Abstract
In an attempt to investigate urban wetland ecosystems, the pattern of vegetation distribution and its causative factors were analyzed on abandoned cultivation land in the Minuma-tambo, located southeast of Saitama prefecture. Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steud. communities were distributed throughout the investigated area in 1998. However, Solidago altissima L. subsequently invaded the area and P. australis (Cav.) Steud. communities only remained distributed around water bodies by 2006. Furthermore, it was determined that the causative factors of vegetation distribution are mainly linked to site factors such as groundwater level, inclination of ground level, and soil hardness. P. australis (Cav.) Steud. communities were distributed in areas with high groundwater levels, while S. altissima L. communities were distributed in areas with low groundwater levels. However, S. altissima L. communities were distributed in areas with high groundwater levels if the ground level inclination and soil hardness were also high. The abandonment of cultivation, an artificial water system constructed in 2000, and trampling have permitted S. altissima L. to invade these areas and, as a result, the vegetation distribution has changed significantly.
