Man Kyu Huh. / Journal of Science / Vol 5 / Issue 7 / 2015 / 489-495. e ISSN 2277 - 3290 Print ISSN 2277 - 3282 Journal of Science Biology www.journalofscience.net ESTIMATION FOR RIVER HEALTH AND FLORA ON THE SOSA RIVER IN KOREA Man Kyu Huh* Department of Molecular Biology, Dong-eui University, Busan 614-714, Korea. ABSTRACT This study is to investigate the degree of river naturality according to the river morphology and the flora on the Sosa River at three regions during four seasons. Number of flexion was three at upper region and those of middle and low regions were one. Transversal and longitudinal sandbars were absent. Materials of river shore and river levee at low channel width were state of nature without protecting materials at upper region and those of middle and low regions were many artificial levee. The flora on the Sosa River was a total of 65 taxa, including 25 families, 58 species, and 7 varieties. Naturalized species were 8 families and 22 species. The construction of the reservoir has caused the quantitative collapse of the river area and cause the qualitative reduction of the riparian. Keywords: Flora, Sosa River, Naturality, River morphology. INTRODUCTION Water of sufficient quality and quantity is critical they are a common component of wetlands [8]. Some of to all life. Healthy and self-sustaining river systems the most common plants are cattails, water lilies, provide ecological and services of critical importance to arrowheads, and rushes [9]. human societies everywhere [1]. The biogeochemical Riparian vegetation is a very important processes and diverse aquatic species that regulate component of the river corridor, and its ecosystem freshwater quantity and quality are not sufficiently significance is even higher. Specific wood species acknowledged nor appreciated, as exemplified by adapted to the river conditions develop along all rivers. pervasive degradation of the world’s freshwater resources With regard to natural rivers, this vegetation forms a [2-3]. Increasing human population and growth of continuous belt from the river spring to the mouth. technology require human society to devote more and The Sosa River is started at the Sosa Reservoir more attention to protection of adequate supplies of water and ends at the Daejang River. Vegetation of Sosa River [4]. Humans can compromise their health by coming in provides water purification and flow rate of deceleration, contact with poor water or ingesting it. Other effects and fish habitat. In addition, vegetation is the site of the include an imbalance in healthy natural ecosystems, harm distribution of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, etc and is to the food chain, and impaired populations of fish and very important to build food networks. other wildlife. Reduced recreation potential and economic The many aquatic plants of the Daejang River loss are possible [5]. were destroyed or damaged during the so-called Direct- Aquatic vascular plants have originated on stream Rivers Project. The principal factor controlling the multiple occasions in different plant families [6-7] and distribution of aquatic plants is the depth and duration of they can be ferns or angiosperms (including monocots, flooding. However, other factors may also control their eudicots, and dicots). Aquatic plants are organisms that distribution and abundance, including nutrients, have adapted to living in aquatic environments (saltwater disturbance from waves, grazing, and human activity. The or freshwater). Aquatic plants can only grow in water or purpose of this study is to investigate the flora and in soil that is permanently saturated with water. Therefore vegetation on the Sosa River at three regions during four Corresponding Author:- Man Kyu Huh Email:- [email protected] 489 Man Kyu Huh. / Journal of Science / Vol 5 / Issue 7 / 2015 / 489-495. seasons before secondary indirect damages occur in this of boulders. Materials of river shore and river levee at low river by construct of beams. Therefore, this survey channel width were state of nature without protecting recorded material significance for the future appears in materials and artificial levee. The law water's edge the environment to restore or improve the problem may vegetation and flood way vegetation were shown be. naturally formed vegetation communities (Table 4). Land use in riparian zones and flood plains within river levee MATERIALS AND METHODS were bush or grassland with nature structures. Transverse Surveyed Regions direction of artificial structures was absent. BOD level Geographical ranges of the Sosa River were a was low (values were 1-2). The ratio of sleep width/river total length of 2.1 kilometers from the Sosa Reservoir to width was 20% or more. the confluence of the Daejang River. The flora and Near