HISTORICAL AND ECOLOGICAL STUDIES OF ABIES MARIESII ON MT. GASSAN, THE DEWA MOUNTAINS, NORTHEAST JAPAN

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  • 月山のアオモリトドマツ群落の変遷と生態
  • 月山のアオモリトドマツ群落の変遷と生態〔英文〕
  • ガッサン ノ アオモリトドマツ グンラク ノ ヘンセン ト セイタイ エイブン

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Abstract

The subalpine vegetation in north Honshu shows a sharp contrast in physiognomy. Abies mariesii and Tsuga diversifolia are well established in the inland subalpine region while scarcely in the Japan Sea area. On Mt. Gassan in the Dewa mountains, Abies mariesii occurs sporadically on a lava plateau situated on the leeward side of the mountain and screened from the strong westerlies or northwesterlies in winter. It was revealed by the pollen-analytical study aimed to elucidate the vegetation history of this mountain that the subalpine conifers had been more extensive here under the Late Pleistocene climate but retreated under the more recent conditions of heavy snowfall and strong wind. The present occurrence of Abies is, therefore, thought to be a relict of the Late Pleistocene. Further investigations were made on the floristic composition of the Abies habitat, the community structure, the dynamics of the Abies population, the growth form and the soil profile of its habitat. The physiognomy of the Abies community is, as a whole, that of the mixed thicket of Abies and deciduous broad-leaved shrubs, covering the wet alpine podsol on the ill-drained flats. The stems grow so high on the well-drained soil as to be injured or deformed seriously by the heavy snow cover and strong wind, so that they can hardly survive there. The wet alpine podsol is probably of great advantage to the Abies survival because of the stunted form that prevents suffering from the effect of snow and wind.

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