Abstract

Coastal ecosystems along Korea's southwestern coast, where marine and terrestrial factors interact, support diverse plant communities with varying functional strategies. This study examined plant species composition and functional traits across four habitats: salt marshes, reclaimed land, sand dunes, and freshwater wetlands. Plant samples collected between 2018 and 2025 were analyzed using Grime's Competitor, Stress-tolerator, Ruderal (CSR) framework. Distinct CSR patterns emerged: salt marshes (SC/CR), reclaimed land (R/CR), freshwater wetlands (R/CR), and sand dunes (CR/CSR). Stress tolerance dominated in salt marshes, while disturbance-adapted species thrived in reclaimed land and freshwater wetlands. Sand dunes were characterized by specialists. Overall, CSR strategies shifted from stress tolerance to disturbance adaptation along the coastal-inland continuum. These findings highlight stress and disturbance as key drivers of community structure, providing insights for conservation and restoration efforts in coastal ecosystems facing climate change and human impacts.