Field measurements of nitrogen-fixing activity of intact saplings ofAlnus maximowiczii in the subalpine zone of Mt Fuji

Nitrogen-fixing (acetylene-reducing) activity of intact saplings ofAlnus maximowiczii was measured under natural conditions in the subalpine zone of Mt Fuji. The nitrogen-fixing activity was detected from the middle of June when expansion of leaves had just begun to the end of October when the shedding of leaves was almost completed. Diurnal changes in the activity were almost parallel with those of ground temperature. The measured nitrogen-fixing activity was related to ground temperature and total leaf area. Using this relation, annual nitrogen fixation was estimated from the data of ground temperature and leaf area measured in the field. The amount of annual nitrogen fixation was almost the same as that of nitrogen used for annual growth. It was concluded that nitrogen fixation by nodules made a considerable contribution to the nitrogen economy in the saplings ofA. maximowiczii.     

The effect of missing rings on stand-age estimation of even-aged forests in northern Hokkaido,Japan

The effectiveness of estimating stand age from increment core samples taken at stump height (20 cm above ground) was tested in an even-aged stand ofBetula ermanii that had regenerated after a forest fire in 1945 in Hokkaido, Japan. Careful cross-dating revealed that annual rings were missing in 11 cores out of a total of 42 cores sampled, and that all these missing rings occurred in the outermost part of the core. These facts indicate that precaution has to be taken in selecting trees from which cores are to be sampled. The present work also revealed that those trees with missing rings have a characteristic appearance, with a thinner stem and less crown foliage than normal trees with complete rings. It was also found that even if this appearance test failed, the possibility of missing rings could be detected from a declining growth pattern, with extremely narrow rings on the increment core which normal trees did not show.     

The effects of understorey dwarf bamboo (Sasa kurilensis) removal on soil fertility in a Betula ermanii forest of northern Japan

We investigated the changes in soil microbial biomass C (MBC), microbial biomass N (MBN) and N mineralization in Sasa kurilensis-present (SP) and S. kurilensis-removed (SR) stands in a Betula ermanii forest. The mean levels of MBC and MBN were significantly higher in the SR stand than in the SP, which may have positively influenced the N-mineralization rate as depicted by a significant positive correlation between these variables and the N-mineralization rate. N immobilization and subsequent N release along with decreased use of available soil N due to S. kurilensis removal may have ensured greater N availability in the SR stand.     

Ecological studies on the timberline of Mt. Fuji

To compare the nutrient economy of woody plants at timberline of Mt. Fuji, seasonal changes in nitrogen content in leaves were examined. There was remarkable difference in seasonal changes in leaf nitrogen content betweenAlnus maximowiczii and other deciduous trees at same habitat.A. maximowiczii scarcely withdrew the leaf nitrogen to woody part during the shedding period, while the other species withdrew about half of the leaf nitrogen to woody part.     

Effects of understory dwarf bamboo on soil water and the growth of overstory trees in a dense secondary <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula ermanii</Emphasis> forest,northern Japan

The effects of understory dwarf bamboo (Sasa kurilensis) on soil water and the growth of overstory trees were studied in a dense secondary forest of Betula ermanii in northern Japan. Four plots were established in a Betula ermanii forest with Sasa kurilensis in the understory. The Sasa was removed in two of the plots. The annual increment of the trunk diameter for each tree was measured in the first two years from the commencement of the experiment. Soil water potential was similar in the plots following significant rainfall, but was found to be greater in the plot without Sasa between rainfall events. This suggests that the removal of Sasa slows the reduction of soil water after rainfall. The relative growth rate of the trunk diameter of Betula ermanii increased with tree size in all of the plots because taller trees strongly suppressed smaller ones in the dense forest. The growth rates of Betula ermanii were higher in the plots without Sasa. However, the difference in growth rates between all of the plots tended to be smaller in smaller size classes, possibly because smaller trees were strongly suppressed by larger ones, irrespective of the presence/absence of Sasa. Therefore, the removal of Sasa increased soil water and encouraged the growth of larger Betula ermanii in dense forest during the first two years after the Sasa was removed. The present study suggests that Sasa can reduce the growth of larger Betula ermanii in dense forest by limiting available soil water to these trees.     

