Community structure and dynamics of coniferous forest on Aokigahara lava flow, Mt. Fuji, Japan

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  • 富士北麓青木ヶ原溶岩流上における針葉樹林の構造と動態
  • フジ ホクロク アオキガハラ ヨウガンリュウジョウ ニ オケル シンヨウジュリン ノ コウゾウ ト ドウタイ

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Abstract

Community structure and forest dynamics in a coniferous forest on Aokigahara lava flow, Mt. Fuji, were studied using a permanent quadrat of 0.25ha. Chamaecyparis obtusa (45.4% of basal area) and Tsuga sieboldii (26.3%) predominated in the canopy layer with stem density of 968 and 292ha^<-1>, respectively. Both species had typical inverse-J type DBH distribution. Twenty five sub-quadrats (each 100m^2) were divided into two groups by TWINSPAN: Tsuga patch and deciduous patch. Almost all T. sieboldii larger than 20cm DBH were distributed in the Tsuga patch. C. obtusa was distributed in both patches, but larger size of C. obtusa tended to be distributed in the Tsuga patch. Deciduous trees (e.g., Betula grossa and Prunus maximowiczii) with small size of T. sieboldii and C. obtusa were distributed in the deciduous patch. Moreover, the deciduous patch had rather light forest floor in winter and spring and had many seedlings of T. sieboldii and C. obtusa compared to the Tsuga patch. In the Tsuga patch, T. sieboldii was older and had lower relative growth rate of diameter (RGRD) than C. obtusa. There were few seedlings and saplings of T. sieboldii in the Tsuga patch, and thus the Tsuga patch would succeed from coniferous mixed forest to Chamaecyparis forest. On the other hand, Betula grossa, which had uniform age of 60-70yrs, had rather high RGRD compared to conifer trees in the deciduous patch. These forests might be pioneer deciduous patches within gaps in the Chamaecyparis forest. There were a lot of seedlings and saplings of coniferous trees, especially for C. obtusa, in the deciduous patch, and thus these patches succeed to Chamaecyparis forests. Some large and old trees of Quercus crispula were scattered in the permanent plot. Predominance of the coniferous trees with the exclusion of climax deciduous trees, such as Q. crispula, on the Aokigahara lava flow might be affected by human disturbance, such as using deciduous trees for charcoal within the forest.

Journal

  • Vegetation Science

    Vegetation Science 25 (2), 95-107, 2008

    The Society of Vegetation Science

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