scholarly journals Damage of Cryptomeria japonica-forests Caused by Snow Pressure in the Heavy-snow Area, Especially in Ralation to Topography

1970 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 30-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiji TAKAHASHI ◽  
Kikumatsu TAKAHASHI
2015 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
Takashi Nagashima ◽  
Megumi K. Kimura ◽  
Yoshihiko Tsumura ◽  
Kosuke Homma ◽  
Harue Abe ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 152-157
Author(s):  
Megumi K. Kimura ◽  
Takashi Nagashima ◽  
Tomohiko Kamitani ◽  
Hitoshi Sakio ◽  
Yoshihiko Tsumura

Abstract Clonal reproduction may contribute to population maintenance in areas where disturbance caused by snow limits tree recruitment. To understand the importance of clonal reproduction in the population dynamics of canopy tree species, it is necessary to determine the frequency of clonal reproduction in the early stages of seedling establishment. We found 106 ramets, including “small-sized” ramets of less than 5 cm in diameter at breast height, aggregated within 4 patches in a 70 × 50 m plot and also identified 20 genets among these ramets with the use of nuclear microsatellite markers. The size structure of the ramets revealed an inverse J-shaped distribution, suggesting that continuous recruitment of new ramets occurs. However, the number of intermediate-sized ramets (around 10 cm DBH) at the present study site was small, suggesting that most new ramets die while they are still small by pressure from heavy snow. Of the 20 genets, 12 included one or more small-sized ramets, which indicated recent recruitment. Of the 12 genets, 3 included only a single small-sized ramet, which suggested seedling recruitment, whereas the other 9 included multiple ramets (39 small-sized ramets in total), which indicated clonal recruitment. The frequency (9/12) and number (39/9) of recent clonal recruits suggest that clonal reproduction effectively maintains the population of Cryptomeria japonica in snowy regions.


2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 543-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimiko Hirayama ◽  
Michinori Sakimoto

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.


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