• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.421-433
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• 2024

Among larger species of fish found in Punatsang chhu, Brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Snow trout (Schizothorax richardsonii) are notable species. Snow trout is a native species, whereas Brown trout is an introduced species. Brown trout is noted to have a negative impact on the population of native species worldwide. This study studied the population dynamics and structure of these species to detect if the introduced species affected the native species adversely. The study was conducted on a 30 km stretch of Punatsang chhu including its major and minor tributaries at about their confluences. In total, 56 sample plots of a 200 m sampling stretch were studied with a 200 m distance between each stretch. Length, weight, maturity, and sex data for both species were collected along with the habitat and water parameters. The two species were found to prefer different areas within a single stretch with a rare overlap. Snow trout were found to be distributed widely within the basin whereas Brown trout were only found in altitudes higher than 1,000 masl ($\overline{x}$ = 1,231.77) and in turbid waters (p = 0.009). Recruitment of Snow trout was not good whereas recruitment of Brown trout was good. Length-frequency graphs indicated good inverse J distribution for the Snow trout population and sporadic for Brown trout. There is an effect of Brown trout introduction to the Snow trout living in the study area. Places invaded by Brown trout have a lesser presence of Snow trout compared to places not invaded by these species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.381-389
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• 2022

This study investigated the ecological characteristics of Microphysogobio yaluensis at Dugye Stream of Geum River basin from January to December 2021. The river bed structure of this species' habitat was rich in pebbles and gravel. The water depth ranged from 12 to 85 cm with an average of 23 cm, which was shallow. The stream velocity was rapid at 1.03±0.34(0.72-1.47) m/sec. The ratio of females to males was 1:0.86. The age according to the total length-frequency distribution as of summer (June, July) indicated that the group with less than 50 mm (30.4-49 mm) in total length was one year old, the group with 50-69 mm was two years old, and the group over 70-92 mm was three years old. Both male and female fish sexually matured at 50 mm long and two years old in June and July. The spawning season was from July to August, and the water temperature was between 25.8℃ and 28.2℃ during the period. The prosperous spawning season was July. The matured eggs were yellowish and spherical with a mean diameter of 0.52±0.16 (0.33-0.77) mm, and the average number of eggs found in the ovaries of mature female fish was 2,593 (1,343-4,672). As for the food of M. yaluensis, only attached algae, which grow by attaching to stones and gravel of the stream rapids, were identified. The feeding habit of M. yaluensis was reported to be herbivorous, ingesting Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta and Bacillariophya. Also, the species belonging to Bacillariophya and Chlorophyta were abundant in Dugye Stream.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.3 s.113
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• pp.361-371
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• 2005

The objective of study was to diagnose integrative ecological health of Daejeon Stream, one of the tributaries of Guem River, during May 2004 ${\sim}$ April 2005. The research approach was primarily based on a Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) and the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) using fish assemblage. These outcomes were compared with conventional chemical dataset. For the experiment, four sampling sites were chosen from Daejeon Stream and long-term water quality data during 1995 ${\sim}$ 2004 (obtained from the Ministry of Environment) were analyzed in the spatial and temporal aspects. For the biological health assessment, we developed a stream health assessment model (SHA model) far regional applications. We found that current water quality conditions, based on the COD, BOD, TN and TP, were enhanced by 1.6 ${\sim}$ 5.3 fold over the period of 1995 ${\sim}$ 2004 and that the parameters showed a typical longitudinal decline from the upstream to downstream reach. The differences of water quality between the two reaches were more than 4.4 times, indicating a large spatial variations within the stream. The health conditions, based on the SHA model, averaged 23 and varied from 20 to 26 depending on the sampling stations. Values of the QHEI varied from 39 (Poor condition) to 124 (Cood condition)and values of QHEI in the reach of S2 ${\sim}$ S4 had significantly lower than in the headwater site (S1). Also, biological stream health, based on the criteria of US EPA (1993), was judged as 'Poor condition', in the S4 where TN, TP, BOD and COD were highest. In the meantime, maximum value of SHA (26) was found in the upstream reach (S1) where the water quality and QHEI were best. We also found that compositions of sensitive species showed a linear function with water quality conditions and this pattern was evident in the tolerant species. Thus, the biological stream health, based on the SHA model, matched well water chemistry. Overall outcomes suggest that the biological health impact was a function of chemical degradation and physical habitat quality in the stream.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2022

