• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.512-522
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• 2012

This study is focused on fish fauna and distributional features along with physical gradients and stream orders in the Tamjin River basin, Korea. Fish sampling and investigation were conducted for 2 years from 2009 to 2010. Total number of fish species collected were 47 species of 16 family. The group of cyprinidae was mostly abundant. Both fish abundance and biotic index were declined with increasing altitude and longitudinal distance from the river mouth. Two species of Zacco temminckii and Pungtungia herzi were prevalent in most of sampling sites and showed no altitudinal and longitudinal differences. Most other species, however, were spatially restricted to specific regional altitudes. Several species including Zacco platypus, Squalidus gracilis majimae and P. herzi were broadly distributed from river mouth to 50 km. Eight species including Z. temminckii and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus only appeared in over 10 km from the river mouth. Both Odontobutis platycephala and Pseudobagrus koreanus were classified as "upstream dewelling species" observed only in over 30 km from the river mouth. High proportion of tolerant and omnivorous species were more dominated in the downstream zone of the dam, whereas intolerant and insectivorous species were abundant in the upstream zone of the dam. The variable of stream order showed positive relationship between number of fish species and total individuals collected. Sensitive species including insectivore had a declining tendency with increasing stream order, while tolerant specie including omnivore species had relatively increased with stream order. Overall, our study suggested that fish distribution considerably depends on altitudinal gradient and longitudinal distance from the river mouth as well as physical habitat.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2001

The fish fauna of the Buan Dam, Chollabuk-do, Korea which was constructed in 1995 was surveyed in 1994 and 1998. 14 fish species were collected in the Buan Dam and 19 species were recognized in the brackish waters along the lower course of the dam in 1998. It was remarked that the dominant species in the dam has been changed dramatically from Zacco platypus and Z. temmincki to Pseudorasbora parva and Squalidus gracilis majimae within the three years after the dam construction. And also the number of Carassius auratus and Sirulus asotus were gradually increased in the dam. However, lksookimia pumila, the threatened fish species of Korea, was decreased sharply and restricted conspicuously by fragmentation of the habitat. The positive strategies should be considered for the species conservation of lksookimia pumila in the Buan Dam.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2005

The change of fish community in the Wonju-stream was investigated from May to November, 2004. During the period,24 species belonging to 6 families were collected. There were 10 Korean endemic species$(41.7\%)$, including Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa, Coreoleuciscus spiendidus, Squalidus gracitis majimae, Squalidus japonicus coreanus, Microphysogobio yaluensis, Microphysogobio longidorsalis, Iksookimia koreensis, Koreocobitis rotundicaudata, Liobagus andersoni and Odontobutis interrupts. The dominant species was Zacco Platypus$(54.7\%)$, and the subdominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus$(16.7\%)$. Also, Carassius auratus$(5.4\%)$, I. koreensis$(3.4\%)$, Orthrias toni$(3.3\%)$, and Pungtungia herzi$(3.0\%)$ appeared. According to the fish species compositions, the fish community was divided into 2 groups by an unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages(UPGMA). The comparison of the fish community showed that benthic fish species were decreased, while, the number of water-column species, resistant 1,o substrate changes and water pollution were increased.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.277-285
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to analyze seasonal distribution of insects, birds, fishes, and benthos for Gongji stream in Chuncheon and to explore some strategies towards creating a desirable close-to-nature stream. The number of species occurred in the study stream was 23 for butterflies and 149 for other insects, 23 for birds, 15 for fishes, and 47 for benthos. The study stream was dominated by Artogenia rapae, Polygonia caureum, Cyntia cardui for butterflies, and Passer montanus, Anas crecca, Anas platyrhynchos for birds. The dominant species were Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, Zacco plutypus, Carassius auratus for fishes, and Limnodrilus sp. 2, Chiranumus sp. 2, Hydropsyche KUb for benthos. Attracting insect species of higher density requires planting of host plant species and stabilization of plant coverage against disturbances. To enhance species diversify and density of birds, it is desirable to provide diverse habitats including preservation of downstream wetland and natural vegetation, creation of sand bars and islands with sand and gravel, and restriction or traffic passing and parking. Restoring fish and benthos habitats needs improvement of water quality, layout of gravels and stones on sand-dominant streambed, and use of close-to-nature revetment techniques.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.746-753
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate artificial fish shelter, which was known to increase prey survival and expand habitat space to improve species diversity and fish communities in a freshwater ecosystem. The experiment was performed at an outdoor test-bed for three months from 2011 by comparing the responses to adjustments in the volume of the artificial patch (juvenile fish shelter, JFS) in the control and experimental groups. Analysis of the environmental conditions over two periods (Period1 ~ 2) showed minor differences in the physichemical characteristics of water quality, phytoplankton, and zooplankton biomass, thus, allowing comparative analysis of feeding ecology. However, high water temperature conditions in Period1 ($25.6{\pm}2.0^{\circ}C$), affected the predation activity of the piscivorous fishes, Coreoperca herzi (C. herzi, size $89{\pm}4mm$). Survival rates of the prey fishes, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (R. oxycephalus, size $29{\pm}1mm$), improved as the patch volume increased and were higher than those of the control group by 35.9 ~ 46.7%. Analysis showed that JFS reduced the chances of predator-prey encounter, and thereby minimized prey vulnerability.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2009

