Wetland vegetation and environmental factors in coastal forests uprooted by the tsunami

Abstract

We examined the relationship between wetland vegetation and environmental factors in the area of coastal forests that were uprooted by the Tohoku tsunami of 2011. We surveyed the microtopography, vegetation, and water quality in transects across a depression. The plant community changed from wet-type to dry-type with an increase in relative altitude. We observed 18 wetland plant species, including 3 endangered species. Halophyte species were found to dominate in the areas of high salinity. Collectively, our results suggest that it is important to maintain diverse conditions of microtopography and salinity to conserve the diversity of wetland plants in this region.