shore and riparian vegetation provides vegetation on the Sosa River were investigated at three habitat for many wildlife species. Left area was regions and adjacent areas during four seasons (Fig. 1). distributed pine vegetation (Pinus densiflora and Pinus rigida) and right area was covered with Pueraria Methods thunbergiana community. Riverbed area was dominated Index of degree of river naturality according to by Persicaria thunbergii community. Dominant species in the river morphology was analyzed according to Table 1. flood plains were Miscanthus sacchariflorus and Index of degree of river naturality according to the Persicaria hydropiper. Equisetum arvense was distributed environment of river was also analyzed according to Table in riparian. Pinus densiflora, Pinus rigida were 2. distributed in the mountainous region of upper region of All plants were identified at each survey region this river. The survey region was a total of 24 taxa, to the emergence of bilateral embankment into the river including 15 families, 23 species, and one variety. embankment and the distribution characteristics (ecotype Naturalized plants were 2 species (Table 5). plants, naturalized plants, endemic plants, court protection plants, etc.) were also examined. The system of plant Middle Region classification system was followed by Lee [10]. The river width at the region is about 2.5 m. Naturalized plants were followed by Korea National Number of flexion was one in this region (Table 3). Arboretum [11]. Transversal & longitudinal sandbars were absent. Vegetation units were identified based on Velocity of flood was moderate. Bed materials were correlation. Vegetation maps were written by setting composed of boulders and gravels. Materials of river shore specific community boundaries. Names of vegetation at low channel width were composed of natural materials were named according to the dominant species. Mixed and artificial vegetation. The law water's edge vegetation forests were named by the first and second dominant was shown natural weeds, shrubs, and mixed (Table 4). species. The dominated communities and major The flood way vegetation was shown both of natural vegetation section were written by the river cross-section vegetation and artificial vegetation. Land use in riparian at each survey point. Rating and evaluation system of zones and flood plains within river levee were arable land specific plant species of floristic were examined by the (paddy fields, orchards) and artificial vegetation. 3rd natural environment nationwide survey guidelines Transverse direction of artificial structures was absent. [12]. BOD level was low (values were 1-2). The ratio of sleep The test for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) width/river width was 5-10%. is a bioassay procedure that measures the oxygen There were occurred in Erigeron annuus, Rumex consumed by bacteria from the decomposition of organic crispus, Chenopodium album var. centrorubrum, matter [13]. The change in DO concentration is measured Oenothera odorata, Lepidium apetalum, Amorpha over a given period of time in water samples at a specified fruticosa, Astragalus sinicus, and Trifolium repens. temperature. The method for BOD was used to a standard Phragmites japonica. The dominant species in sand method of the American Public Health Association dunes was Phragmites japonica community which was (APHA) and is approved by the U.S. Environmental existed with Salix gracilistyla and Persicaria nodosa. The Protection Agency (USEPA). survey region was a total of 38 taxa, including 16 families, 34 species, and 4 varieties. Naturalized plants RESULTS were 16 species. Aquatic plants were 4 species including Upper Region Phragmites japonica (Table 5). This area is the downstream region of the Sosa Reservoir. The river width at this region is about 1.5 m. Low Region Number of flexion was three in this region (Table 3). The river width at the region was about 4.0 m. Transversal & longitudinal sandbars were absent. The sand dune areas were developed in the middle region. Velocity of flood was fast. Bed materials were composed Number of flexion was one in this region (Table 3). 490 Man Kyu Huh. / Journal of Science / Vol 5 / Issue 7 / 2015 / 489-495. Transversal & longitudinal sandbars were one. Velocity The right areas of riverbed were riparian areas and of flood was slight. Bed materials were composed of tangentially farmland area. The left area in the river was a sand, silt, and clay. Materials of river shore at low channel waterfront park and right areas were farming fields, roads, width were composed of stonework, artificial vegetation, and a residential. Aquatic plants were 8 species including and natural type block. The law water's edge vegetation Phragmites japonica, Miscanthus sacchariflorus,