KOREAN ENGLISH CHINESE JAPANESE         HomeEcology White Paper of DMZComposition of ecosystemFishes     1) Interview of Dr. Shim Jaehwan, fish specialist   2) East coast region 3) Mid- west inland region 4) West coast region 1) Interview of Dr. Shim Jaehwan, fish specialist   Individuals of 24 species were observed abundantly as the result in the fish research at the mud puddle of Paju, Geonggi-do. Among these the crusian carp, slender bitterling, Asiatic ricefish etc were the dominant species. This result is highly affected by the fact that the collection was impossible at the Imjin river region which is the large water system environment of the Paju region, and was held only at small mud puddles and lakes. The 5 endemic species of Korea, which are the Korean spotted sleeper, Squalidus japonicus coreanus, abbottina springeri banarescu et nalbant, Sharpbelly, common Korean bitterling were observed in the area. There results from the   changes of the marine structure by the use of the northern region of the civilian controlled line and the building of simple repair facilities for the last 10 years and the use of the agricultural water in the DMZ The DMZ and the nearby regions is a zone of importance considering it’s ecological significance and for preparing unification. This region was restricted to civilians after 1950, the Korean war. Surrounded by wire entanglements, no one, humans or wild animals, can cross. Korean is a peninsula and the middle pathway were the Subtropic living organisms and the boreal living organisms crosses was interrupted separating them for about 50 years. This is one of the few difficult investigation region in the world, considering the biogeographic characteristics or the migration pathways of living organism 2) East coast region   Generally, most of the rivers that flow in to the East sea are poor in fishes and the distribution of the endemic species of the Korean peninsula is low. The lengths of each river that flow in to the East sea are shorter and the mid stream of the river is less developed than the rivers flowing into the West or South sea. Also, the lower courses of the stream flow into the sea holding the characteristics of the mid stream. It is known that for these reasons, the fishes that dwell in this area are simple and the distribution ration of endemic species of the Korean peninsula is quite low. The Fareastern brook lamprey was known to be distributed at the river that flows into the West and South sea. But recently, they were found to be distributed at the downstream of Bebongcheon. In the present research, 14 individuals of relatively large number were observed at the downstream of Bebongcheon, Myeongpa-ri. The Kumgang minnow appeared at great quantity of 100 individuals at Sacheon-ri, Gojin-dong valley, tributary to the Gosungnam river. This is the only region in South Korea were Kumgang minnow inflows to the East Sea, being of great, important scientific value. Therefore, the protection of their habitat is required. The Moroco semotilus was discovered in large numbers at Songhyeoncheon and Sacheon-ri, Gojin-dong valley. This region, inside the civilian controlled line, is the only place the Moroco semotilus is distributed in South Korea and the protection of the species itself is highly required. At the East coast region, the Sacheon-ri, Gojin-dong valley which is the tributary to the Gosungnam river and the Songhyeoncheon waters, are the representative regions were Kumgang minnow, trout, Moroco semotilus inhabits in large numbers requiring protection as the main waters. Also, the Bebongcheon were fareastern brook lamprey and yellow fin sculpin inhabits should be protected. At the mid-inland, the Yanggu Suipcheon mountain upper stream displays the representative fishes of the well preserved North han river upper stream, so the Seohwamyeon Daegok-ri and the Buyeon-ri valley which are at the upper stream region of Kumgang minnow, the lenok-dwelling Seohwacheon and the Inbukcheon is also an significant place. The variety of fishes dwell in the region and the waters from Dochan-ri and Toseong-ri of Gimhwa Namdaecheon water, where fareastern brook lamprey, amur minnow, common Korean bitterling inhabits in large numbers are important sites for protection       Kumgang minnow   Moroco semotilus   Trout     Fareastern brook lamprey   Yellow fin sculpin   Lenok 3) Mid- west inland region   52 species of various fishes appeared in this region. Among the 52 species 40 species (76.9%) were primary freshwater fishes, 1 species (1.9%) was secondary freshwater fish, and 11 species (21.1%) were peripheral freshwater fishes, with the first freshwater fishes showing dominant characteristics. This is because much of the Imjin river and the Han river upper mountain stream were included in the region of investigation. The 170 species (32.7%) of endemic species of the Korean peninsula including Kumgang minnow, common Korean bitterling, acheilognathus yamatsutae, Korean spined bittering, slender shiner, Korean splendid dace, Squalidus japonicus coreanus, Squalidus gracilis majimae, microphysogobio yaluensis, microphysogobio longidorsalis, white-nosed loach, Korean spine loach, black bullhead, silurus microdorsalis, Liobagrus andersonii, Coreoperca herzi and Korean spotted sleeper appeared in this region. Generally, the existence of the endemic species of the Korean peninsula itself becomes the standard that characterizes the biota of the region. The distribution ratio of the endemic species was somewhat low. This is because the endemic species were distributed centering on the small mountain stream in the investigation region and is thought to be noneffective in gasping the general characteristics of the fishes in the water system of Han river and Imjin river.       common Korean bitterling   Korean striped bittering   Korean spined bittering     Slender shiner   Korean splendid dace   Squalidus japonicus coreanus     Microphysogobio yaluensis   White-nosed loach   Korean spine loach 4) West coast region   Generally the scope of rivers was very small and the quantity of water was scanty maintaining the form of agricultural watercourse. Also, this region is highly affected by the human habitation as the result of farming. The total of 14 species appeared showing poor fish inhabitance. 9 (64.3%) species of primary freshwater fish, 1species (7.1%) of secondary freshwater fish, 4 species (28.6%) peripheral freshwater fish were found showing dominant characteristics of the primary freshwater fishes. No native (endemic species) species of the Korean peninsula was observed. These characteristics of fishes are situations generally occurring at small rivers in the West coast and island regions. Crusian carp was shown to be the dominant species that appeared at most region.