The predator-prey interaction in freshwater ecosystems is a crucial area in the ecological study field and one of example to find such interaction is to investigate stomach contents. However, traditional method through visual inspection often induce misidentification, as it depends critically on intactness of physically visible data. In this study, we utilized Next-Generations Sequencing (NGS) technology to test the applicability stomach content analysis and overcome such limitation. NGS was applied to analyze the stomach contents of the Hemibarbus labeo, Tachysurus fulvidraco, and Plecoglossus altivelis collected in the lower part of Nakdong River. As a result, T. fulvidraco had a higher number of Animalia operational taxonomic units (OTUs) intake rate than H. labeo. At the same time, P. altivelis had higher number of Plantae OTUs intake rate than T. fulvidraco and higher Protozoa OTUs intake rate than H. labeo respectively. Therefore, NGS technology application enable to overcome traditional method’s limitation and discover hidden interspecific interaction which can further be used in appropriate habitat assessment.

Anthropogenic disturbances on freshwater ecosystem are known to degrade biodiversity, especially on fish assemblage. In this study, we have conducted fish surveys to identify impact of a bridge construction on fish assemblages. A total of eight study sites were surveyed in the Danjang and the Dong Stream in southern part of South Korea from June to November in 2021. The fish samplings were carried out five times, using cast-nets (10×10 mm mesh size), scoop-nets (4×4 mm, 5×5 mm mesh size), set-nets (10×10 mm mesh size), and fish traps (3×3 mm mesh size), along with the Stream/River Ecosystem Survey and Health Assessment by the Ministry of Environment of Korea and basic water quality measurement. Also, we applied the species diversity index and length-weight relationship regressions on certain species to identify interspecific growth rate differences in accordance with study sites. As a result, a total of 782 individuals, 23 species and 10 families were collected. The dominant species was Zacco Koreanus and relative abundance was 50.89%. When applying the length-weight relationship regressions on certain species, the ‘b’ value for Z. Koreanus was lower at the downstream points than at the upstream points of the construction site. In addition, when comparing to the results of the past survey, relative density of demersal fish at the upstream and downstream points decreased from 26% to 1.4%, and from 18% to 6.3%, respectively. In conclusion, it is considered that bridge construction negatively affects the habitat of fishes, especially on demersal fishes. Therefore, appropriate conservation efforts such as installation of silt protector and sand sedimentation pond are needed to alleviate the disturbance in habitat such as occurrence of turbidity and destruction of micro-habitats.

본 연구는 낙동강지류인 밀양강에 소상한 연어를 대상으로 소상, 산란 분포를 최초로 파악하고 소상 한계선을 확인 하였다. 2020년 10월 25일부터 11월 28일까지 확인된 개체들 중, 사체는 전장을 측정하고 암-수 구별을 하였다. 조사 결과 총 40개체의 연어를 발견하였으며 이 중 사체는 25마리, 살아있는 개체는 15마리였다. 대부분 산란장으로 판단 되는 지점 인근 수변부에서 살아있는 개체와 사체가 발견되었다. 연어의 소상 한계선 파악의 경우 연어가 소상할 수 없는 형태의 보가 등장할 때까지 상류방향으로 이동하여 확인 하였으며, 밀양강 본류의 경우 예림교 기준 상류 13 km, 지천인 단장천의 경우 밀양강 합류부에서부터 12 km까지 연어의 소상이 가능할 것으로 확인하였다. 따라서 연어가 소상 하기 위한 보의 철거 및 어도설치와 같은 하천연결성 확보가 필요한 것으로 판단되며, 연어의 치어생존률을 높이기 위한 산란장 및 미소서식처 자연성 확보 방안이 필요할 것으로 판단된다.