This study investigated the wetland plant community in Mije Reservoir, Gunsan City, during September and October 2024, emphasizing its ecological significance as a primary producer and habitat provider within agricultural reservoir ecosystems. The reservoir was divided into 14 distinct sectors to comprehensively assess spatial plant distribution patterns. Aquatic plants were sampled using collection anchors deployed at the water’s edge, while hygrophytes and emergent macrophytes were surveyed along transects extending from the water’s edge to the embankment. A total of 192 vascular plant species were identified, of which 73 were classified as wetland plant species, encompassing diverse life forms: 36 hygrophytes, 17 emergent macrophytes, 6 floating-leaf species, 3 free-floating species, and 11 submerged species. Notably, the survey documented the presence of two endangered species, Euryale ferox and Cicuta virosa, alongside eight invasive alien plant species. A comparative analysis with a prior survey conducted in 2008 revealed a substantial increase of 54 wetland plant species. Currently, Mije Reservoir is subject to intensive aquatic plant removal management due to observed excessive proliferation and cyanobacterial bloom. However, the presence of endangered species underscores the critical need for a more nuanced reservoir vegetation management strategy that integrates the spatial distribution and conservation status of these ecologically important wetland plants.

This study analyzed the spatiotemporal changes of wetlands in the Saemangeum watershed by comparing topographic maps from the 1918 and 2015, and analyzed the changes in connectivity among wetland habitats through wetland network analysis. The results showed that wetlands that were widely distributed around rivers and estuaries in the past have been largely lost, while artificial reservoirs around agricultural lands have increased in the upper reaches. Although the wetland area including artificial reservoirs increased slightly, most of the natural wetlands around the river channel were lost, and the dominant wetland type and distribution in the watershed changed significantly. In particular, the connectivity between coastal wetlands and inland wetlands decreased and the connectivity around small reservoirs increased, resulting in a disconnection of the wetland network structure. These changes may have a negative impact on the movement of wetland organisms and the circulation of materials, and further affecting the stability of the Saemangeum watershed ecosystem. In order to restore wetland biodiversity in the Saemangeum watershed, it is necessary to restore the past wetland areas and monitor the remaining wetlands. It is urgent to establish resilient governance and develop a restoration plan to maintain connectivity among marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems.

This study investigated the annual change and distribution of flora, including endangered species, Korean Red List species, and invasive plants, in the Nakdong River Estuary Ecological Park over a 10-year period (2013~2023). The park was established in 2009 as part of the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project. The investigation identified a total of 704 taxa, comprising 137 families, 401 genera, 631 species, 18 subspecies, 38 varieties, 11 forms, and 6 hybrids. Eulsukdo Ecological Park exhibited the highest plant diversity with 531 taxa, followed by Hwamyeong (404 taxa), Samnak (387 taxa), Daejeo (369 taxa), and Maekdo (356 taxa). The endangered wildlife survey identified three endangered plant species (Class II): Euryale ferox, Brasenia schreberi, and Saururus chinensis. Following the endangered species restoration project, E. ferox has been consistently observed both within the restoration area and the riparian of main channel. The Urbanization Index (UI) was highest in Eulsukdo Ecological Park (24.1%), followed by Hwamyeong (20.0%), Samnak (18.1%), Maekdo (17.8%), and Daejeo Ecological Parks (16.7%). Twelve invasive plants were identified: Sicyos angulatus, Lactuca scariola, Ambrosia trifida, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Solanum carolinense, Aster pilosus, Hypochaeris radicata, Rumex acetosella, S. altissima, Paspalum disticum, Paspalum distichum var. indutum, and Humulus japonicus. Notably, S. altissima showed a significant decrease in its total distribution area, shrinking from 741,092 m2 in 2021 to 241,396 m2 in 2024. Continuous monitoring and management are necessary to prevent invasive plants, including ecosystem-disturbing species, from forming large colonies and hindering the growth of native plants.

This study employed text mining techniques to analyze the major topics and research trends in plant ecological studies conducted in the Nakdong River basin. A total of 131 research articles published between 1977 and 2023 were collected from domestic and international academic databases. Our analysis revealed that the primary research themes include: wetland plant management and restoration, regional flora investigation, the relationship between aquatic plant communities and water quality, wetland plant community structure and distribution, riparian vegetation, and Phragmites australis (common reed). The majority of these studies were based on short-term field surveys (less than one year in duration; 79.7%), with a focus on regional flora investigation (30.5%), vegetation mapping (21.4%), and plant growth characteristics (17.6%). To ensure the longterm sustainability of the Nakdong River ecosystem, we suggest prioritizing long-term ecological research (LTER) initiatives and incorporating diverse research approaches, such as mesocosm experiments that manipulate key environmental factors. This comprehensive approach to plant ecological research will be crucial for evaluating the stability and resilience of the Nakdong River ecosystem and will ultimately contribute to the development of robust, scientifically informed decision-making processes and management strategies.

Twenty-nine wetlands (20 river type and 9 lake type wetlands) in Gyeongsangnam-do were investigated to understand the characteristics of fish assemblages by the wetland type and to suggest management strategies. As a result, 10.3±4.8 species were collected from river type wetlands on average (±SD) and 9.1±4.1 species from lake type wetlands. Thus, there was no significant difference in the number of species between them (Mann-Whitney U test, P>0.05). However, the species that constitute the fish assemblage showed statistically significant differences between the two wetland types (PERMANOVA, Pseudo-F=2.9555, P=0.007). Furthermore, the species that contribute the most to each type of fish assemblage were Zacco koreanus (river type, 28.51%) and Lepomis macrochirus (lake type, 23.21%), respectively (SIMPER). The results of the NMDS analysis using the fish assemblage by place classified the species into three groups (river type, lake type, and others). The current wetland management is only focused on endangered species, but this study shows a difference in fish assemblage by wetland type. Therefore, a management system based information on endemic species, exotic species and major contribution species should be provided. Furthermore, the classification of some types of wetlands based on the present topography was found to be ambiguous, and wetland classification using living creatures can be used as a complementary method. This study has limitations because only two types of wetlands were analyzed. Therefore, a detailed management method that can represent every type of wetland should be prepared through the research of all types of wetlands in the future.

