해안생태공원 조성이 추진중인 인천광역시 논현동 일대 염습지의 식물상 및 식생을 1999년 6월부터 2000년 6월까지 조사하였다. 이 지역에는 소래포구의 조간대를 따라 발달한 자연염습지와 함께 조수가 차단된 폐염전이 있다. 이 지역에서 14종의 염생식물이 조사되었는데, 그중 해흥나물이 가장 많이 분포하고 있었으며, 그밖에 퉁퉁마디, 비쑥, 갯개미취 등도 많이 관찰되었다. 폐염전에서 관찰된 염생식물의 종류는 자연염습지에서 조사된 것과 매우 유사하였다. 그

Harvesting of marshfire glasswort (Salicornia europaea) by local people has been increased recently since this plant was known for a well-being food. Even though some harvesting sites are facing high risk of environmental pollution, Salicornia europaea is still harvested on a large scale. Therefore, to investigate safety of Salicornia europaea as a food resource, salt marsh environment, potential harvestable biomass, element and heavy metal accumulations in Salicornia europaea has been studied in three salt marshes, west-coast of Korea. Salicornia europaea showed 150 – 230g/㎡/yr harvestable biomass. Biomass and nitrogen contents of Salicornia europaea were closely related to soil nitrogen and carbon concentrations. Average Na, Zn, Fe, Cr accumulations in Salicornia europaea were 41479, 18, 297, 1.5 (mg/kg), indicating valuable trace element contents. However, average heavy metal accumulations such as As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg accumulations were 1.5, 7.1, 4.2, 1.5, 0.1 (mg/kg), which were even or higher than national standards (0.5, 0.5, 2, 2, 0.1) of salts. These results imply that harvesting and eating of Salicornia europaea in west-coast research sites would be harmful because the contents would be much higher if it is calculated as only considering salts and minerals. Therefore, harvesting of Salicornia europaea from some salt marsh in west-coast of Korea should be done cautiously.