Relationships between the age of northern Kantou plain (central Japan) coppice woods used for production of Japanese forest mushroom logs and butterfly assemblage structure |
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Authors: | Takato Kobayashi Masahiko Kitahara Tatsuhiro Ohkubo Mineaki Aizawa |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Animal Ecology, Yamanashi Institute of Environmental Sciences, 5597-1 Kenmarubi, Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida Yamanashi, 403-0005, Japan;(2) K-101, 2-2-18 Umezono, Tsukuba Ibaraki, 305-0045, Japan;(3) Laboratory of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Mine 350, Utsunomiya Tochigi, 321-8505, Japan |
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Abstract: | To discern mechanisms maintaining the diversity of grassland and forest butterflies in coppice woods managed for the production
of Japanese forest mushroom logs, we investigated the butterfly fauna in cut-over land tracts shortly after felling and 5 year
later, and in forest stands 10, 15, and 25 year after felling (here, we use the term “forests” when referring to the chronosequence
of these treed stands). Butterfly species richness and diversity (H′) and the densities of individuals were highest in cut-over
lands 5 year after clear-cutting, followed by 25-year-old forest stands. In forests, the richness and densities of forest
butterfly species were higher than were those of grassland species. Among forest stands of different ages, forest butterfly
species’ richness and the densities of individuals were highest in 25-year-old woods nearing felling time. Some forest butterfly
species were observed only in forests. The species richness and densities of grassland butterflies were much higher in cut-over
lands 0 and 5 year post felling than in forests; grassland species were rarely found in stands ≥10 year old. Thus, cut-over
lands seem to function as temporary habitats for grassland species. Furthermore, the number of forest butterfly species was
the same in cut-over lands 5 year after felling and in 25-year-old forest stands; the densities of forest butterfly species
was higher in these cut-over lands than in the forest stands. Forest butterfly species living on cut-over land 5 year post
felling sipped flower nectar, laid eggs on host plants, and practiced territorial behaviour involved in mate finding. Hence,
these cut-over lands functioned as important habitats for various developmental stages of forest butterflies. In conclusion,
traditional coppicing in woods for production of Japanese forest mushroom logs is very important for the maintenance of diversity
in grassland and forest butterfly species. |
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