Abstract
We analyzed the effect of groundwater flow direction and velocity on vegetation composition. Because the available hydrological data required to conduct an unsteady flow analysis were insufficient, we conducted our simulations assuming a steady flow. The results indicate that plant communities from the Phragmitetea class developed in areas with high flow velocity, Ulmus davidiana and Betula platyphyla communities developed in areas with upward flow, and communities from the Oxycocco-Sphagnetea class developed in areas with low vertical velocity. Although unsteady hydrological states such as flooding and water level fluctuation are known to have an impact on vegetation composition, our study suggests that steady state simulations can also effectively support the evaluation of vegetation distribution.
