Distribution properties of Phragmites australis and Phacelurus latifoilus in the tidal-flat of Suncheon Bay

Abstract

A natural mixed stand of Phragmites australis and Phacelurus latifolius was studied to clarify the distribution properties in a microsite in a tidal flat of Suncheon Bay. The height, density, and biomass of the shoots, as well as the biomass of the root system, were monitored for both species along with the altitude on a mound from June 2010 to October 2013. Firstly, the mean height and dry weight of both species were similar during the growth season. However, individual variations of the sizes of plants in the same species were noticeable. Secondly, the density and dry weight per unit area of P. latifolius increased, but that of P. australis decreased with the altitude on the mound. Thirdly, the root system (rhizomes and roots) of P. latifolius was mostly located in the upper layer (up to 20 cm depth), while that of P. australis was in the lower layer (over 70 cm depth) of the sediment. The roots of P. australis penetrated to the lower parts of the water table, while the roots of P. latifolius did not make contact with free water of the sediment. Fourthly, the removal of the shoot in the early growth season led to a visible reduction of biomass in the late growth season. The reduction rate was larger in P. latifolius than in P. australis. Lastly, in the area where the mound was removed, the density of P. australis increased in the first two years (2010-2011) and was highly sustained inthe last two years (2012)(2013). However, the density of P. latifolius was low, and this plant was distributed at the edge of the mound only.

Dynamics of zonal halophyte communities in salt marshes in the world

“…communities (Adams 1963;Sánchez et al 1996;Bockelmann et al 2002;Silvestri et al 2005;Min 2015). Very small differences in elevation are sufficient to alter the intertidal environment (Brereton 1971;Zedler et al 1999;Davy et al 2011).…”

“…Recent findings indicate that herbivores may play a larger role in marsh plant community structure than is generally recognized (Costa et al 2003). inhabited by benthic invertebrates (Min and Kim 1983;Kim et al 1986;Choung and Kim 1989;Ihm et al 2007;van Wesenbeeck 2008;Wang and Temmerman 2013;Kim and Lee 2015;Min 2015). Halophytic vegetation is a key stabilizing factor during wave dissipation, rather than a major trapping agent, because the total inorganic deposition flux is largely independent of standing biomass under common supply-limited conditions (Omer 2004;Marani et al 2010).…”

Soil factors determining the distribution of Phragmites australis and Phacelurus latifolius in upper tidal zone

“…In tidal marsh of East Asia, Phacelurus latifolius (Steud.) Ohwi has also occurred with P. australis (Yokoyama et al 2003;Min 2015). Both species show high standing crop and similar stand in tidal marsh (Lee 2003).…”

“…According to salinity ranges, two species have shown the zonation pattern in tidal marsh (Yokoyama et al 2003;Bang et al 2018). Despite different niche in the salinity range of P. latifolius and P. australis, those species occasionally co-occur in an area (Min 2015).…”

“…Quantitative analyses on soil physicochemical properties are important for understanding the environmental ranges of individual species in tidal marsh. Nevertheless, only a few studies have been performed about the co-existence of P. australis and P. latifolius in tidal marsh focusing on the environmental distribution range of two species only in elevation and physical properties of soil (Yokoyama et al 2003;Min 2015). To investigate the soil environmental factors determining the zonation between P. australis and P. latifolius in tidal marsh, distributional characteristics and soil physicochemical properties were surveyed.…”