Climatic factors affecting the tree-ring width of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula ermanii</Emphasis> at the timberline on Mount Norikura,central Japan

Tree-ring-width chronology of Betula ermanii was developed at the timberline (2,400 m a.s.l.) on Mount Norikura in central Japan, and climatic factors affecting the tree-ring width of B. ermanii were examined. Three monthly climatic data (mean temperature, insolation duration, and sum of precipitation) were used for the analysis. The tree-ring width of B. ermanii was negatively correlated with the December and January temperatures and with the January precipitation prior to the growth. However, why high temperatures and heavy snow in winter had negative effects on the growth of B. ermanii is unknown. The tree-ring width was positively correlated with summer temperatures during June–August of the current year. The tree-ring width was also positively correlated with the insolation duration in July of the current year. In contrast, the tree-ring width was negatively correlated with summer precipitation during July–September of the current year. However, these negative correlations of summer precipitation do not seem to be independent of temperature and insolation duration, i.e., substantial precipitation reduces the insolation duration and temperature. Therefore, it is suggested that significant insolation duration and high temperature due to less precipitation in summer of the current year increase the radial growth of B. ermanii at the timberline. The results were also compared with those of our previous study conducted at the lower altitudinal limit of B. ermanii (approximately 1,600 m a.s.l.) on Mount Norikura. This study suggests that the climatic factors that increase the radial growth of B. ermanii differ between its upper and lower altitudinal limits.     

Regeneration in subalpine coniferous forests

The regeneration process of a subalpine coniferous forest, a mixed forest ofTsuga diversifolia (dominant species),Abies veitchii, Abies mariessi, andPicea jezoensis var.hondoensis, was studied on the basis of annual ring data. The age class distribution was discontinuous and four age groups occurred in the study plot (30m×30m). The canopy layer was a mosaic of patches (83.8–133.7 m² patch area), which had different mean ages. The recruitment of canopy trees was carried out only by advance regeneration in the plot. The diameter growth ofAbies andPicea exceeded diameter growth ofTsuga in the gap.Abies lived for 200–300 years and their trunks were susceptible to heart rot.Picea lived for 300–400 years andTsuga for more than 400 years. The regeneration process derived from the analysis of the plot consisted of three phases leading to the development of a even-aged patch; (1) the establishment of saplings before a gap opening, (2) the opening of a gap in the canopy and repair of the canopy by advance regenerated saplings dominated by rapid growth species,Abies andPicea, and (3) the dying off of canopy trees as each species reached the end of its life-span, resulting in pure patches of long-livedTsuga.     

Decomposition ofCarex andNuphar plants in a subalpine marsh

To assess the effect of water depth on the decomposition process, I measured the losses in dry mass of the above- and belowground materials ofCarex utriculata andNuphar luteum ssp.potysepalum as well as cellulose (Whatman filter paper) in the top 10 cm of sediment/soil in a subalpine marsh. Samples were examined by the litter bag technique at three flooding levels (0 to 5, 60, and 100 cm water depth). Over a 374-d period, the % mass losses of cellulose,Carex leaves and roots, andNuphar leaves and rhizomes ranged from 98.5 to 99.0, 74.8 to 81.8, 36.3 to 44.9, 95.8 to 97.7, and 78.4 to 91.5%, respectively. Rates for cellulose decay in this study were much higher than for samples from other wetlands; this difference resulted from the location of the litter bag (in the top 10 cm of soilvs in the water column). Water depth significantly affected the decomposition ofCarex roots andNuphar rhizomes. The rate of loss for K was highest in all tissues ofCarex andNuphar, followed by Na inCarex and P inNuphar. N and Ca loss rates generally were low. The C/N ratio tended to converge to a common value over the long term. This convergence has an important implication in the paleoecological interpretation of the C/N ratio change in sediment; i.e., this ratio shift in the sediment core results from a change in the environment, rather than the source material.     

