will be useful for the determination of the three species for the young and would assist in studying the spawning patterns and reproductive ecology of Acheilognathinae fishes. Furthermore, we believe the obtained information will be of importance for future maintenance, management and conservation of these natural and endangered species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.424-431
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• 2014

Analysis of the fish community in Yeongwol Hanbando wetland in Korea was investigated from April to October 2012. During the survey period, total 33 species belonged to 10 families and 7,107 individuals. There were 18 Korean endemic species (52.94 %), including to Acheilognathus signifer. Also, the dominant species were Zacco koreanus at St. 1, 2, 3 & 5, as well Acheilognathus signifer at St. 6, and Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpus at St. 7, respectively, and these species were inhabited in the midstream. But at St. 4, Carassius auratus was dominance, so there appeared to characteristics of downstream or lentic habitat. Also, according to the similarity analysis on fish species and their individuals in each sites, they were divided into three major groups (A,B and C). Among them, group C (St. 4) showed the special inverse characteristics as a stagnant pond. unlike the river branch (group A) and anthropogenic disturbances receiving stream point (group B), Therefore, the ecosystem of Yeongwol Hanbando wetland is considered to very unique and these characteristics are not found in other stream ecosystems and it is confidently believed that the ecological value is very high.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1 s.115
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• pp.32-40
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• 2006

The Ichthyofauna and fish community were studied in the lower course of Imjin River from April 2003 to October 2004. During the survey period 80 species belonging to 23 families were collected. Twenty-five species (31.1%) of them were Korean endemic species. Exotic fishes were Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides, and they complied 1.3% of total catch. The species of Hemibarbus mylodon was identified as natural monument, and acheilognathus signifer, Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa, Gobiobotia macrocephala and Gobiobotia brevibarba were endangered species. Migration fish were Coilia ectens, Anguilla japonica, Plecoglossus altivelis and Takifugu obscurus. Dominant species were Zacco platypus (St. 1), Microphysogobio yaluensis (St. 2), Hemibarbus labeo (St. 3, 4) and coilia ectens (St. 5). The lower course of Imjin River was more abundance of species, high diversity and richness, and lower dominance index than those of the lower course of Han River.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1220-1225
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• 1999

Differences in carotenoid composition in the integument of Korean bittering, Cheilognathus signifer and bride bittering, Rhodeus ukekii which are Korean native fresh water fish were compared. Total ca rotenoid contents in the integument of wild Korean bittering was 2.11mg% and composed of 42.6% zeaxanthin, 12.1% diatoxanthin and 12.1% lutein epoxide which are predominant carotenoids and 10.3% cynthiaxanthin, 8.3% zeaxanthin epoxide, 6.4% lutein and 1.5% cryptoxanthin which are minor carotenoids. Total ca rotenoid contents in the integument of wild bride bittering was 4.99mg% during a spawning period but after the spawning period it was decreased to 4.17mg% and carotenoid composition of bride bittering during the spawning period was 46.7% zeaxanthin, 26.5% diatoxanthin and 12.3% lutein which are predominant carotenoids, and 6.2% zeaxanthin epoxide, 3.1% cynthiaxanthin, 2.9% cryptoxanthin and 0.7% canthax anthin which are minor carotenoids. These results indicated that the carotenoid composition of bride bittering during spawning period was very similar to that of Korean bittering and carotenoid composition of bride bittering after the spawning period was 30.5% diatoxanthin, 21.5% cynthiaxanthin and 16.8% zeaxanthin which are predominant carotenoids and 14.0% cryptoxanthin, 11.3% lutein and 3.4% can thaxanthin which are minor carotenoids, indicating that after the spawning period, the content of zeaxanthin was decreased while that of cryptoxanthin and cynthiaxanthin was increased as compared to that of the spawning period. Total carotenoid contents in Korean bittering and bride bittering was relatively higher than that in other species of cyprinidae whereas composition of the carotenoid was similar.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.98-103
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• 2011

