Abstract
To describe the major environmental factors operating in coastal wetland and to characterize the distribution of the plant species over the wetland in relation to the major environmental gradients, 12 soil physical and chemical properties were determined. The gradient of water and osmotic potential of soil, electrical conductivity, sodium and chloride content and soil texture alsong the three habitat types of salt marshes, salt swamp and sand dune were occurred. The 24 coastal plant communities from principal component analysis (PCA) on the 12 variables were at designated as a gradient for soil texture and water potential related with salinity by Axis I and as a gradient for soil moisture and total nitrogen gradient by Axis II On Axis I were divided into 3 groups (1) 9 salt marsh communities including Salicornia herbacea communities (2) 5 salt swamp communities including Scirpus fluviatilis communities and (3) 10 sand dune communities including Jmperata cylindrica communities on Axis II were divided into 2 groups (1) salt marsh and sand dune communities, and (2) 3 salt swamp communities. The results could account for the zonation of plant communities on coastal wetland observed alsong envionmental gradients.
