Abstract
Boundary between land and water usually forms ecotone in natural condition. Riparian vegetation pattern in lateral direction is one of the examples of such ecotone. Lateral riparian vegetation pattern is strongly dependent on the elevation relative to water level. Water level fluctuation in rivers is one of the most important factors controlling the ecotone along river banks. We have surveyed vegetation cover, morphology and water level fluctuation driven by tide in six riverine estuaries and analyzed the relation between vegetation pattern and ground level to understand the influence of tidal oscillation on the land cover of the banks along riverine estuaries. Common reed was dominant in all estuaries. Although specific height of where common reed distributes was different among estuaries, distribution of reed can be expressed generally by mean inundation depth within tidal zone. Mean inundation depth seems to control vegetation within tidal zone in riverine estuaries.