The fish community was investigated from March to October 2007 in Gwangneung Arboretum. During the survey period, 22 species belonging to 9 families were collected. Among them, one species (Coitus koreanus) was classified as an endangered species in Korea, and exotic fish was Micropterus salmoides. Nine species (40.9%) were endemic species of Korea. Dominant species was R. oxycephalus (St. 1) and Z. platypus (St. 2-7). According to analysis of community based on the diversity, evenness and richness indices, fish community seems to be more stable in the St. 3. The distributions of Silurus microdorsalis, Cottus koreanus and Odontobutis platycephala were confined to the Bongseonsa Stream in the Wangsuk Stream watershed. When our data were compared with the previous data (1932), 17 species were not sampled, but 7 species could new taxa fiend its existence at the Bongseonsa Stream. We believe that Hemibarbus mylodon, Acheilognathus signifer and Zacco koreanus disappeared in the Wangsuk Stream watershed and A. signifer and Z. koreanus need to be restored at the Bongseonsa Stream.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.1-29
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• 2024

This article analyzed the infection characteristics of metacercariae of Metagonimus spp. (MsMc) in fish from 9 major water systems in Korea. A total of 19,568 fish in 87 species were examined over a period of 10 years (2011-2020). MsMc were detected in fish from all 44 survey areas in 9 water systems. Most of the surveyed sites showed very low and low infection levels (66.7%), while 33.3% of the areas, such as Tamjin-gang and Seomjin-gang, revealed moderate and high infection levels. High endemicity depends on the abundance of susceptible fish species, especially sweet smelt (Plecoglosus altivelis). The susceptibility index (SI) with MsMc in index fish, Zacco spp., was very low and low levels in 62.0%, moderate in 28.0%, and high in 10.0% regions. The SI was highest in the following order: Yeongam-cheon (283.8), Hoeng-cheon (192.3), Togyo-jeosuji (131.2), Deokcheon-gang (119.1), and Joyang-gang (106.3). The recent infection status of MsMc in P. altivelis was analyzed by the survey localities. In addition, except for P. altivelis, 9 fish species were highly infected with MsMc in some survey areas, including Zacco platypus, Z. koreanus, Z. temminckii, Opsariichthys uncirostris, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, Carassius auratus, Acheilognathus rhombeus, Onchorhynchus masou, and Tribolodon hakonensis. In Korea, 74 fish species (15 families) are collectively listed as second intermediate hosts of Metagonimus spp. This review provides several novel characteristics of MsMc infection and clarifies the fish species of second intermediate host of Metagonimus spp. in this country.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.163-172
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• 2007

In this study, fish fauna and stream characteristics were surveyed during October-November 2003 in 31 small streams, which are small sub-tributaries of Geum River. The small streams were classified into 4 types of steep mountainous (SM), mountainous-flatland (MF), flat land (FL), and agricultural watercourse (AW) streams, and their types were categorized by features of stream width, water depth, bottom substrate, riparian vegetation, and landuse patterns. The fishes collected during this survey were identified 4 families and 8 species. Dominant family was Cyprinidae, and the most dominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus with 73% (419 individuals) of the total. Only one species of R. oxycephalus was observed in the all five steep mountainous streams, which was surrounded by 100% forest area and had no point-and non-point pollution sources. The observed frequency of R. oxycephalus (as a relative proportion of species) showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.754, p<0.001, n=31) with the substrate composition of bedrock and boulder, indicating that the species prefer the bedrock and boulder rather than the sand or small pebble. Evidently, all five steep mountainous streams were judged as excellent condition (1st rank) according to the criteria of biological water quality, the Ministry of Environment, Korea. This result was accord with a general tendency of the species in most upper stream of the Koreas streams. One family and one species were found at the steep mountainous types and 4 families 6 species were at the mountainous-flatland. Four families 8 species were found at the flat land, which showed most diverse habitat, and 2 families 2 species were collected agricultural watercourse. These study results of 1st-order streams suggest that R. oxycephalus was considered as one of 1st rank ecological indicator species, and that the dominant area should be protected from various pollutions and disturbances.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.218-231
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• 2012

