Distribution patterns of Myrica gale var. tomentosa and its relationship to microtopography in the Ozegahara Mire, central Japan

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  • OHMORI Takehiro
    Gunma Museum of Natural History:Laboratory of Ecology, College of Science, Ibaraki University
  • YAMAMURA Yasuo
    Laboratory of Ecology, College of Science, Ibaraki University
  • HORI Yoshimichi
    Laboratory of Ecology, College of Science, Ibaraki University

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Other Title
  • 尾瀬ヶ原におけるヤチヤナギの分布パターンと微地形の関係

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Abstract

Local distributional patterns of wetland shrub Myrica gale var. tomentosa were investigated in relation to microtopography in the Ozegahara Mire, a montane mire in central Japan. Increases of the area of distribution and biomass of the Myrica were reported in the mire from the 1950s to 1980. The whole area of the mire was divided into grid cells of 25×25m, and the presence or absence of the Myrica, its canopy height and microtopographic features were recorded in each cell. These values were compared in three main areas of the Ozegahara Mire, i.e. the Kamitashiro, the Nakatashiro and the Shimotashiro areas, which were isolated from each other by streams. Frequency of occurrence of the Myrica differed significantly among the three areas of the mire, i.e. 71.1% in the Nakatashiro, 25.8% in the Kamitashiro, and 2.1% in the Shimotashiro. The frequency of occurrence decreased with increasing elevation except for the lowest elevation class. Large distributional gaps were observed in the upper reaches of streams and highly raised peat plateaus. Canopy height was related to microtopography. Canopy height of the Myrica was high in low elevation habitats such as riversides and woodland edges, while it was low in high elevation areas distant from streams or woodlands, where bog vegetation predominated. The Myrica was newly observed at sites adjacent to boardwalks. Canopy height of the Myrica was significantly higher in cells containing boardwalks than in cells without boardwalks. The Myrica's pattern of occurrence and size adjacent to boardwalks suggests that boardwalk construction will promote Myrica's establishment and growth.

Journal

  • Vegetation Science

    Vegetation Science 26 (1), 1-8, 2009

    The Society of Vegetation Science

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