Species composition and the habitat conditions of Quercus hondae forests in southeastern Kyushu, Japan : Comparison with Q. glauca forests and Q. gilva forests

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  • 九州南東部におけるハナガガシ優占林の組成的特徴と立地環境 : アラカシ優占林およびイチイガシ優占林との比較

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Abstract

We investigated forest vegetation and habitat condition in lower warm-temperate evergreen forests with special reference to Quercus hondae, an endangered evergreen oak species, in southern and eastern Kyushu, Japan. TWINSPAN was applied to 77 dataset of stands comprising 65 published datasets and 12 new datasets obtained from surveys conducted for this study. In the first division, the 77 stands were divided into two groups: Q. hondae-dominated forests and Q. gilva-dominated forests, distinguished by Persea japonica and Arachniodes sporadosora as the indicator species, from Q. glauca-dominated forests. In the second division, Q. hondae-dominated forests were distinguished by Q. glauca and Castanopsis cuspidata from Q. gilva-dominated forests. Comparisons of the TWINSPAN results with previously published phytosociologial studies for this region showed that the Q. hondae-dominated forests and Q. gilva-dominated forests had similar compositions in terms of the character species for the Lasiantho-Quercetum gilvae. However, the coexistence of Q. hondae with Castanopsis cuspidata and the comparison with the character species of the upper unit suggested that Q. hondae forests would more appropriately be classified to the Symploco glaucae-Castanopsietum sieboldii. CCA was applied to the 12 stands investigated within the lower slopes of a valley in Miyazaki Prefecture, which is the center of the distribution of Q. hondae. The results indicate that habitat of Q. hondae forests are more likely to be established in thinner soil on steeper slopes than that of Q. gilva forests, and in thicker soil on gentle slopes than that of Q. glauca forests. These habitat were also confirmed by the CCA scores of each dominant species; Q. hondae had a score intermediate to that of Q. gilva and Q. glauca. The results suggest that the difference in habitats of Q. hondae and Q. gilva might reflect the other factors beside soil moisture.

Journal

  • Vegetation Science

    Vegetation Science 27 (2), 63-71, 2010

    The Society of Vegetation Science

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