Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geographical variation in the early regeneration process of Siebold's Beech (Fagus crenata BLUME) in Japan

  • Published:
Plant Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The causes and timing of seed death in early regeneration process of Siebold's beech (Fagus crenata Blume) was studied at 15 sites along a snowfall gradient in Japan, in order to clarify why the seedling density of the species has geographic difference remarkably. Seed production did not significantly differ along the snowfall gradient. Pre-dispersal seed mortality by insect damage was higher at sites with light snowfall than at sites with heavy snowfall, but this only seemed to be a minor factor influencing the population. A large proportion of the viable nuts that fall in autumn ware killed in winter before germination. Winter mortality was much higher at sites with thin snow cover than that at sites with thick snow cover, and this factor was strongly correlated with the geographic variation of seedling regeneration probability. There was little seed mortality by winter desiccation. The main factor contributing to the geographic difference seemed to be a seed predation by rodents in winter. Deep snow cover may reduce the success of rodents finding seeds in winter. Thus the observed relationship between snowpack depth and early mortality may be due to an indirect effect through the process of seed predation.p>

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barbour, M. G., Berg, N. H., Kittel, T. G. F. & Kunz, M. E. 1991. Snow pack and the distribution of a major vegetation ecotone in Sierra Nevada of California. J. Biogio. 18: 141-149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawley, M. J. 1992. Seed predators and plant population dynamics. Pp 157-192. In: Fenner, M. (ed.), Seeds. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolukhanov A.G. 1978. The timberline and the subalpine belt in the Caucasus Mountains USSR. Arct. Alp. Res. 10: 409-422.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fanta, J. 1981. Fagus sylvatica L. und Das Acer fagetum an Der Alpinen Waldgrenze in Mitteleuropäschen Gebrigen. Vegetatio. 44: 13-24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fujita, N., 1986. Structure and species composition of Japan-sea side type and Pacific ocean side type beech forests. Study Species Biol. 10: 1-13 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Grime, J. P., & Hiller, S. H. 1992. The contribution of seedling regeneration to the structure and dynamics of plant communities and large units of landscape. Pp. 349-364. In: Fenner, M. (ed.), Seeds. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurnell, J. 1993. Tree seed production and food conditions for rodents in an oak wood in Southern England. Forestry 66: 291-315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gysel, L. W. 1971. A 10 year analysis of beechnut production and use in Michigan. J. Wildlife Manag. 35: 516-519

    Google Scholar 

  • Hara, M. 1987. Analysis of seedling banks of climax beech forest: ecological importance of seedling sprouts. Vegetatio. 71: 67-74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hashizume, H. 1987. Production and dispersal of reproductive organs of Fagaceae species in natural forest.Hardwood Res., Fac. Agric., Tottori Univ. 4: 271-290 (in Japanese, summary in English).

    Google Scholar 

  • Higuchi, H. & Onodera, H. 1993. The hardiness of deciduous tree species (I) Characteristics of basal bending of several deciduous trees.J. Jpn. For. Soc. 75: 56-59 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Homma, K. 1997. Effect of snow pressure on growth form and life history of tree species in Japanese beech forest. J. Veg. Sci. 8: 781-788.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howe, H. F. &Westlay, L. C. 1986. Ecology of pollination and seed dispersal. Pp. 185-216. In: Crawley, M. J. (ed.), Plant ecology, Blackwell, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hukusima, T., Takasuna, H., Matsui, T., Nishio, T., Kyan, Y. & Tsunetomi, Y. 1995. New phytosociological classification of beech forests in japan. Jap. J. Ecol. 45: 79-98 (in Japanese, summary in English).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, T. S. 1985. Seed-seed predator interactions of European beech, Fagus silvatica and forest rodents, Clethrinomys glareolus and Apodemus flavicollis. Oikos 44: 149-156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaji, M. & Ohkubo, T. 1995. Controlling factors and its effect to nuts production of Fagus species. Pp. 128-134. In: Numata, M. (ed.), Modern ecology and its surroundings. Tokai Univ. Press, Tokyo (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamitani, T. 1984. Studies on the process of formation of secondary beech forest in a heavy snowfall region (1)-bending of stems and its influence upon the stratification. Bull. Niigata Univ. For. 17: 1-16 (in Japanese, summary in English).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kume, A. & Ino, Y. 1993. Comparison of ecophysiological responses to heavy snow in two varieties of Aucuba japonica with different areas of distribution. Ecol. Res. 8: 111-121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maeda, T. 1988. Studies on natural regeneration of beech (Fagus crenata Blume). Spec.Bull. Coll. Agric. Utsunomiya Univ. 46 (in Japanese, summary in English).

