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2022 Vol.9, Issue 4 Preview Page

Original Article

Characteristics of Vegetation and Biota in the Gahwacheon Estuarine Wetland, Sacheon, South Korea: Proposals for the Ecosystem Conservation

사천 가화천하구습지의 식생 및 생물상 특성: 생태계 보전 대책의 제안

Yeounsu Chu1*
,
Kwang-Jin Cho2
,
Jeoncheol Lim3
추 연수1*
,
조 광진2
,
임 정철3
1Junior Researcher, Wetlands Research Team, National Institute of Ecology, Changnyeong 50303, Korea
2Team Manager, Wetlands Research Team, National Institute of Ecology, Changnyeong 50303, Korea
3Senior Researcher, Wetlands Research Team, National Institute of Ecology, Changnyeong 50303, Korea
1국립생태원 습지연구팀 전임연구원
2국립생태원 습지연구팀 팀장
3국립생태원 습지연구팀 선임연구원
*Corresponding Author
31 December 2022. pp. 237-246
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Abstract

Owing to their high bioproductivity and unique physical environment, estuarine wetlands are gaining importance in national biodiversity management and habitat conservation. With regard to conservation and management of estuarine wetlands, this study analyzed the ecological characteristics of Gahwacheon Estuarine Wetland, an open estuary with various habitat types. Data from vegetation and biotic surveys have shown that 12 plant communities of five physiognomic vegetation types, including lentic herbaceous vegetation, halophytic herbaceous vegetation, and chasmophytic herbaceous vegetation. Due to the discharge of Namgang Dam and the effect of the tide, vegetation are distributed along the narrow waterside area. In terms of biodiversity, a total of 715 species, including 12 endangered wildlife species, were identified. Species diversity was relatively high in sections Ⅰ and Ⅲ where various riverbed structures and microhabitats were distributed. Due to the effect of the brackish water area following the inflow of seawater, endangered wildlife of various functional groups were also found to be distributed, indicating the high conservation value of that area. The collection of ecological information of the Gahwacheon Estuarine Wetland can be used as a framework for establishing the basis for conservation and management of the estuarine ecosystem and support policy establishment.

Keywords
Brackish water
Endangered species
Fauna
Flora
Salt gradient

하구습지는 생물생산성이 높고 물리적 환경도 독특하여 국가 생물다양성 관리 및 그들의 서식처 확보 관점에서 중요성이 대두되고 있다. 본 연구는 하구습지 보전 및 관리를 위해 열린 하구이며 다양한 서식공간이 분포하는 것으로 알려진 가화천하구습지의 식생 및 생물상 조사를 통해 생태적 특성을 분석하였다. 정수역 다년생 초본식생, 염습지식생, 암극지식생 등 5개 상관식생형의 12개 식물군락이 확인되었다. 남강댐 방류, 조수의 영향으로 수변부의 좁은 입지를 따라 식생이 대상분포하고 있었다. 생물종 다양성은 멸종위기 야생생물 12종 포함 총 715종이 확인되었다. 다양한 하상구조와 미소서식처가 분포하고 있는 Ⅰ, Ⅲ구간에서 종다양성이 상대적으로 높았다. 해수 유입에 따른 기수역의 형성으로 다양한 기능군을 가지는 멸종위기 야생생물도 분포하여 보전가치가 높은 지역인 것으로 나타났다. 가화천하구습지의 생태정보의 수집은 하구 생태계의 보전·관리 기반을 마련하고 정책 수립을 지원하는 데 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

키워드
기수
멸종위기 야생생물
동물상
식물상
염도 구배
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Ecology and Infrastructure Engineering
  • Publisher(Ko) :응용생태공학회
  • Journal Title :Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
  • Journal Title(Ko) :응용생태공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 9
  • No :4
  • Pages :237-246
  • Received Date : 2022-11-24
  • Revised Date : 2022-12-05
  • Accepted Date : 2022-12-11
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.17820/eri.2022.9.4.237
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