• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2011

Gene and promoter structures of metallothionein(MT) from Miho spine loach (Cobitis choii; Cypriniformes) were characterized, and the transcriptional responses to experimental exposures to heavy metals and heat stress were examined. The C. choii metallothionein displayed well-conserved features of teleostean metallothioneins at gDNA, mRNA and amino acid levels. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that the C. choii MT regulatory region potentially possessed various motifs or elements targeted by various transcription factors associated with metal-coordinating regulation (e.g., metal transcription factor-1), immune responses (e.g., nuclear factor kappa B), and thermal modulations (e.g., heat shock factor). Acute heavy-metal exposures to 0.5 or $1.0\;{\mu}M$ of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) or zinc (Zn) showed that MT transcription was significantly stimulated by Cd (9.6-fold relative to non-exposed control) and Cu (10.4-fold), only moderately by Mn (2.4-fold), but hardly by Ni and Zn. Elevation of water temperature from $25^{\circ}C$ to $31^{\circ}C$ caused a rapid modulation of MT mRNAs toward upregulation to 9.5-fold; however, afterward the elevated mRNA level slightly decreased during further incubation at $31^{\circ}C$ for 6 h. Results from this study suggest that MT-based expression assay could be a useful basis for better understanding the metal- and/or heat-caused stresses in this endangered fish species.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2013

Egg development and early life history of the Korean spine loach, Iksookimia pumila was investigated to provide basic information regarding biological characteristics and restoration. Adult fish were sampled using spoon net in the Baek Stream, Sangseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea, 7 July 2010. Eggs and sperms were obtained from the females and male with Ovaprim injecting (0.5 mL/kg) and then fertilized using the dry method in the laboratory. Number of spawned eggs were 1,107 (352~1,440). Spawned eggs were slightly adhesive, light yellowish coloring and measured $1.3{\pm}0.04$ mm (mean${\pm}$SD) in diameter. Spawned eggs hatched out 52 (47~55) hours after fertilization at water temperature of $23^{\circ}C$, and newly hatched larvae an average were $4.7{\pm}0.14$ mm in total length. At 5 days after hatching, larvae averaged $7.1{\pm}0.20$ mm in total length and their yolk sacs had been completely absorbed. Beginning at 17 days after hatching, fish entered the juvenile stage and reached $11.0{\pm}0.50$ mm in total length. At 100 days after hatching, the band patterns and external form of juvenile fish were similar to those of adults, and they averaged $31.3{\pm}3.98$ mm in total length.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.275-283
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• 2015

Habitat characteristics and feeding ecology of Iksookimia pacifica were investigated in this study to provide baseline data for its ecological characteristics in Bukcheon (stream), Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea. The main inhabit of I. pacifica was found to be sand bottoms of Bb or Bc river type with slow water flow. Based on studies of their habitat preferences according to age, their preference for sand bed was the same. However, their preference for depth and velocity was different. When their age was increased, their depth preference was also increased ($24.9{\pm}17.61cm$ for 0+ year, $69.6{\pm}30.32cm$ for 1+ year, $82.4{\pm}33.30cm$ for 2+ years, and $90.0{\pm}31.55cm$ for $3+{\leq}$ years). The water velocity was found to be 3.8 ~ 4.0 cm/sec for ages between 0+ and 1+ and 6.0 ~ 7.3 cm/sec for ages between 2+ and $3+{\leq}$. They were active on sand from March to November. They would hibernate in sand during the winter season. During the day from 12 pm to 24 am, they were highly active with high food consumption. Their main food sources analyzed with index of relative importance (IRI) include Chironomidae (76.7%), Simuliidae (10.3%), Rotatoria (7.3%), and Arcellidae (2.2%). Their juveniles (total length 20~40 mm) would feed on small-sized preys such as Rotatoria, Copepoda, and Arcellidae. Older I. pacifica would feed on big-sized preys such as Chironomidae and Simuliidae.