Effects of flooding and artificial burning disturbances on plant species composition in a downstream riverside floodplain |
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Authors: | Shinya Ishida Tohru Nakashizuka Yutaka Gonda Tomohiko Kamitani |
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Institution: | (1) Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, 2-8050 Ikarashi, Niigata 950-2181, Japan;(2) Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan;(3) Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata University, 2-8050 Ikarashi, Niigata 950-2181, Japan |
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Abstract: | Our objective was to detect environmental and disturbance factors that determine plant species composition in a downstream
riverside floodplain of the Shinano River, where both natural flooding and artificial fire disturbances predominate. We classified
the natural vegetation into five types by physiognomy, i.e., burnt field, intact (unburnt) field, early-successional forest,
later-successional forest, and margin of channel. We deployed 14 transect belts containing 713 plots of 1 m × 1 m at these
sites. In the plots, we determined plant occurrences and values of five environmental (soil moisture, soil texture, relative
elevation above the river, horizontal distance from the river, and light conditions) and two disturbance factors (scouring
of plants by flooding and fire). Plant species compositions and environmental and disturbance factors were different among
the sites. Logistic regression analysis showed that burning stimulated the occurrences of herbaceous annuals and conversely
constrained those of woody and fern species, suggesting that fire disturbance resets the succession. Scouring of plants by
flooding also affected the occurrences of many species, and had a positive influence on that of herbaceous winter annuals
in particular. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that the distributional characteristics of the plant species in
the riverside floodplain were influenced primarily by distance from the river, reflecting the magnitude of flood disturbance.
We conclude that (1) magnitude of flood disturbance is the primary factor determining plant species composition, and (2) burning
maintains early successional vegetation and simultaneously creates a unique plant species composition by stimulating the germination
of buried viable seeds transported by flood. |
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Keywords: | Riparian vegetation Riverside floodplain Environmental factor Flood Burning |
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