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Regeneration process of coniferous forests in northern Hokkaido I. Abies sachalinensis forest and Picea glehnii forest
Author(s) -
Suzuki Eizi,
Ota Kasio,
Igarashi Tsuneo,
Fujiwara Koichiro
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/bf02348620
Subject(s) - canopy , felling , forest floor , botany , regeneration (biology) , tree canopy , sasa , forestry , ecology , biology , geography , microbiology and biotechnology , soil water
Abstract Regeneration of natural forests was studied in the Nakagawa Experiment Forest of Hokkaido University using age distribution surveys made by the clear felling method. In Plot 1 (30 m × 65 m), Abies sachalinensis dominated the canopy layer but there were also a few Betula ermanii trees. Sasa senanensis densely covered the forest floor. Most of the canopy trees were from 122 to 195 years old. Seedlings younger than 50 years old of A. sachalinensis were found on fallen logs and root bases. There were, however, few trees from 50 to 120 years old. The present canopy trees seemed to have regenerated after competitive pressure from old canopy and Sasa disappeared 180 years ago. Plot 2 (50 m × 100 m) on serpentinite soil was dominated by Picea glehnii. Sasa kulirensis covered the floor but not as densely as S. senanensis in Plot 1. The ages of P. glehnii ranged from 1 to 586 years old, and the age distribution of A. sachalinensis was L‐shaped. A small gap in the canopy formed about 290 years ago, and it gradually extended. Conifers regenerated continuously in the extending gap but B. ermanii did not. One hundred thirty years ago, part of Plot 2 was again destroyed and A. sachalinensis and B. ermanii regenerated. Thus, two types of regeneration were found. One regenerated both conifers and Betula after a sudden disturbance of canopy layer or death of Sasa , and the other, under an extending gap, regenerated only conifers.