In this study, we investigated the relationships between benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages and various environmental factors in Iancheon (NIA) and Bukcheon (NBC) streams, Korea. We collected benthic macroinvertebrates and 33 environmental factors in April 2017 at 9 sites (5 sites in NIA and 4 sites in NBC). We identified 93 species (5 phyla, 9 classes, 16 orders, and 53 families) and 69 species (5 phyla, 9 classes, 17 orders, and 47 families) in NIA and NBC streams, respectively. Considering benthic macroinvertebrate index (BMI), NIA (88.2) and NBC (80.2) streams were in “very good” status. Upstream areas showed the highest scores, 95.5 (NIA1) and 94.2 (NBC1), whereas BMI score was the lowest in downstream areas of both streams, especially in NBC4 (51.0 “bad” status). Cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis represented the differences of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages according to spatial and anthropogenic gradients. Our findings provide reference data and highlight the need for the continued monitoring to maintain the good status and manage macroinvertebrate diversity in these two streams, in Sangju-si, Korea.

Plant physiological indices for Euryale ferox Salisb. an endangered aquatic plant from Gyeongsan Province, were analyzed in this study. The NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) was highest at 0.820 in Dongguji and lowest at 0.592 in Dongjaji; the SR (Simple Ratio) index was highest at 10.240 in Dongguji and lowest at 4.312 in Dongjaji; and the PRI (Photochemical Reflectance Index) was highest at 0.039 in Dongguji and lowest at −0.036 in Dongjaji. The CRI1 (Carotenoid Reflectance Index 1) index was in Sahwaji and Waji at 8.881 and 12.988, respectively, and the CRI2 (Carotenoid Reflectance Index 2) index was highest at 7.889 in Sahwaji and lowest at 11.889 in Dongjaji.