Tree regeneration patterns on Mount Usu, northern Japan, since the 1977–78 eruptions

Although the summit of Mount Usu was deforested by the 1977–78 eruptions, vegetative regeneration on the caldera rim was rapid due to the erosion of thick volcanic deposits by snow and rain. To obtain the mechanisms underlying regeneration patterns after the eruptions, we monitored the growth of permanently-marked stems from 1983 to 1990. Regeneration was from resprouting-branches buried in the volcanic deposits on the caldera rim, while on the crater basin, where thick volcanic deposits accumulated, regeneration was from seedlings. The seedling regeneration lagged approximately 3 years behind vegetative regeneration. Stem densities averaged 14,000 ha^-1 in the vegetatively-regenerated community on the caldera rim, and 28,000 ha^-1 in the seedling regeneration on the crater basin. Populus maximowiczii accounted for ca. 75% of total stems on the caldera rim, while P. maximowiczii accounted for ca. 30% on the crater basin where Salix integra and Betula platyphylla var. japonica were also common. In both stands, immigration and mortality rates were very low. The growth of vegetatively regenerated stems expressed as stem height and diameter was significantly faster than that of stems grown from seedlings. Herbivory damage on the terminal shoots of tall stems was restricted on the caldera rim and was restricted for B. platyphylla var. japonica on the crater basin, perhaps due to fast growth supporting herbivore avoidance or low palatability. Height growth was restricted when neighbors established in close proximity, especially in the seedling-regenerated forest. The results suggest that vegetative regeneration is rapid due to three mechanisms: 1) faster plant growth; 2) herbivore avoidance; and 3) decreased interference by neighboring.     

Vegetation differences caused by pine vole mound building in subalpine plant communities in the Spanish Pyrenees

The influence of mediterranean pine vole (Microtus (Terricola) duodecimcostatus) mound-building activity in two Western Spanish Pyrenees plant communities (Mesobromion erecti and Festucion eskiae-Nardion strictae) were studied. The plants colonizing the gaps in these areas are different in the two cases considered. The plant composition of surrounding plant communities seems to be the main factor in revegetation. Mound-building activity changes the species' relative frequency and life-form spectrum, decreases the monocytyledonous/dicotyledonous ratio and increases diversity by diminishing the presence of dominant plant species.Abbreviations ME Mesobromion erecti - FN Festucion eskiae-Nardion strictae - (monocots) Monocotyledonous - (dicots) Dicotyledonous     

长白山牛皮杜鹃凋落物分解及土壤动物的作用

凋落物分解是生态系统养分循环的重要环节。土壤动物对凋落物分解具有重要作用。有关高山常绿小灌木凋落物分解及土壤动物作用的研究鲜有报道。采用凋落物网袋法对长白山北坡岳桦林带(42°03'41.23″N,128°03'12.75″E,1900 m)牛皮杜鹃(Rhododendron chrysanthum)凋落物的分解过程进行了为期1a的野外观测与室内试验研究,采用4、2 mm和0.01 mm三种网孔凋落物袋来控制不同体型的土壤动物的参与,以研究凋落物的分解率、养分动态及土壤动物在凋落物分解中的作用。结果表明,4、2 mm和0.01 mm网孔凋落物分解率分别为34.19%、31.22%和25.45%。分解率表现出显著的季节差异性。从总体上来看,网袋内凋落物的总氮含量先增后减;C/N呈下降趋势。对分解起主要作用的优势类群是甲螨亚目和等节跳科。土壤动物总个体数与养分元素的释放关系显著,中小型土壤动物对有机碳的释放起到重要作用。截至2012年10月末试验结束,全部土壤动物对牛皮杜鹃凋落物分解质量损失的贡献率为25.57%,中小型土壤动物贡献率(16.88%)大型土壤动物贡献率(8.69%)。大型土壤动物和中小型土壤动物在牛皮杜鹃凋落物分解过程中所起的作用,具有不同步性。     

Intraspecific variability of isozymes in Penicillium nodositatum Valla,a fungus inducing ‘myconodules’ on the root-system of Alnus sp.

A comparison of mycelial extracts of 17 isolates of Penicillium nodositatum collected from the root system of grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench.) and Italian alder (A. cordata Desf.) grown at different sites was made using isoenzyme analysis of esterases, acid phosphatase, malate dehydrogenase and phosphoglucose isomerase. Jaccard similarity coefficient analysis demonstrated that interspecific variability existed both among and within sites. In most cases, the enzyme patterns of isolates were distinct. Comparison of these isolates and three other Penicillium species closely related to P. nodositatum showed no similarity for the enzymes tested.     

