Stomatal pore is an important physiological trait that is closely linked to photosynthesis and transpiration as carbon dioxide and water vapor move through it between the atmosphere and plants. The present study investigated stomatal traits, such as stomatal density, index and size, of herbaceous native and alien plant species living in a riparian park on the Nakdong River to understand how those traits vary and to know if successful settlement of alien plants is attributed to those traits. There was no difference in stomatal density, index and size between native and alien plants with kidney-shaped stomata, suggesting that an empty ecological niche is not an essential prerequisite for the successful settlement of alien plants. Stomatal density showed a negative correlation with leaf thickness and leaf dry weight content (LMDC), but there was no correlation with Specific leaf area (SLA). All plants with kidney-shaped stomata had amphistomatous leaves, and the density and size of dumbell-shaped stomata were lower than those of kidney-shaped stomata.

• 송명근(경상대학교 생물교육과) | Myeong-geun Song (Department of Biology Education, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea)
• 남기정(경상대학교 농업생명과학연구원) | Ki-jung Nam (Institute of Agriculture & Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea) Corresponding author