Influences of cushion plants, lichen and moss, on vegetation development, in alpine wind-blown ground

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Other Title
  • 高山風衝地のクッション植物及び地衣蘇苔類が植生発達に与える影響
  • 高山風衝地のクッション植物及び地衣蘚苔類が植生発達に与える影響
  • コウザン フウショウチ ノ クッション ショクブツ オヨビ チイ センタイルイ ガ ショクセイ ハッタツ ニ アタエル エイキョウ

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Abstract

Influences of cushion plants, lichen and moss, on vegetation development were studied in the alpine wind-blown ground on Mt. Koizumidake, in the northern part of the Daisetsu Mountains, northern Japan. In the study area, plant cover is low due to severe environmental conditions, and vegetation occurs mostly as isolated patches. Matted cover of cushion plants, lichen and moss dominate in some patches. 118 patches were recorded within the study plot (20m×20m). These patches are almost all classified as three types: DL type (patch dominated by cushion plants, Diapensia lapponica), matted cover, LM type (patch dominated by lichen and moss), matted cover, CS type (patch dominated by Carex stenantha). The number of species increases with the extension of patch size (p<0.01). The number of species per unit area is not significantly different in the three patch types (p>0.05). However, the patch size and the number of species in DL type and LM type were larger than those in CS type (p<0.01), and the number of seedlings per unit area in these patch types was more than in the CS type. Although cushion plants, lichen and moss do not contribute to species richness, they are considered to facilitate the invasion and establishment of vascular plants. Soil temperature, soil moisture, C/N ratio and nitrogen content were also measured in the three patch types. The annual accumulated effective temperature (standard temperature is daily mean soil temperatures of >5℃) in DL type and LM type were higher than that of the CS type, and bare ground about 30-60℃. The C/N ratio in DL type was highest among both of the patch types and bare ground (p<0.01). It is suggested that the matted covers of cushion plants, lichen and moss contribute to the growth of vascular plants due to the increase of soil temperature or organic supply. In severe alpine environmental conditions, cushion plants, lichen and moss can extend more than the cover of the vascular plants. Therefore, it is considered that these matted covers provide plant recruitment sites.

Journal

  • Vegetation Science

    Vegetation Science 21 (2), 79-87, 2004

    The Society of Vegetation Science

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