Abstract

During our observations of changes in halophyte distribution in Hampyeong Bay over a period of five years, we found that the distribution area showed a maintenance for Phragmites communis community, a tendency of gradual increase for Zoysia sinica community, gradual decrease for Suaeda maritima community, and disappearance for Limonium tetragonum community during the studied period. The Phragmites communis community stably settled in areas adjacent to land and appeared not to be significantly affected by physical factors (such as tides and waves) or disturbances caused by biological factors (such as interspecific competition). Among studied species, germination time was shown to be the fastest for Suaeda maritima. In addition, this species showed certain characteristics that allowed it to settle primarily in new habitats formed by sand deposition as its growth was not halted under conditions with high amounts of sand and high organic matter content. However, in areas where Zoysia sinica and Suaeda maritima resided together, the area inhabited by Suaeda maritima gradually decreased due to interspecific competition between the two species. This was believed to be the result of a sharp decrease in the germination of Suaeda maritima since May, while the germination of Zoysia sinica was continuously maintained, indicating that the latter had an advantage in terms of seedling competition. In the case of the Limonium tetragonum community, its habitat was found to have been completely destroyed because it was covered by sand. The study area was confirmed to have undergone a large change in topography as tides and waves resulted in sand deposition onto these lands. Hampyeong Bay is considered to have experienced changes in halophyte distribution related to certain complex factors, such as changes in physical habitats and changes in biological factors such as interspecific competition.