Regeneration process biased toward under-crown Sasa-lacking habitat of sparse Abies mariesii forest with dense undergrowth of dwarf bamboo on a snowy mountain, northern Japan

Scarification is widely conducted in northern Japan to remove understory dwarf bamboo species in degraded forests for replacement with tree species. To explore ways to enhance species diversity and restoration of mixed forest at the treated site, we clarified the mechanisms that lead to compositional heterogeneity of plant species. We evaluated the relative importance of environmental factors (scarification properties, soil properties, light conditions, litter cover, and presence of canopy trees) for the demography of tall tree species (emergence, mortality, and growth) and whole vegetation structure (species diversity and composition) over the two growing seasons immediately following scarification. Of tall tree species, Betula spp. were dominant (60% in total density), followed by Abies sachalinensis (Fr. Schm.) Masters, Acer mono Maxim., and Phellodendron amurense Rupr. Light intensity was an important factor, having mostly negative effects on the demography of these species. Soil factors (e.g., nitrogen content, moisture) affected the demography mainly of shade-intolerant or hygrophilous species. In general, extreme environmental conditions led to the dominance of grasses, forbs, and lianas rather than tall trees. Maintenance of canopy cover, which limits light and supplies seeds as well as litter, proved to be most important in promoting plant species diversification on the scarification site.

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Age structure and response to fine-scale disturbances of Abiessachalinensis, Piceajezoensis, Piceaglehnii, and Betulaermanii growing under the influence of a dwarf bamboo understory in northern Japan

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x26-032 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 289-297 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

Tsutom Hiura ◽

Junji Sano ◽

Yasuo Konno

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Residence Time ◽

Coniferous Forest ◽

Ring Width ◽

Height Growth ◽

Average Height ◽

Dwarf Bamboo ◽

Trade Off ◽

Canopy Trees ◽

Northern Japan

We studied regeneration patterns of the four canopy dominants, Abiessachalinensis (Fr. Schm.) Masters, Piceajezoensis (Sieb. et Zucc.) Cam, Piceaglehnii (Fr. Schm.) Masters, and Betulaermanii Cham., of an old-growth (>400 years) boreal coniferous forest in northern Japan. Age and size structure, height growth, and diameter growth of tree populations in a 40 × 40 m plot were analyzed. Seedling establishment was restricted to nurse logs and mounds (98%), where the influence of dwarf bamboo (Sasasenanensis (Franch. et Sav.) Rehd.) was limited. Abiessachalinensis had a high density (10 263/ha) but a high mortality (8.4%/year for saplings, 1.7%/year for canopy trees) and a short canopy residence time. It also showed a more rapid tree-ring width increase after disturbances. Piceaglehnii had a low density (1450/ha) but a low mortality (6.9%/year for saplings, 0.1%/year for canopy trees) and a longer residence time in the canopy. Piceajezoensis had an intermediate density (8206/ha) and its mortality rate for canopy trees (0.9%/year) was lower than that of A. sachalinensis, although its sapling mortality rate (8.1%/year) was similar to that of A. sachalinensis. Betulaermanii had a higher mortality (14.1%/year for saplings, 2.4%/year for canopy trees) than the conifers. On the other hand, B. ermanii had the highest height growth and P. glehnii had the lowest. The mortality and average height growth of saplings showed a trade-off relationship. The trade-off relation in life history strategy may contribute to the coexistence of these species. The proportion of the gap area created in the forest was 1.2–2.4%/year, and a forest turnover time calculated from aboveground volumes was 87–99 years. These values were similar to a weighted mean of the estimated life times of the constituent species, 71 years for A. sachalinensis, 123 years for P. jezoensis, and 49 years for B. ermanii.

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