도심하천에서 채집된 어류는 총 7과 17종 315개체가 확인되었으며, 자연하천에서 채집된 어류는 6과 21종 1,033 개체가 조사되었다. 도심하천에서 출현한 한국 고유종은 치리(Hemiculter eigenmanni)와 얼룩동사리(Odontobutis interrupta) 2종(11.8%)이었으며, 생태계교란야생동물에 속하는 종인 배스(Micropterus salmoides)가 폐쇄형 하도습지에서 출현하였다. 자연하천에서 출현한 한국고유종은 쉬리 (C. splendidus), 배가사리(Microphysogobio longidorsalis) 등 총 13종(61.9%)으로 고유종의 빈도가 높았고, 멸종위기 II급에 속하는 종인 묵납자루(A. signifer)와 가는돌고기(Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa) 등 2종(9.5%)이 조사되었다. 두 하천의 군집분석을 비교한 결과 도심하천이 자연하천에 비해 우점도와 균등도 지수가 높게 나왔다. 이와 같은 결과는 도심하천과 자연하천이 같은 유형의 서식처이지만 도심하천의 경우 양안 수변대와 제방구축, 하천정비, 고수부지의 시멘트화 등의 원인과 오염원의 유입, 풍부한유기물 때문인 것으로 판단된다.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.361-365
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• 2023

On May 12, 2023, a juvenile specimen (37.6 mm in standard length) belonging to the order Aulopiformes was collected from southern Yokjido, Tongyeong, Korea, using a Bongo net. The specimen was identified as the member of the family Scopelarchidae in having a slender body, a large mouth, large tube-like eyes, a long anal fin base, a developed adipose fin and no photophores on body. Finally, we identify the specimen as Scopelarchoides danae Johnson, 1974 in having 8 dorsal fin rays, 20 pectoral fin rays, 9 pelvic fin rays, 26 anal fin rays, dorsal fin located anteriorly than pelvic fin, and two large pigments below the pectoral fin and posterior to the pelvic fin. Scopelarchoides danae is distinguished from Scopelarchoides signifer in having less dorsal fin rays (8 vs. 9~10) and pectoral fin rays (20 vs. 22~25). The species differs from Scopelarchus guentheri and Scopelarchus analis in that it has no stripes along the both upper and lower of lateral line, and from Scopelarchus michaelsarsi in that it has more anal fin rays (26 vs. 18~21). Because this is the first occurrence among Korean fish fauna, we present its detailed morphological traits, and its new Korean name as "Nun-bang-ul-mae-tung-i".

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2024

This study conducted a survey to investigate the characteristics of fish communities and the inhabiting status of endangered species in the Byekgye Stream, Korea from April to September 2020. A total of 3,415 fish of 9 families and 31 species were collected from 7 survey stations during the survey period. The dominant species was Zacco koreanus (relative abundance of 31.2%), and the subdominant species was Z. platypus (15.0%), followed by Pungtungia herzi (11.7%), Acheilognathus yamatsutae (5.4%), A. lanceolata intermedia (4.8%), Rhinogobius brunneus (4.4%), and Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa (4.3%). Among the fish species collected, 19 (61.3%) were identified as Korean endemic species, and two cold-water fish species sensitive to climate change (Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and Cottus koreanus) were collected. Four species were designated as class II endangered wildlife by the Ministry of Environment: A. signifer, P. tenuicorpa, Rhodeus pseudosericeus, and C. koreanus. A. signifer and P. tenuicorpa mainly inhabited the mid to lower streams, R. pseudosericeus in the midstream, and R. pseudosericeus in the upstream. P. tenuicorpa inhabited in large numbers, and estimating the age by total length-frequency distribution in July, the total length of the 26-35 mm group was estimated as 0 years old, the 54-75 mm group as 1 year old, 82-97 mm group as 2 years old, 104-109 mm group as 3 years or older. The cluster analysis showed that the dominance index decreased from upstream to downstream, but the diversity, evenness, and richness index increased. The water quality of Byekgye Stream was evaluated as good overall since the river health (fish assessment index, FAI) using fish was evaluated as excellent (5 stations) and good (2 stations). Byekgye Stream has relatively well-preserved habitats, but conservation measures are required as habitats are disturbed by river repair work in some parts of the midstream and downstream areas where many endangered species inhabit.