Plant Community Distribution in Constructed Wetlands of the Yeongsan River, Gwangju Region

This study analyzed vegetation distribution and wetland preference types within 12 constructed wetlands in the Yeongsan River, Gwangju region. A total of 20 plant communities were identified, with <i>Phragmites australis</i> com., <i>Miscanthus sacchariflorus</i> com., and Salix spp. communities being dominant. Most wetlands were characterized by hydrophytic vegetation, indicating that they provide essential ecological functions such as aquatic habitat and water purification. However, in some sites, terrestrial communities such as <i>Elymus tsukushiensis</i> and <i>Poa pratensis</i> were widespread, while invasive species including <i>Paspalum distichum</i> var. <i>indutum</i> and <i>Myriophyllum</i> aquaticum occurred locally, raising concerns about long-term ecological stability. Open water areas supported diverse aquatic plants (e.g., <i>Nymphoides peltata, Trapa japonica</i>), contributinf to habitat heterogeneity and enhancing biodiversity potential. Based on wetland preference, there are 11 obligate wetland plant communities, six facultative wetland plant communities, one facultative upland plant communities, and two obligate upland plant communities. Larger wetlands, such as Yongsan and Seochang, supported greater vegetation diversity compared to smaller sites. To ensure long-term ecological functionality, systematic management including water level regulation, invasive species control, and monitoring of successional change is required. These results provide important ecological data for the conservation and adaptive management of replacement wetlands in Korea.