Comparison of the reed community structures in the connected and isolated floodplains of Cheongmicheon stream, South Korea

초록

The plant community structure and the strategy of plant regeneration from propagules in soils can be altered by the disruption of lateral connectivity by the levee construction. The floral composition and density of seedlings from seedbank and shoots from propagules in soils were investigated according to the elevational gradient in the runner reed (Phragmites japonica) community of the connected floodplains and in the common reed (Phragmites australis)community of the isolated floodplains in Cheongmicheon, South Korea. The dominant species of the newly emerging plants from soils of two reed communities in spring were P. japonica, Persicaria hydropiper and Miscanthus sacchariflorus in the connected floodplain and P. australis, Oenanthe javanica and Lindernia micrantha in the isolated floodplain. The results of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) showed that communities of two reed species were separated primarily and classified secondly along the elevational gradient in the floodplains. In conclusion, it is necessary to restore the riverine vegetation by the recovery of the regeneration potential in the soil seedbank after ensuring the lateral connectivity in the channelized streams. This research was supported by a grant(12-TI-C02) from Advanced Water Management Research Program funded by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Korean government. Keyword: Elevation, Lateral connectivity, Levee, Riparian vegetation, Seedbank