-Stream development can generate environmental changes that impact fish communities. In temperate streams, the distribution of fish species is associated with environmental gradients. To analyze the relevant factors, large-scale exploration is required. Thus, to evaluate the distribution patterns of fish in Korea, sampling was conducted on a national scale at 720 sites over a 6-week period in 2009. A total of 124 fish species in 27 families were identified; Zacco platypus and Zacco koreanus of the Cyprinidae were the dominant and subdominant species, respectively. Of the species found, 46 (37.1%) were endemic and 4 (3.2%) exotic; of the latter, Micropterus salmoides and Lepomis macrochirus were widely distributed. Upon canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), both altitude and biological oxygen demand (BOD) were highly correlated with CCA axes 1 and 2, respectively. This explained 62.5% of the species-environment relationship. Altitude and stream order were longitudinally related to species distribution. The numbers of both total and endemic species gradually increased as streams grew in size to the fourth-fifth-order, and decreased in sixth-order, streams. Overall, fish communities were stable throughout the entire watershed, whereas some species showed site-specific occurrence patterns due to the paleogeomorphological characteristics of Korean peninsula. However, various anthropogenic activities may negatively affect fish communities. Therefore, both short-and long-term sustainable management strategies are required to conserve native fish fauna.

The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced from the freshwater cyprinid fish, Microphysogobio koreensis. The genome sequence was 16,606 bp in size, and the gene order and contents were identical with other cyprinid species. Of 13 protein-coding genes (PGCs), three genes (CO2, CO3, Cytb) had an incomplete stop codon as shown in other cyprinid fishes. The base composition of M. koreensis showed anti-G bias (13.79% and 10.16%) on the second and third positions of PCGs.

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The home range and characteristics of Cottus koreanus were investigated using passive integrated transponder (PIT) telemetry in the Gulji Stream, Korea, where the target species was artificially translocated. After release, tagged individuals moved up to 78 m away from the release site in search of proper habitats. The average distance moved until settlement was 17.1 m. The observed home range of settled individuals had longitudinal sections of 9.9 ± 3.6 m and surface areas of 7.2 ± 2.7 m 2 . This is comparable to congeneric species that inhabit similar ecological habitats. Once individuals had settled, they rarely moved from that site except during the spring season. The typical microhabitat characteristics of the sites where the released individuals settled are: water depth of 5-10 cm, water velocity of 0.1-0.3 m s −1 , and the size of boulders and cobbles of 10-20 cm in diameter. This study of translocated C. koreanus individuals provides detailed information about habitats that can be used for effective habitat restoration and successful translocations attempts of this species. ARTICLE HISTORY

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