Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Riparian Vegetation along the Baekcheon

There are a total of 38 plant communities distributed across nine survey points from the lower to upper parts of Baekcheon. According to wetland preference, there are six obligate wetland plant communities (OBW), five facultative wetland plant communities (FACW), five facultative plant communities (FAC), seven facultative upland plant communities (FACU), and 15 obligate upland plant communities (OBU). There are 11 wetland plant communities (OBW, FACW) and 22 terrestrial plant communities (FACU, OBU). Wetland plant communities account for 23.4%, while terrestrial plant communities account for 10.2%. Among the wetland plant communities, <i>Salix pierotii</i> com., <i>Phragmites japonica</i> com. and <i>Sicyos angulatus</i> com. are distributed from the downstream to upstream. <i>Salix chaenomeloides</i> com. and <i>Miscanthus sacchariflorus</i> com. are distributed from the downstream, and <i>Phragmites australis</i> com. is distributed in the downstream. Among the terrestrial plant communities, <i>Robinia pseudoacacia</i> com. and <i>Pueraria lobata</i> com are distributed from downstream to upstream. <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> com., <i>Castanea crenata</i> com., <i>Quercus variabilis</i> com., and <i>Cornus controversa</i> com. are distributed in the upstream. In particular, the terrestrial plant community is distributed about two times and three times wider than the wetland plant community at survey site one in the downstream and survey site seven in the upstream, respectively. For this reason, it is necessary to prevent the expansion of terrestrial plants in this area. On the other hand, wetland plants require management for expansion. The plant community data distributed from the downstream to the upstream of the river can be used to evaluate the terrestrialization of plants and the time-series vegetation succession due to human interference. In addition, it can be used as important basic data for maintaining and restoring the health (suitability) of riparian vegetation.