Floristic Composition and Phytomass in the Drawdown Zone of the Soyangho Reservoir, Korea



Marrs, RH ORCID: 0000-0002-0664-9420 and Cho, KH
(2018) Floristic Composition and Phytomass in the Drawdown Zone of the Soyangho Reservoir, Korea. Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure, 5 (2). pp. 94-104.

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Abstract

The Soyangho Reservoir in Korea has a large drawdown zone, with an annual maximum water level fluctuation of 37 m due to dam operations to maintain a stable water supply and control flooding, especially during the monsoon period. The floristic composition, distribution and biomass of the major plant communities in the drawdown zone of the Soyangho Reservoir were assessed in order to understand their responses to the wide water level fluctuation. Species richness of vascular plants was low, and species composition was dominated by herbaceous annuals. Principal co-ordinates analysis using both flora and environmental data identified slope angle and the distance from the dam as important factors determining floristic composition. The species richness was low in the steep drawdown zone close to the dam, where much of the soil surface was almost devoid of vegetation. In shallower slopes, distant from the dam plant communities composed of mainly annuals were found. The large fluctuation in water level exposed soil where these annuals could establish. An overall biomass of 122 t (metric tons) Dry Matter was estimated for the reservoir, containing ca 3.6 t N (nitrogen) and ca 0.3 t P (phosphorus); the role of the vegetation of the drawdown zone in carbon sequestration and water pollution are briefly discussed.

Item Type: Article
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 06 Jul 2018 14:24
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2023 01:31
DOI: 10.17820/eri.2018.5.2.094
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.17820/eri.2018.5.2.094
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3023440