Transfer of Cesium 137 from Riparian Forest to a Headwater Stream Ecosystem in Fukushima, Japan

Kanasashi Tsutomu, Ayabe Yoshiko, Takenaka Chisato, Hijii Naoki

doi:10.4005/jjfs.97.95

We elucidated cesium 137 (¹³⁷Cs) transfer from riparian forest to a headwater stream ecosystem through input of leaves contaminated by radionuclides due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Accident. In riparian zone of Kawamata-machi, Fukushima, living leaves of konara (Quercus serrata) were collected from crowns in 2013 and senescent leaves of that were collected from forest floor in November 2012 and 2013, respectively. In March 2013 and 2014, we collected senescent ones, which include konara leaves, deposited in a headwater stream running off the riparian zone. The comparison of ¹³⁷Cs concentration showed that living leaves of konara contained higher ¹³⁷Cs than fresh senescent ones. The ¹³⁷Cs concentrations of fresh senescent leaves in the forest floor were larger than those of senescent ones deposited in the headwater stream. Therefore, we consider that ¹³⁷Cs in the leaves was released to headwater stream while they were deposited in there. There was little change in ¹³⁷Cs concentration of senescent leaves on forest floor and in the stream between 2 and 3 years after the FDNPP Accident, suggesting that ¹³⁷Cs transfer from leaves to headwater stream ecosystems continues for a prolonged period.

Transfer of Cesium 137 from Riparian Forest to a Headwater Stream Ecosystem in Fukushima, Japan

Bibliographic Information

Search this article

Abstract

Journal

Citations (1)*help

References(18)*help

Related Projects

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Export

Report a problem