Total of 325 estuaries in Korea were surveyed to analyze the effect of presence of sluice gate on the estuary environment and fish community from 2016 to 2018. Fish community in closed and open estuaries showed differences generally, and the relative abundance (RA) of primary freshwater species in the closed and migratory species in the open estuaries were high. The result of classifying species by habitat characteristics in closed and open estuaries showed similar tendencies at the estuaries of south sea and west sea. The relative abundances of primary freshwater species in the closed estuaries at the estuaries of south sea and west sea were the highest, but estuarine and migratory species were high in both closed and open estuaries at the estuaries of east sea. Primary freshwater species showed higher abundances in the closed estuaries with reduced salinity due to blocking of seawater since they are not resistant to salt. However, primary freshwater species in open estuaries at east sea was higher than that of the closed estuaries, which is considered to be the result of reflecting the characteristics (tide, sand bar, etc.) of the east sea. Korea Estuary Fish Assessment Index (KEFAI) was showed to be higher at open estuaries than closed in all sea areas (T-test, P<0.001), the highest KEFAI was observed in closed estuaries at south sea, and open estuaries in east sea. Fish community of closed and open estuaries in each sea areas showed statistically significant differences (PERMANOVA, East, Pseudo-F=3.0198, P=0.002; South, Pseudo-F=22.00, P=0.001; West, Pseudo-F=14.067, P=0.001). Fish assemblage similarity by sea areas showed a significant differences on fish community in closed and open estuaries at east sea, south sea, and west sea (SIMPER, Group dissimilarity, 85.85%, 88.36%, and 88.05%). This study provided information on the characteristics and distribution of fish community according to the types of estuaries. The results of this study can be used as a reference for establishing appropriate management plans according to the sea areas and type in the management and restoration of estuaries for future.

• 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.40 no.4
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• pp.495-502
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• 2007

Species biotic index (SBI), based on a fish assemblage, was applied to a stream assessment using long-term ecological fish data set (1996 to 2001) in Boryong dam area, which is located in the mainstream of Ungchun Stream of Chungnam province, Korea. According to the methods of Hilsenhoff (1988), the scores of tolerance guild assigned 10 classes to each species by its habitat and feeding guild, but modified current 7 criteria to 5 scoring standards due to unclear borderline among species. Relative abundance in the species number of upper stream guilds was only 7% of the total, whereas the abundance in the species number of middle to downstream upper stream guilds was 64%. Mean SBI, based on dataset in Site 1 during 1995-2001 averaged 5.10, which was judged as a "good" condition by the rank criteria of SBI. Before the dam construction, mean SBI in the Site 1 was 4.61, indicating a "good" condition, but after the dam construction, mean SBI was 5.60, indicating a "fair" condition. Trajectory analysis in the Site 1 showed significantly (One-way ANOVA, $F_{6,21}=3.26$, p=0.02) different among years, reflecting the changes of fish composition and population density by the dam construction, whereas Site 2 showed no significant changes ($F_{6,21}=1.00$, P =0.45) difference among years. Mean SBI prior to the dam construction in the Site 3 was 4.52 but after the construction, the value was 6.30, indicating a distinct difference between the pre- and post-dam construction. Trajectory analysis at the Site 3 supported this fact: Values of SBI showed significantly ($F_{6,21}$=14.37, p<0.01) different. Mean SBI was 4.67 in the Site 4, indicating a "good" condition in the health and the health rank was same as the sampling sites 1, 2, and 4. Trajectory in the Site 4 showed no significant ($F_{6,21}=2.35$, p=0.07) difference among the years. Overall, our trajectory analysis indicated that three of four sampling sites (sites 1, 3, 4) showed significant decreases (n=7, p<0.05) and that the proportions of sensitive species declined evidently in the sites 1 and 2 and the tolerant species increased in the dam sites. Our outcomes may be used as a key data for diagnosis of the long-term ecological impact in the future in the watershed.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.121-126
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• 1998

