Trophic and tolerance gradients on the ranges of ambient nutrients (N, P) and other water quality were tested on two species of Zacco temminckii (Zt) and Zacco platypus (Zp). For water chemistry, trophic gradients and BIM model analysis, 76 streams and rivers were sampled during 2004 - 2005. The populations of Zt had a narrow tolerance with a low limit (< 300 μg L-1) over a phosphorus gradient, whereas the Zp occurred in high TP up to 1180 μg L-1. There was a 4-fold difference in mean TP between two species and the tolerance range of phosphorus in Zp was significantly greater than in Zt (t = 5.25, p < 0.001). The chemical tolerance of two species had a similar pattern in nitrogen and other chemical parameters. The proportion of insectivores co-occurred with Zt was > 40% and was nearly two times greater (p < 0.001) than was that co-occurred with Zp. The omnivores co-occurred with Zp were significantly greater (t = 9.74, p < 0.001) than those co-occurred with Zt. The model values of BIM co-occurred with Zt were significantly greater (t = 13.67, p < 0.001) than those of Zp. Overall data suggested that Zp have a wide range of chemical tolerance as tolerant species, trophic preference of omnivores, and survived even in degraded environments, whereas Zt have other trophic extremes of sensitive species, trophic preference of insectivores, and the low-nutrient regions with high BIM model values. This study was supported by the CAER (Center for Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration) of Eco-STAR project from MEK (Ministry of Environment, Korea).