Distribution of moist beech forests on mountain tops and their habitat conditions in the western Chugoku Mountains, Japan

DOI JASI Web Site 5 Citations 33 References
  • HUKUSIMA T.
    Fac. of Agric., Tokyo Univ. of Agric. and Technol.
  • OKAZAKI M.
    Fac. of Agric., Tokyo Univ. of Agric. and Technol.

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 西中国山地の山頂部に発達する湿性型ブナ林とその立地環境
  • ニシ チュウゴク サンチ ノ サンチョウブ ニ ハッタツスル シッセイガタ ブ

Search this article

Abstract

To understand why moist beech forest developed on top of the western Chugoku Mountains, vegetation and soil studies were carried out in the beech forest on Mt. Garyu. It was identified as a Lindero umbellatae-Fagetum crenatae association which was subdivided into three subassociations and seven variants. The vegetation units were distributed according to the microgeomorphic units that resulted from the water movement and surface geogenetical processes in the area. Six soil types, classified into three soil units were identified in the area. Since the pyroclastic materials that cover the gentle slopes up to the flat top of Mt. Garyu have not been eroded distinctly, they regulate water movement in the soils. This provides the wetmesic environment for the plant communities. It can be called the plain summit effect. The role of pyroclastic materials on the development and divergence of wetmesic beech forest can be estimated in areas affected by the eruptions of numerous volcanoes throughout Japan.

Journal

Citations (5)*help

See more

References(33)*help

See more

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top