돌마자(Microphysogobio yaluensis)의 생태적 특징을 연구하기 위해 2021년 1월부터 12월까지 금강지류인 두계천에 서 조사를 실시하였다. 본 종의 서식지 하상구조는 조약돌(pebble)과 자갈(gravel)이 풍부하였으며, 수심은 12~85㎝로 평균 23㎝로 얕았으며, 유속이 1.03±0.34(0.72~1.47)m/sec로 빨랐다. 암수 성비는 1 : 0.86이었다. 전장빈도분포도에 따른 연령은 여름(6~7월)기준으로 50mm 미만(30.4~49mm)은 만1년생, 50~69mm은 만 2년생, 70~92mm 이상은 만 3년생으로 추정되었다. 생식가능 전장의 크기는 6, 7월에 암컷과 수컷 모두 50mm 이상의 만2년생에서 성적성숙이 이루어졌다. 산란시기는 7월에서 8월(산란성기 7월)이고 수온은 25.8~28.2℃이었다. 성숙란은 노란색 구형으로 직경이 0.52±0.16(0.33~0.77)mm이고 포란수는 평균 2,593(1,343~4,672)개 이었다. 돌마자의 먹이생물은 하천 여울의 돌과 자갈에 부착하여 생육하는 부착조류(Attached algae)만 확인되었다. 식성은 식물성이었으며 부착조류인 남조류 (Cyanophyta), 녹조류(Chlorophyta), 규조류(Bacillariophya) 등을 섭식하였고 규조류와 녹조류에 속하는 종이 풍부하 였다.
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 ㎝ with an average of 23 ㎝, 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 ㎜ (30.4-49 ㎜) in total length was one year old, the group with 50-69 ㎜ was two years old, and the group over 70-92 ㎜ was three years old. Both male and female fish sexually matured at 50 ㎜ 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) ㎜, 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.