This study aimed to assess the health status of the Pyeongchang River, providing foundational data for the conservation and management of the river. The survey was conducted six times over a period of three years, collecting a total of 2,364 specimens...
This study aimed to assess the health status of the Pyeongchang River, providing foundational data for the conservation and management of the river. The survey was conducted six times over a period of three years, collecting a total of 2,364 specimens belonging to 3 orders, 8 families, and 28 species. Among the legally protected species, five endangered species (Hemibarbus mylodon, Acheilognathus signifer, Pseudopuntungia tenuicorpa, Gobiobotia brevibarba, Gobiobotia macrocephala) were identified. The proportion of Korean endemic species was 53.2%, and exotic species were not collected. The dominant species, constituting 14.04%, was Zacco koreanus , while subdominant species, comprising 13.71%, were Pungtungia herzi and Zacco platypus. The analysis of feeding habits revealed a predominance of omnivorous species, followed by carnivorous, herbivorous, and insectivorous species. Cluster analysis indicated that all sampling points exhibited favorable values for dominance, diversity, evenness, and richness. Functional feeding group analysis revealed that the ratio of collector-gatherers was the highest, followed by predators, shredders, and filter-feeders. Based on the FAI (Index of Biotic Integrity) analysis, all sampling points in all years received an “A” grade, confirming the well-preserved condition of the aquatic ecosystem in the Pyeongchang River.