Environmental heterogeneity and plant diversity in a coastal forest affected by a severe tsunami(<Feature>Disturbance and recovery of the coastal-ecotone vegetation following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami)

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  • 津波を受けた海岸林における環境不均質性と植物の種多様性(<特集>東日本大震災と砂浜海岸エコトーン植生 : 津波による攪乱とその後の回復)
  • 津波を受けた海岸林における環境不均質性と植物の種多様性
  • ツナミ オ ウケタ カイガンリン ニ オケル カンキョウ フキンシツセイ ト ショクブツ ノ タネ タヨウセイ

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Abstract

The spatial patterns of plant diversity and environmental heterogeneity were analysed in a coastal forest, 2 years after the severe tsunami caused by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake in Japan, to gain basic knowledge for managing coastal forest after a severe disturbance. The 〜60.5-ha study site was divided into four patch types: 1) tall forest with mostly remaining trees (TR); 2) tall forest with mostly fallen trees (TF); 3) low forest with mostly fallen trees (LF); and 4) back marsh remaining post-tsunami (BM). First, the species composition differed conspicuously among patches. There were significantly more woody and coastal herbaceous species in TR and LF patches than in other patches. The species composition differed conspicuously between TR and TF patches, although environmental conditions were similar before the tsunami, i.e., 65.2% of the 92 observed species were restricted to either patch. A survey revealed that four endangered or vulnerable species (Swertia diluta var. tosaensis, Penthorum chinense, Patrinia scabiosaefolia, and Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus) were restricted to TF patches. The number of species in 1 × 10 m quadrats was positively related to the difference between the highest and lowest elevations in each quadrat; this gave an index of tall trees. Our results suggest that the tsunami increased both the β-diversity (among-patch diversity) and α-diversity (within-patch diversity) of the coastal forest.

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