• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.301-310
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• 2008

This study was to analyze characteristics of fish compositions and longitudinal distribution, based on trophic and tolerance guild at 22 sampling sites of Yeongsan River watershed during 2003$\sim$2006, and also to compare before and after the estuary dam construction. The collected fishes, based on catch per unit effort (CPUE), were 44 species in the watershed and dominant fishes were Zacco platypus, Acheilognathus macropeterus, Zacco temminckii and Carassius auratus. According to comparative analysis of fish in the non polluted sites (NPS) vs. polluted sites (PS), the number of species and individuals was lower by 70% in the PS than the NPS, indicating ecological degradations by chemical pollutions or/and habitat modifications. The relative abundance of sensitive and insectivore species decreased as the stream order increases, while tolerant and omnivore species increased with the stream order. In this survey, largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), which is a top-carnivore and exotic species, may influence trophic guild system throughout active predations on endemic species, resulting in modifications of ecological functions. The construction of estuary dam on Yeongsan River in 1981 resulted in wider lacustrine zone and desalinated through limitation of seawater input. These physical changes have caused increases of lentic dwelling species and limited fish migrations (i.e., eel). Overall, fish fauna and composition analyses showed that the number of species and individuals in this water body may be reduced due to inputs of pollutants from the watershed, habitat modifications, and increases of exotic species (largemouth bass). For these reasons, effective lake management strategies are required for the ecosystem conservation.

• 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 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.44 no.3
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• pp.264-271
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• 2011

At the Jangheung multipurpose dam, which is on the Tamjin River, a trapping and trucking operation was established to maintain continuous upstream migration of fish,. To facilitate fish gathering, installation of an effective fishing trap was required. In this study, we evaluated the fish trap, established at the Jangheung dam, using PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) telemetry. A total of 254 individuals from 15 species were monitored. Among these tagged species, 36 individuals from 6 species (Carassius auratus, C. cuvieri, Zacco temminckii, Z. platypus, Pungtungia herzi, and Pseudobagrus koreanus) were detected; a 14.2% detection rate. C. auratus recorded the highest detection rate of 44.2% while P. herzi was 14.3%. Z. temminckii and Z. platypus showed relatively low detection, 5% and 7.7% respectively. Some of individuals from C. auratus and Z. platypus did not pass through the antenna at the first attempt but were continuously detected on multiple days. There were no statistical differences in body size (total length, standard length and body weight) of individuals that did or did not swim into the trap (Mann-Whitney U test, p>0.05). Fish mainly swam into the trap during outflow of water from the dam (Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.001) and showed a higher detection frequency in daytime than nighttime (Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.001). Thus, for fish movement into the trap, external factors such as outflow from dam and time of day have important roles. Based on detection rate, not all fishes showed upstream migration but represented selective migration. Consequently, the establishment of flexible outflow strategies that take into consideration ecological characteristics of fishes should required for improving the efficiency of fishway.

• 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.