Climate Change, Water Environment
and Freshwater Ecosystems in Korea

Namil Chung*, Baekyung Park and Kyunghyun Kim
Water Environement Research Department
National Institute of Environmental Research
Republic of Korea*namilchung@gmail.com

OVERVIEW- Effect of Climate Change on Sediment Loading Coupled withHeavy Rainfall- Effect of Climate Change on Water Temperature- Effects of Increased Water Temperature on Habitats of Riverine
Fishes (Preliminary Results)

Effect of CC on Sediment Loading (Kim et al. 2009)* Torrential rain causes heavy sediment loading from farm lands,
destroying stream ecosystem health.

Land Use

Rainfall (95 pt)

Sediment LoadEffect of CC on Water Temperature (Kim et al. 2009)* Climate Model (A1B) predicts water temperature increases.
* Higher increases in rivers than lakes.
(Unit: °C)

RiversLakes

Watershed

Year 2050

Year 2100

Han R.

1.87 ± 0.30

3.16 ± 0.46

Nakdong R.

1.01 ± 0.29

2.39 ± 0.43

Geum R.

0.59 ± 0.31

2.07 ± 0.50

Seomjin/Yeongsan R.

0.59 ± 0.31

2.03 ± 0.47

Overall

1.06 ± 0.16

2.45 ± 0.24

Han R.

0.43 ± 0.44

1.59 ± 0.45Nakdong R.

1.02 ± 0.52

2.17 ± 0.51

Geum R.

-0.10 ± 0.81

1.20 ± 1.00

Seomjin/Yeongsan R.

2.09 ± 0.72

3.33 ± 0.69

Overall0.95 ± 0.30

2.14 ± 0.30

Effect of CC on Water Temperature (Kim et al. 2009)* Predicted water temperature change is greater in Rivers than Lakes.
* Greater increase in winter than summer.

Lakes

Water Temperature
Change (°C)

RiversMonthMonthPotential Impact of Increased Water
Temperature on Fish Habitats* Fish Community data: 2007-2009, Ecosystem Health Assessment
Project, Ministry of Environment* Water Temperature data: Water Environment Information System,
National Institute Environmental Research (http://water.nier.go.kr)* Streams of Han River Watershed (208 Sites)* 51 Rheophilic Fish spp. classified into 4 habitat reaches(upstream, up-/midstream, midstream, mid-/downstream)* Supposed Water Temperature Increases: 1°C, 2°C and 3°C

Maximum Thermal Tolerance of Fish
- Fish & Temperature Data Maching System (Eaton et al. 1995)
Species
Upstream
Cottus koreanus

Species

Max Them Tol (°C)

Max Them Tol (°C)

Up-/midstream
25.0

Gobiobotia brevibarba29.0Iksookimia koreensis

28.0

Koreocobitis rotundicaudata

28.7

Liobagrus mediadiposalis

26.8

Ladislabia taczanowskii

26.0

Oncorhynchus masou masou

26.2

Orthrias nudus

28.1

Phoxinus phoxinus

26.2

Rhynchocypris kumgangensis

27.0

Rhynchocypris oxycephalus

28.0

Rhynchocypris steindachneri

28.0

Silurus microdorsalis

28.0

Coreoleuciscus splendidus

28.1

Gobiobotia macrocephala

29.0

Hamibarbus mylodon

28.0

Liobagrus andersoni

28.0

Microphysogobio longidorsalis

28.0

Odontobutis platycephala

29.0

Orthrias toni

27.9

Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa

28.0

Rhinogobius brunneus

29.0

Zacco koreanus

28.0Species

Max Them Tol (°C)

Species

Max Them Tol (°C)

Mid-/downstream

Midstream
Acheilognathus lanceolatus

28.0

Acheilognathus rhombeus

29.0

Acheilognathus signifer

28.0

Abbottina rivularis

29.0

Coreoperca herzi

29.0

Abbottina springeri

28.0

Gnathopogon strigatus

29.7

Cobitis pacifica

28.0

Hamibarbus longirostris

29.0

Hemiculter eigenmanni

31.0

Microphysogobio yaluensis

29.0

Hemiculter leucisculus

30.0

Pungtungia herzi

29.0

Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

29.0

Pseudobagrus koreanus29.0

Microphysogobio jeoni

27.0

Rhodeus uyekii

29.0

Misgurnus mizolepis

28.2

Squalidus gracilis majimae

29.0

Odontobutis interrupta

29.0

Siniperca scherzeri

28.0

Pseudogobio esocinus

29.0

Sarcocheilichthys variegatus

29.0

Pseudobagrus fulvidraco

29.0

Rhodeus notatus

29.0

Sarcocheilichthys nigripinnis

29.0

Tridentiger brevispinis

28.0

Zacco platypus

29.0* Increased as habitat reaches move from upstream to downstream.
* µup < µup/mid = µmid = µmid/down (P < 0.05)

Suitable Fish Habitat Change* Increased Water Temperature decreased Suitable Habitats for Fishes* -32% (+1°C), -46% (+2°C), -60% (+3°C)
1°C

2°C

3°C

80

Habitat Change (%)

b60cbabbcbb40aaaa

200up

up/midmid

Reachmid/down

Fish Species Number Change+1°C+2°C△ none■ 1~20%● 21~40%● 41~60%● 61~80%● 81~100%+3°C

* Percent changes in # spp. in overall sampling sites were different
according to the level of water temperature increase.

Relative Site Frequency

100%80%60%
40%
20%
0%+1°C+2°C+3°C

Temperature IncreaseNone
41 - 60%

1 - 20%61 - 80%

21 - 40%
81 - 100%

Further Research
To predict changes in the geographical distribution of freshwater
fishes more precisely•

Detailed analysis and modeling of fish habitats

2) Thermobiolocial information including Minimum Thermal Tolerancesof each sp.
3) Coupled with the results of climate modeling, regarding tohydrology, water quality, and water temperature

Many THANKS To

Dr. Taegu Kang

Dr. Changhee Lee

Mr. Ingu Ryu

Environmental Effect and Vulnerability Assessment (WaterQuality/Water Resources) Project, Ministry of Environment, Korea

Post-doctoral Research Fellowship Program, National Institute ofEnvironmental Research, Korea