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the physico-chemical water quality, trophic and tolerance guilds in the control ($C_o$) and impacted streams of the abandoned mine, along with the ecological health, using a multimetric health model and physical habitat conditions of Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), during the period of three years, 2005~2007. Also, eco-toxicity ($EE_t$) enclosure tests were conducted to examine the toxic effects on the outflows from the mine wastewater, using the sentinel species of Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, and we compared the biological responses of the control ($C_o$) and treatment (T) to the effluents through a Necropybased Health Assessment Index ($N_b$-HAI). Tissue impact analysis of the spleen, kidney, gill, liver, eyes, and fins were conducted in the controlled enclosure experiments (10 individuals). According to the comparisons of the control ($C_o$) vs. the treatment (T) in physicochemical water quality, outflows from the abandoned mine resulted in low pH of 3.2, strong acid wastewater, high ionic concentrations, based on an electrical conductivity, and high total dissolved solid (TDS). Physical habitat assessments, based on Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) did not show any statistical differences (p>0.05) in the sampling sites, whereas, the $M_m$-EH model values in a multimetric ecological health ($M_m$-EH) model of the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI), using fish assemblages, were 16~20 (fair condition) in the control and all zero (0, poor condition) in the impacted sites of mine wastewater. In addition, in enclosure eco-toxicity ($EE_t$) tests, the model values of $N_b$-HAI ranged between 0 and 3 in the controls during the three years, indicating an excellent~good condition (Ex~G), and were >100 (range: 100~137) in the impacted sites, which indicates a poor condition (P). Under the circumstances, organ tissues, such as the liver, kidney, and gills were largely impaired, so that efficient water quality managements are required in the outflow area of the abandoned mine watershed.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.222-234
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• 2019

Fish community characteristics and habitat aspects of endangered species, Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa and Acheilognathus signifer were investigated in the Hwayangcheon Stream of Songnisan National Park, a tributary of the Hangang River, Korea from April to October 2018. During this period, there were 29 species of 8 families collected from 11 survey stations using kick nets, cast nets long bag set nets. The dominant and subdominant species were Zacco koreanus (38.81%) and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (16.64%), respectively. The next most abundant species were Z. platypus (14.28%), Pungtungia herzi (6.92%), Hemibarbus longirostris (4.52%), Pseudogobio esocinus (3.51%), A. signifer (2.31%) and P. tenuicorpa (1.90%). Among the fish collected, 18 species (62.1%) were Korean endemic species. Endangered species were A. signifer, P. tenuicorpa and Gobiobotia brevibarba. From upstream to downstream, the dominance index has gradually decreased, but number of species and individuals, diversity and evenness has gradually increased. Also, river health (index of biological integrity) is assessed as good (St. 1~8) and very good (St. 9~11). Fish communities were divided into four sections by the similarity index based on species and their numbers, i.e., upper section (St. 1~2, 4~5), upper-middle section (St. 3, 6), middle section (St. 7~9) and lower section (St. 10~11). Endangered species, Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa inhabited in mostly lower section (St. 10~11) with rock and boulder bottoms, and age groups in April estimated from total length indicated that the 44~61 mm group is 1 year old, the 66~81 mm group is 2 years old, the 88~99 mm group is 3 years old, and the 104~107 mm group is more than 4 years old. Also, endangered species, A. signifer inhabited in middle-lower section (St. 7~11) with boulder and cobble bottoms and slow velocity, which the place inhabited by water plants. Meanwhile, their age structure in April estimated from total length indicated that the 30~43 mm group is 1 year old, the 48~58 mm group is 2 years old, the 62~77 mm group is 3 years old, and the 84~100 mm group is more than 4 years old. The sex ratio of female (47) to male (42) was 1 : 0.89.