Clonal structure and diversity of Cryptomeria japonica along a slope in a cool-temperate, old-growth mixed forest in the snowy region of Japan

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 2804-2813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimiko Hirayama ◽  
Michinori Sakimoto
Keyword(s):  
Clonal Growth ◽  
Cryptomeria Japonica ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Stem Length ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Stem Size ◽  
Cool Temperate ◽  
Understory Trees

To clarify patterns of clonal growth along a slope for Cryptomeria japonica (L.f.) D. Don, which can regenerate by layering resulting from snow pressure, we analyzed the spatial genetic structure with respect to slope position and in relation to stem size in a cool-temperate, old-growth mixed forest in the snowy region of Japan. For the genetic analysis, five polymorphic microsatellite markers developed for C. japonica were used. Spatial autocorrelation analyses revealed a significant positive association of ramets (trees) with the same genotype as the result of clonal growth at around <6 m regardless of slope position for understory trees (≥50 cm stem length and <10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH)). This clonal patch size almost corresponded to the clustering scale for overstory trees (≥10 cm DBH) belonging to the same genet. For understory trees in three subplots established along a slope, the size distribution of ramets within a clone (genet) followed an inverse J-shaped distribution without small ramets being distributed peripherally. These results suggest that each clone of C. japonica is maintained continuously in a relatively restricted area where it establishes, regardless of slope position, which could contribute to the high clonal and genetic diversity of C. japonica in this forest.

Regeneration of Cryptomeria japonica on a sloping topography in a cool-temperate mixed forest in the snowy region of Japan

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 543-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimiko Hirayama ◽  
Michinori Sakimoto
Keyword(s):  
Cryptomeria Japonica ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Stem Length ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Cool Temperate ◽  
Snow Pressure ◽  
Sloping Topography

Cryptomeria japonica D. Don shows a limited distribution on and around ridges in its native habitat. To clarify the regeneration process of this species, we analysed spatial patterns among five size classes on a slope extending from a ridge to a valley bottom, and growth patterns of understorey trees related to their slope position, in a cool-temperate old-growth mixed forest in Japan. Although the largest size-class trees ([Formula: see text]20 cm diameter at breast height (DBH)) were confined to the upper part of the slope, understorey size-class trees ([Formula: see text]50 cm stem length and <10 cm DBH) extended their range below the upper regions by layering. The annual growth of understorey size class stems increased towards the lower slope in relation to the understorey light conditions. However, snow pressure injured understorey trees and killed many regenerating medium-sized trees on the steeply inclined expanding site. These results indicate that increased snow pressure, influenced by slope topography, may inhibit the clonal expansion of C. japonica. We concluded that snow pressure gradient on a sloping topography strongly influences the regeneration success of C. japonica, restricting its distribution to ridges in natural forests in snowy regions.

scholarly journals Aboveground biomass increments over 26 years (1993–2019) in an old-growth cool-temperate forest in northern Japan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahoko Noguchi ◽  
Kazuhiko Hoshizaki ◽  
Michinari Matsushita ◽  
Daiki Sugiura ◽  
Tsutomu Yagihashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Local Scale ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Mean Temperature ◽  
Cool Temperate ◽  
Northern Japan

Assessing long-term changes in biomass of old-growth forests is critical in evaluating forest ecosystem functions under a changing climate. Long-term biomass changes are the result of accumulated short-term changes, which can be affected by endogenous processes such as gap filling in small-scale canopy openings. Here, we used 26 years (1993–2019) of repeated tree census data in an old-growth, cool-temperate, deciduous mixed forest that contains three topographic units (riparian, denuded slope, and terrace) in northern Japan to document decadal changes in aboveground biomass (AGB) and their processes in relation to endogenous processes and climatic factors. AGB increased steadily over the 26 years in all topographic units, but different tree species contributed to the increase among the topographic units. AGB gain within each topographic unit exceeded AGB loss via tree mortality in most of the measurement periods despite substantial temporal variation in AGB loss. At the local scale, variations in AGB gain were partially explained by compensating growth of trees around canopy gaps. Climate affected the local-scale AGB gain: the gain was larger in the measurement periods with higher mean temperature during the current summer but smaller in those with higher mean temperature during the previous autumn, synchronously in all topographic units. The decadal climate trends of warming are likely to have contributed to the steady increase in AGB in this old-growth forest.

Geostatistically modeling stem size and increment in an old-growth forest

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1354-1368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franco Biondi ◽  
Donald E. Myers ◽  
Charles C. Avery
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Spatial Dependence ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Density ◽  
Individual Growth ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Model Estimate ◽  
Stem Size ◽  
Old Growth Forest

Geostatistics provides tools to model, estimate, map, and eventually predict spatial patterns of tree size and growth. Variogram models and kriged maps were used to study spatial dependence of stem diameter (DBH), basal area (BA), and 10-year periodic basal area increment (BAI) in an old-growth forest stand. Temporal variation of spatial patterns was evaluated by fitting spatial stochastic models at 10-year intervals, from 1920 to 1990. The study area was a naturally seeded stand of southwestern ponderosa pine (Pinusponderosa Dougl. ex Laws. var. scopulorum) where total BA and tree density have steadily increased over the last decades. Our objective was to determine if increased stand density simply reduced individual growth rates or if it also altered spatial interactions among trees. Despite increased crowding, stem size maintained the same type of spatial dependence from 1920 to 1990. An isotropic Gaussian variogram was the model of choice to represent spatial dependence at all times. Stem size was spatially autocorrelated over distances no greater than 30 m, a measure of average patch diameter in this forest ecosystem. Because patch diameter remained constant through time, tree density increased by increasing the number of pine groups, not their horizontal dimension. Spatial dependence of stem size (DBH and BA) was always much greater and decreased less through time than that of stem increment (BAI). Spatial dependence of BAI was close to zero in the most recent decade, indicating that growth rates in 1980–1990 varied regardless of mutual tree position. Increased tree crowding corresponded not only to lower average and variance of individual growth rates, but also to reduced spatial dependence of BAI. Because growth variation was less affected by intertree distance with greater local crowding, prediction of individual growth rates benefits from information on horizontal stand structure only if tree density does not exceed threshold values. Simulation models and area estimates of tree performance in old-growth forests may be improved by including geostatistical components to summarize ecological spatial dependence.

Recalling open old growth forests in the Southeastern Mixed Forest province of the United States

Ecoscience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brice B. Hanberry ◽  
Robert F. Brzuszek ◽  
H. Thomas Foster ◽  
Timothy J. Schauwecker
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
The United States ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forests

Satellite-based estimation of evapotranspiration of an old-growth temperate mixed forest

2009 ◽  
Vol 149 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 976-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junhui Zhang ◽  
Yanling Hu ◽  
Xiangming Xiao ◽  
Pengshi Chen ◽  
Shijie Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Temperate Mixed Forest
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