River channel dredging and riparian development have been influenced morphology and quantity of natural river habitat. We compared distribution of riverside land and alluvial island in the Nakdong River with field survey and remote sensing analysis after the 4 Large River Project in South Korea. We digitized geomorphological elements, includes main channel, riverside land, and alluvial island by using georeferenced aerial photos taken in pre-dredging (2008) and post-dredging (2012) periods. Field survey was followed in 2012 for a ground truth of digitized boundaries and identification of newly constructed wetland types such as pond, channel, branch, and riverine type. We found that during the dredging period, riverside land and alluvial island were lost by 20.2% and 72.7%, respectively. Modification rate of riverside land was higher in the section of river kilometer 50~90, 140~180, and 210~270. Alluvial island had higher change rate in the section of river kilometer 50~70, 190~210, and 270~310. Average change rate for the riverside land and alluvial island was - 1.02±0.14 km² ·10 km¯¹ and - 0.05±0.05 km² ·10 km¯¹, respectively. Channel shaped wetlands (72.5%) constituted large portion of newly constructed wetlands.

일반인들의 생물다양성 인식정도를 지방자치단체 및 기초자치단체의 자연상징물 (새, 꽃, 나무)의 종수로 파악 한 결과 전체 종다양성은 40목 59과 90속 114종이 자연 상징물로 지정되어 있었다. 상징새 38종, 꽃 40종, 나무 36종이 지정되어 있었으며, 새는 까치, 꽃은 철쭉, 나무는 은행나무가 높은 빈도로 지정되었다. 연안에 위치한 지역 에서는 갈매기과에 속한 새와 동백꽃, 소나무과에 속한 종을, 내륙에서는 까치나 비둘기와 같은 텃새류와 진달래 과에 속한 식물종 등 주변에서 흔히 관찰되는 종들이 자 연상징물로 지정되어 있었다. 자연상징물로 지정된 종들 은 크기가 크거나 화려하며 대중적으로 인식정도 높은 종을 선정하였기 때문에 지역간 중복지정된 종들이 많았 다. 대중들이 관심을 갖는 생물종들에 대한 정보가 축적 되면 깃대종 또는 상징종을 지정기준을 설정하고 서식처 보전에 상징종을 이용하는 방안을 수립하는 데도 도움이 될 것으로 보인다.

습지의 생태-사회적 가치는 인간사회에 혜택을 준다. 많은 나라들이 습지를 보전하고 보호하기 위해 노력하고 있다. 하지만 많은 습지들은 자연적 교란과 함께 인위적 교란으로 인해 소실되거나 구획화되었다. 구획화된 습지 는 경관생태학적 연구의 주 대상이 되는데 이는 습지를 효율적으로 관리하고 보전하는 데 매우 중요하다. 본 연구 는 행정구역상 경상남도 습지의 공간-사회적 분포양상을 파악하기 위해서 습지의 분포와 크기, 습지 간의 거리, 습 지의 경관학적 형태, 토지이용현황, 공시지가 등을 연구하 였다. 경상남도 내에는 146개(3,598.85 ha)의 습지가 분 포해 있고 하천습지가 76개(1,955.60 ha), 범람습지가 49 개(1,282.28 ha), 산지습지가 21개(1,282.28 ha)이었다. 대 부분의 습지들이 크기가 작고(⁄2 ha) 농경지에 둘러 쌓 여 있었다. 많은 습지들이 구획화되어 있고 훼손상태가 심각하지만 하천습지와 농업용 수로를 이용하여 연결할 수 있는 것으로 보인다. 습지의 연결성 확대를 통한 습지 서식처의 확장은 습지에 의존하여 서식하는 생물들의 보 전에 매우 유의할 것으로 생각된다. 많은 습지들이 현재 농업용수확보를 위한 유지로 이용되고 있고 국유지의 비 율이 높아 추후 습지의 훼손과 소실은 국가단위의 대규 모 계획공사로 인할 가능성이 높으므로 생태적으로 민감 한 행정과 법률의 개발이 습지의 보전과 관리를 위해 중 요하다.

The objective of this study was to analyze correlation between phenological characteristics of Salix spp. and meteorological factors in the Upo wetlands. Phenology of Salix subfragilis Andersson and Salix chaenomeloides Kimura was monitored from 2007 to 2012. Meteorological variables were monitored by Korea Meteorological Administration (Hap-chon). Average date of flowering, fruiting, seed dispersion was 86, 113, 136 days for S. subfragilis and 112, 140, 164 days for S. chaenomeloides as Julian days. Flowering of S. subfragilis and S. chaenomeloides were correlated with daily mean air temp. in March (r=-0.92, r=-0.85, p<0.05). Fruiting of S. subfragilis was correlated with total precipitation between Jan and March of previous year (r=-0.90, p<0.01), however, the fruiting of S. chaenomeloides was highly correlated with max. temp. in Jan of previous year (r=0.99, p<0.01). Seed dispersion of both species is correlated with min. temp. in Feb. Phenology monitoring will contribute to understanding Salix spp. response against climate change.