Effects of forest-floor avalanche disturbance on the structure and dynamics of a subalpine forest near the forest limit on Mt. Fuji

In subalpine forests near the forest limit on Mt. Fuji in central Japan, slush avalanches occasionally destroy forest-floor vegetation through an influx of volcanic gravel from bare upper sites. The vegetation structure of Larix kaempferi–Abies veitchii forests near and distant from avalanche paths was investigated to determine the effects of forest-floor disturbance on successional processes. The Larix population in a forest near an avalanche path, where there had been signs of forest-floor disturbance by avalanches, had a discontinuous age structure with three age groups, indicating that Larix seedlings established under the Larix canopy after the forest-floor disturbance. In contrast, the Larix population in a forest distant from avalanche paths, where there had been no forest-floor disturbance, had a continuous age structure, with no plants younger than the 90-year-old trees, indicating that this population had established on bare ground over a long period. These data suggest that the primary requirement for the regeneration of L. kaempferi on the forest floor is a mineral substrate. Conversely, A. veitchii had a continuous age structure in both forests. However, forest-floor disturbances by avalanche(s) may exclude A. veitchii from the forest because A. veitchii is very sensitive to scoria deposition. In conclusion, forest-floor disturbance by avalanche(s) provides L. kaempferi with an opportunity to establish on the forest floor, resulting in the maintenance of Larix forests alongside avalanche paths in the upper subalpine area on Mt. Fuji.     

Biomass production by alders on four abandoned agricultural soils in Québec

The production of aboveground tissue of three alder species (Alnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh,A. rugosa (Du Roi) Spreng. andA. glutinosa (L) Gaertn.) on four sites ranged from 0.4 t ha^–1 yr^–1 to 4.0 t ha^–1 yr^–1 after four growing seasons. Large differences were observed among the four sites studied and among species. Soil nutrient levels affected the biomass production and foliar symptoms of P and Mg deficiency occurred withA. crispa andA. rugosa. Because of their poor aboveground biomass production (0.4–1.4 t ha^–1 yr^–1),A. crispa andA. rugosa should be used mainly as nurse trees. For its higher potential for biomass production (up to 4.0 t ha^–1 yr^–1), and its apparent higher ability to use P and Mg on deficient sites,A. glutinosa should be used preferably toA. crispa andA. rugosa for the production of biomass.     

Alnus rubra nodulation capacity of soil under five species from harvested forest sites in coastal British Columbia

Nodulation of Alnus rubra seedlings after inoculation with soil from under A. rubra, Betula papyrifera. Rubus lacianutus, R. spectabilis, and R.ursinus on 2 recently harvested sites was compared. Nodulation capacity was low compared to other published reports, ranging from 0 to 18.9 infective units cm^-3 of soil and was significantly affected by the site and plant species. Nodulation capacity of soil under alder was significantly higher than under all other species except R. spectabilis, regardless of site. The lowest nodulation capacity was found in soil under B. papyrifera.Joint appointment with Dept. of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences     

沼泽交错带白桦——长白落叶松优势种群的年龄结构及其动态

采用径级结构替代年龄结构与建立种群年龄结构模型相结合的方法,研究沼泽交错带白桦—长白落叶松优势种群的年龄结构特征。结果表明:白桦、长白落叶松和辽东桤木种群的年龄结构呈纺锤型,龄级—个体数间的关系可用Lognormal函数表征;种群动态量化指数V'_(pi)为辽东桤木(9.57%)白桦(4.02%)长白落叶松(1.83%),均趋近于0,说明种群处于稳定型向衰退型过渡阶段;白桦、长白落叶松及辽东桤木种群幼龄个体严重不足,白桦和辽东桤木种群的存活曲线趋于Odum-B3型,而长白落叶松种群趋于Deevey-I型。白桦、长白落叶松及辽东桤木种群具有前期增长、中后期衰退的特征;白桦、长白落叶松和辽东桤木种群数量受基波影响显著,种群整个生活史阶段未显现小周期波动,种群发展较稳定;随着时间的推移,在未来2、4和6个龄级后,白桦、长白落叶松和辽东桤木种群老龄个体数均有增加,但由于更新幼苗个体稀少,未来必然呈衰退趋势。森林—沼泽交错带的白桦、长白落叶松及辽东桤木种群对外界环境变化有强烈的敏感性和脆弱性,人类活动扰动会影响其发育与演变,从而提高了森林—沼泽交错带地区沼泽化的风险。因此,应减少人类活动对森林—沼泽交错带的干扰,加强对这一地区植被群落的保护与管理。     

Preliminary characterization of an ineffective Frankia derived from a spontaneously neomycin-resistant strain

Five strains of Frankia isolated from actinorhizae of 3 alder species were cultivated with various concentrations of neomycin in the medium. For one strain, resistance to neomycin was associated with lost of effectiveness. The ineffective strain was as infective as the parent strain. Protein and isoenzymes patterns showed that the ineffective and the parent strains were quite similar. The ineffective strain differentiated vesicles inside the infected host-cells.     

