Stand structure and carbon metabolism of coppice forests at a heavy snowfall climate region of central Japan. I. Dynamics of stand structure during 14 years |
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Authors: | Tsuyoshi Yoneda Etsuji Hamabata Husato Ogawa |
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Institution: | (1) Division of Natural Science, Department of Arts and Sciences, Osaka Kyoiku University, Asahigaoka 4-698-1, 582 Kashiwara, Osaka, Japan;(2) Lake Biwa Research Institute, 520 Otsu, Shiga, Japan;(3) Botanical Garden, Faculty of Science, Osaka City University, 576 Katano, Osaka, Japan |
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Abstract: | The coppice stands under the climatic conditions of Warmth Index (WI)≧85°C·month, and Coldness Index (CI)≦−10°C·month could
be classified into aQuercus serrata type andCarpinus types at a heavy snowfall climate region of central Japan. The latter types tended to be more distributed on steeper slopes
rather than the former. An analysis of tree forms and growth rates of species could reveal the characteristic of this habitat
and vegetation type. The growth rates of stem diameter of dominant species on a gentle slope were higher than ones on a steep
slope. However, the dominant species on the steeper slope had plasticity to basal bend with sustentacular roots, which is
one form of tolerance of heavy snowfall on steep slopes. Average mortality during 14 years was 26%, irrespective of the gradient
of a slope. More than one-third of dead shoots were induced by direct damage, while cracked or broken pieces of a stem were
from heavy snowfall. The shoot density at smaller diameter classes tended to be higher at a stand having high horizontal variance
of canopy surface caused by basal bend of big shoots. A frequency distribution function of individual tree weight (w), f(w)=pw−3/2, could be obtained at each coppice stand by statistical analysis. The value of a parameter p, a packing factor, tended to
be higher at stands on steeper slopes consisting of largely bent shoots and was constant irrespective of the growth. |
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Keywords: | basal bend growth rate long-term observation MNY method mortality |
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