Snow dynamics and ecological characteristics of trees on snowy mountain slope

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  • ONODERA Hiromichi
    Tohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
  • TANABE Hiromi
    Tohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
  • KAJIMOTO Takuya
    Tohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
  • DAIMARU Hiromu
    Tohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute

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Other Title
  • 多雪斜面における積雪動態と樹木の生態的特性
  • タセツ シャメン ニ オケル セキセツ ドウタイ ト ジュモク ノ セイタイテ

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Abstract

This study discussed the relationship between snow dynamics and ecological characteristics of trees on the snowy slope of Mt. Yakeishi, central the Oou mountain range, north east Honsyu, Japan. Most of dwarf-type formed deciduous broad leaved trees dominated on the lee ward slope against the winter seasonal wind. The snow folds and snow cracks caused by glide of snow cover extended over a wide area of the lee ward slope and also the debris of full-depth snow avalanches were observed at places. And the scars caused by the snow erosion distributed in the slope. On the other hand, numbers of pit and mound formations caused by uprooting of middle or large size stands were observed on the wind ward slope and the longitudinal shape of the slope showed uneven feature like a staircase. While the dominant tree species on the lee ward slope were Alnus pendula, Weigela hortensis, Fugus crenata and others, those on the wind ward slope were Fugus crenata, Hamamelis japonica var. obutusata, Acer japonicum and others. The stands on the lee ward slope were extremly small in the size and showed the groundlinglike form which had extraordinary large basal bending width in contrast to those on the wind ward slope. The basal bending width varied with each tree species and that of higher ranking dominant tree species was larger on the lee ward slope and smaller on the wind ward slope. It seems advantegeous to the tree species to adapt for the creep and glide pressure of snow on the lee ward slope and to adapt for the settlement force of snow on the wind ward slope for the survival of individuals. Fagus crenata dominated on the both slopes seems to be the species of high snow tolelance capacity adapted to the snow environment which excelled in the settlement force rather than the creep and glide pressur of snow cover. The regeneration style of the stand growing on the snowy slope depend chiefly upon sproutings on the lee ward slope while seedlings on the wind ward slope. The ecological characteristics of trees above mentioned are the reflex of the difference of snow environment, and not only the depth of snow but also the qualitative aspect of snow such as the variety of metamorphic process and the snow dynamics such as glide and avalanches play an important role in the snow environmental factor which affect the distribution of community.

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