Characteristics of Naturalized Plants in the Wetland Protection Areas of Inland Wetlands

Abstract

This study was conducted to provide basic data for monitoring the trend of ecosystem change and establishing management plans for wetland protection areas by understanding the status of naturalized plants. In 21 wetland protection areas, 129 taxa, including 10 invasive alien species, were recorded. The naturalized plants appeared mostly as 71 taxa in the Chimsil wetland and were not observed in the Moojechineup and Sumeunmulbaengdui wetlands. Among the naturalized plants, 42 taxa (32.6%) originated from North America. Annual and biennial plants accounted for 68.2% (88 taxa). The frequencies of occurrence of naturalized plants growing in dry secondary grasses such as Erigeron annuus and Trifolium repens were high, and clonal plants that propagated by making stolons and struck roots accounted for 19.4% (25 taxa). The naturalized and urbanization indices showed positive correlations with location factors such as wetland, agricultural land, and used area. However, a negative correlation was found between altitude and forest. Therefore, a management plan that synthetically considers the occurrence frequency and growth characteristics of naturalized plants as well as the locational characteristics of wetland protection areas is required.