  • Maruta, E., Kamitani, T., Okabe, M. & Ide, Y. 1997. Desiccationtolerance of Fagus crenata Blume seeds flom localities of different snowfall regime in Central Japan. J. For. Res. 2: 45-50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miguchi, H. 1988. Two years of community dynamics of murid rodents after a beechnut mastyear. J. Jpn. For. Soc. 70: 472-480.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohta, Y. 1984. Study of mice in Hokkaido. Hokkaido University Press, Sapporo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohwi, J. 1965. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Inst., Washington DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, R. & Ohkubo, T. 1990. Architecture and development in Fagus japonica-Fagus crenata forest near Mount Takahara Japan, J. Veg. Sci. 1: 499-506.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakai, A. 1976. Adaptation of plants to deposited snow. Low Temperature Science. Ser. B. 34: 47-70. Hokkaido Univ. Japan (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shidei, T. 1974. Forest vegetation zone. Pp. 87-124. In: Numata, K. (ed.), The flora and vegetation of Japan, Kodansha Ltd., Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimano, K. & Okitsu, S. 1993. Regeneration of mixed Fagus crenata-Fagus japonica forests in Mt. Mito, Okutama, west of Tokyo. Jpn. J. Ecol. 43: 13-19. (in Japanese, summary in English).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimano, K. & Okitsu, S. 1994. Regeneration of natural Fagus crenata forest around the Kanto district. Jpn. J. Ecol. 44: 283-291 (in Japanese, summary in English).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimano, K., Masuzawa, T. & Okitsu, S. 1995. Effects of snow cover on the seed disappearance of Fagus crenata Blume. Tech. Bull. Fac. Hort. Chiba Univ. 49: 111-118, Chiba Univ. Japan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, I. 1991. Studies on the mycofloral succession on Yezo sprouce (Picea jezoensis Carr.) in various stages of growth, with special reference to the role of fungi in the natural regeneration of the host. Rep. University forest, Fac. agric., the University of Tokyo. Tokyo (in Japanese, summary in English).

  • Tranquillini, W. 1979. Physiological Ecology of the Alpine Timberline. Springer-Verlag Berlin.

  • Wachter, von H. 1964. Ñber die Beziehungen zwischen Witterung und BuchenmastJahren. Forestarchiv 35 (4): 69-78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkinson, A. R. 1986. Plant population dynamics. Pp. 137-184. In: Crawley, M. J. (ed.), Plant ecology. Blackwell, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodward, F. I. 1987. Climate and plant distribution. Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto Univ., Nishi-machi, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Kosuke Homma, Nobuhiro Akashi & Tomoyuki Abe

  2. Forest Experiment Station, Toyama Forestry and Forest Products Research Center, Tateyama-machi, Toyama, Toyama, 930-1362, Japan

    Mikio Hasegawa

  3. Hyogo University of Education, Shimokume 942-1, Kato-gun, Hyogo, 673-14, Japan

    Kenichi Harada

  4. Miyagi University of Education, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-0845 , Japan

    Yoshihiko Hirabuki

  5. Graduate School of Natural Science, Niigata Univ., Ikarashi 2-8050, Niigata, 950-2181, Japan

    Kiyoshi Irie

  6. The University forest in Chichibu, The University of Tokyo, Hinoda-machi 1-1-49, Chichibu, Saitama, 368, Japan

    Mikio Kaji

  7. Niigata Prefectural Forest Experiment Station, Unotoro 2249-5, Asahi-mura, Iwafune-gun, Niigata, 958-0264 , Japan

    Hideo Miguchi

  8. amo Highschool of Agriculture and Forestry, Hongoh-3, Minokamo-city, Gifu, 505-0027 , Japan

    Noriyasu Mizoguchi

  9. Okayama Prefecture Forest Experiment Station, Uetsuki-Naka 1001, Shouou-cho, Katsuta-gun, Okayama, 709-4335 , Japan

    Hiromi Mizunaga

  10. Forest and Forest Product Research Institute, P.O. Box 16, Tsukuba, Norin Kenkyu Danchi-nai, Ibaraki, 305, Japan

    Tohru Nakashizuka

  11. Hokkaido University Forests, Nishi 9-tyome, Kita 9-jyo, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0809, Japan

    Syunji Natume

  12. Forest and Forest Product Research Institute Kyusyu Research Center, Kurokami 4-11-16, Kumamoto, 860, Japan

    Kaoru Niiyama

  13. Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya Univ., Utsunomiya, 321-8505 , Japan

    Tatsuhiro Ohkubo

  14. Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki Univ., Bunkyo-cho 3, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8561 , Japan

    Shin-ichi Sawada

  15. Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate Univ., Ueda 3-18-8, Morioka, 020-8550 , Japan

    Hisashi Sugita

  16. Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo Univ., Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113, Japan

    Seiki Takatsuki

  17. Kyoto, University Forest, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8224 , Japan

    Norikazu Yamanaka

Authors
  1. Kosuke Homma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nobuhiro Akashi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tomoyuki Abe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mikio Hasegawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kenichi Harada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yoshihiko Hirabuki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Kiyoshi Irie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Mikio Kaji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Hideo Miguchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Noriyasu Mizoguchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Hiromi Mizunaga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Tohru Nakashizuka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Syunji Natume
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Kaoru Niiyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Tatsuhiro Ohkubo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. Shin-ichi Sawada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. Hisashi Sugita
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. Seiki Takatsuki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. Norikazu Yamanaka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Homma, K., Akashi, N., Abe, T. et al. Geographical variation in the early regeneration process of Siebold's Beech (Fagus crenata BLUME) in Japan. Plant Ecology 140, 129–138 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009725007759

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009725007759

Search

Navigation