Changes in plant communities of Korean reservoirs shorelines with different water level fluctuations under a monsoonal climate

초록

We aimed to identify the types of plant communities and their distribution on the shorelines of Korean reservoirs in relation to the annual range of water level fluctuation (WLF). 73 reservoirs were sampled in a nation-wide survey. The reservoirs were split into two groups on the basis of a 7 m WLF threshold: Fn with a narrow WLF (<7 m) and Fw with a wider WLF (≥ 7 m). The vegetation was surveyed in transects along the shoreline elevational gradient. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified seven plant communities with eleven sub-communities. Indicator species identified for each community/sub-community reflected the gradients of water depth, flood/exposure duration and human disturbance. DCA analysis showed that plant communities of the two reservoir types of were separated on the basis of WLF. A succession of diverse plant communities ranging from aquatic macrophytes to dry meadows were present in the Fn reservoirs, but with less-diverse communities represented by ephemeral dry meadow found in the Fw reservoirs. The plant communities described here should improve future reservoir management planning. 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. Keywords: Cluster analysis; Disturbance; Drawdown zone; Indicator species; Littoral zone; Ordination; Water level fluctuation; Zonation