Comparative ecology of a lowland and a subalpine species of Mnium in the northern Rocky Mountains

Factors that set the altitudinal limits of plants have been relatively well explored for many land plant groups, but not for bryophytes. Bryophytes typically represent a significant portion of alpine floras with many species specific to highland systems. Differences between highland and lowland bryophytes have been underinvestigated. In the present study spanning three growing seasons, a subalpine and a lowland moss were both reciprocally planted as apical fragments and transplanted as adults between sites at 1400 m and 2000 m in the Front Ranges of the Rocky Mountains, Alberta. The lowland species, Mnium spinulosum, was less tolerant of conditions at 2000 m than the subalpine species, M. arizonicum, was to conditions at 1400 m. In particular, M. spinulosum had lower establishment from both apical fragments and spores at higher elevation sites. Both species had significantly lower establishment during the abnormally cold growing season of 1999, but fragments of M. arizonicum were better able to adjust their investment in establishment. The effect of a dominant feather moss, Hylocomium splendens, on establishment and transplant health was tested for M. arizonicum. Establishment of M. arizonicum was lower in Hylocomium mats than on bare humus regardless of site elevation suggesting allelopathy; however, stem survival in adult transplants was higher in Hylocomium mats than in Mnium dominated microsites at the higher elevation suggesting facilitation. Competition, rather than a lack of physiological plasticity, probably determines the lower elevation limit of the subalpine moss, while poor establishment ability at low temperatures accounts for the upper elevation limit of the montane moss. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Recovery of subalpine dwarf shrub heath after neighbour removal and fertilization

We tested if subalpine heath vegetation in northern Italy recovered after experimental perturbation of soil nutrient availability (fertilization) and species composition (removal of co-dominant dwarf shrubs). Species cover was assessed non-destructively before the start of the treatments (1995), at the end of the treatments (1999) and 4 years after the treatments ended (2003). Shrub removal had rather modest effects on heath vegetation, except for mosses which decreased significantly in removal plots. Fertilization decreased the cover of shrubs, mosses, and some graminoids but increased the cover of Festuca rubra. Fertilization converted heath to grassland, but the response of graminoid species was individualistic. Fertilization decreased vascular species richness and evenness, probably through negative effects of shading and litter accumulation on plant growth or recruitment. The vegetation had not recovered completely 4 years after the perturbations had stopped. This suggests that, in contrast to rapid responses to species removal and fertilization, recovery from these perturbations was rather slow, presumably because recovery was affected by long-term biotic interactions and species controls on ecosystem properties.     

Effect of bryophytes on survival of conifer seedlings in subalpine forests of central Japan

Bryophytes form the major seedbed for coniferous trees in the subalpine forests of central Japan. Field experiments were conducted on the floor of a closed stand dominated byTsuga on Mt Fuji to examine the seedling survival ofAbies veitchii andTsuga diversifolia in seven substrate types in relation to the morphological characteristics of the seeds and seedlings. NeitherAbies norTsuga seedlings could survive on dwarf-bamboo litter beyond 2 years after the seed rain.Abies seedlings survived not only in all types of bryophyte communities but also in larch litter. In contrast, the survival ofTsuga seedlings was restricted to communities of smaller-statured bryophytes found on logs. The seeds and 1st year seedlings ofA. veitchii were larger than those ofT. diversifolia. Abies seedlings produced hypocotyls taller than any bryophyte community and radicles which were long enough to penetrate into the moist humus layer, whereasTsuga seedling radicles presumably penetrate into humus only in bryophyte communities forming a thin mat on logs. The effect of bryophytes on survival of tree seedlings therefore depends on the relationships between the morphology of seeds and seedlings and the structure of bryophyte communities.