This study is to examine the energy budget of Hexagrammos agrammus in the natural habitat, based on the von Bertalanffy's growth model using food consumption and growth data of the fish. The fish were collected at the coasts of Tongbaek Island in Pusan and Shinsu Island in Samchonpo, Korea. The standard energy budget model was adopted for this study and the model has the components of toed consumption (C), production (G), assimilation (A), absorption ($A_b$), catabolism (R), excreta (U) and feces (F). These components were expressed as mass unit, not as calorie unit as usual. Both the mass and the proportion of each component varied with age of the fish, The mass of annual excreta declined as the fish became older, while those of the other components increased with the age. The relationship between mean weight (W) and annual absorption ($A_b$) was a non-linear one with the equation of $A_b=4.592W^{0.666}$, while that between mean weight (W) and annual catabolism (R) was linear as R=0.007+0.567W. On the other hand, the annual food consumption (C) showed linear relations both with annual assimilation (A) and annual catabolism (R) as A= -7.026+0.061C and R=-20.749+0.048C, respectively.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.106-116
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• 2021

To secure basic data by monitoring the growth of salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) released to the Taehwa River. After discharge, the characteristics of the young salmon distribution and migration rate habitat were investigated for two years. A total of 4 points [Sunbawi bridge (St.1), Guyeong bridge (St.2), Samho bridge (St.3), and Myeongchon bridge (St.4)] were investigated. The survey of 2017 indicating an increase of 10 mm in average length and 0.8 g in average weight, and the survey of 2018 indicating an increase of 10 mm in average length and 0.5 g in average weight. Among 39 species, 10 insectivorous and 12 omnivorous, are believed to compete with young salmon for food. 6, 5, 6 and 8 predatory fish species has emerged at each site, respectively. According to this study, it is believed that St.1 and St.2 points are more proper as discharge location of young salmon because these two points have less varied in depth, flow rate, salt concentration etc. In addition, it is thought that the night or dawn time in early January is the best discharge time of young salmon fish because predatory fish such as Korean piscivorous chub and bass etc. does not eat food actively at that time.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.368-375
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• 2022

Gut contents analysis is essential to predict the impact of organisms on food source changes due to variations of the habitat environment. Previous studies of gut content analysis have been conducted using traditional methods, such as visual observation. However, these studies are limited in analyzing food sources because of the digestive process in gut organ. DNA metabarcoding analysis is a useful method to analyze food sources by supplementing these limitations. We sampled marine fish of Pennahia argentata, Larimichthys polyactis, Crangon affinis, Loligo beka and Sepia officinalis from Gwangyang Bay and Yeosu fisheries market for analyzing gut contents by applying DNA metabarcoding analysis. 18S rRNA v9 primer was used for analyzing food source by DNA metabarcoding. Network and two-way clustering analyses characterized the relationship between organisms and food sources. As a result of comparing metabarcoding of gut contents for P. argentata between sampled from Gwangyang Bay and the fisheries market, fish and Copepoda were analyzed as common food sources. In addition, Decapoda and Copepoda were analyzed as common food sources for L. polyactis and C. affinis, respectively. Copepoda was analyzed as the primary food source for L. beka and S. officinalis. These study results demonstrated that gut contents analysis using DNA metabarcoding reflects diverse and detailed information of biological food sources in the aquatic environment. In addition, it will be possible to provide biological information in the gut to identify key food sources by applying it to the research on the food web in the ecosystem.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.326-332
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• 1990

The chemical attractants for sea eels, Astroconger myriaster, were identified by using fish traps in their natural habitat around namhae island, southern part of Korea. The ethyl alcohol extracts of anchovy, Engraulis japonica, which was a very good baits for sea eels showed higher attraction activities than residuals of it. Because sea eels showed high attraction activities to the free amino acid or nucleotides of synthetic anchovy extract, the succeeding experiment was conducted to identify the major chemical attractants among 9 free amino acid and 2 nucleotides by omission test. L-Glutamic acid, L-glycine, taurine, L-methionine or IMP showed highest attraction activities among 11 chemical compounds. But sea eels showed significantly weaker attraction activities to the synthethic extracts and single component than to the natural extract.