• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 1998

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2009

To reveal conservation value of Sowhangbyungsan-neup among wetlands in Mt. Odae designated as a Ramsar convention site in 2008, ecological characteristics were investigated. The maximum depth of sediment was 86cm and average at central part was 56cm. Average pH of water was 5.8 and this indicates that this wetland has the characteristics between bog and fen. Average electron conductivity was $11{\mu}S$/cm, which is the lowest among Korean wetlands. Nutrient status was oligotrophic based on contents of cation, nitrate, ammonia, soluble reactive phosphorus in water. Out-flow of water was related with the 3 day cumulative precipitation. Soil texture was loam and nutrient level was very low. Vascular plants of 45 family, 95 genus, 121 species, 2 subspecies, 16 variety, 4 forma, total 121 taxa were recorded. Main plant communities on Sphagnum base were Osmunda cinnamomea community, Carex dispalata community and Carex curta community. The results indicated that this wetland has very different ecological characteristics than others in Korea and deserves conservation value well. Also, this study revealed that there is no evident threatening factor and this wetland will have characteristics of fen continuously in near future.