The spatial distribution of trees in relation to topography was investigated using two topographic indices, slope steepness and slope configuration, in a 4-ha plot in a subtropical evergreen forest in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Japan. Most species showed an aggregated distribution and patch size was related to various microtopographical features, including small ridges and valleys. In a cluster analysis based on the dissimilarity of each species’ distribution, the species were divided into three major clusters. A significant correlation between the dissimilarity and the distance between each species on the axis of the two topographic indices indicated that species association was, in part, explained by the topographic indices. I suggest that species distributed on steep and concave slopes regenerate depending on disturbances such as landslides on unstable topography, whereas species distributed on ridges and upper slopes regenerate depending on the canopy gap. A number of species that were less abundant in the 4-ha plot occurred in the riparian area near a stream, where the density of more abundant species was low. The results of this study support the existence of habitat niche divergence related to topography in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
De Carvalho L. M. T., Fontes M. A. L. & De Oliveria-Filho A. T. (2000) Tree species distribution in canopy gaps and mature forest in an area of cloud forest of the Ibitipoca Range, southern-eastern Brazil. Plant Ecology 149: 9–22.
Enoki T., Kawaguchi H. & Iwatsubo G. (1997) Nutrient-uptake and nutrient-use efficiency of Pinus thunbergii Parl. along a topographical gradient of soil nutrient availability. Ecological Research 12: 191–199.
Foster J. R. (1988) Disturbance history, community organization and vegetation dynamics of old-growth Pisgah Forest, southwestern New Hampshire, U.S.A. Journal of Ecology 76: 105–134.
Hara M., Hirata K., Fujihara M. & Oono K. (1996) Vegetation structure in relation to micro-landform in an evergreen broad-leaved forest on Amami Ohshima Island, south-west Japan. Ecological Research 11: 325–337.
Hatsushima S. & Amano T. (1994) Flora of the Ryukyus, South of Amami Island. The Biological Society of Okinawa, Nishihara.
Hirobe M., Tokuchi N. & Iwatsubo G. (1998) Spatial variability of soil nitrogen transformation patterns along a forest slope in a. Cryptomeria japonica D. Don plantation. European Journal of Soil Biology 34: 123–131.
Hunter J. C. & Parker V. T. (1993) The disturbance regime of an old-growth forest in coastal California. Journal of Vegetation Science 4: 19–24.
Ito Y. (1997) Diversity of forest tree species in Yanbaru, northern part of Okinawa Island. Plant Ecology 133: 125–133.
Iwao S. (1972) Application of the m*-m method to the analysis of spatial patterns by changing the quadrat size. Research on Population Ecology 14: 97–128.
Iwao S. (1977) Analysis of spatial association between two species based on the interspecies mean crowding. Research on Population Ecology 18: 243–260.
Kilgore B. M. & Taylor D. (1979) Fire history of a Sequoia-mixed conifer forest. Ecology 60: 129–142.
Manabe T. & Yamamoto S. (1997) Spatial distribution of Eurya japonica in an old-growth evergreen broad-leaved forest, SW Japan. Journal of Vegetation Science 8: 761–772.
Masaki T., Suzuki W., Niiyama N., Iida S., Tanaka H. & Nakashizuka T. (1992) Community structure of species-rich temperate forest, Ogawa Forest Reserve, Central Japan. Vegetatio 98: 97–111.
Ozaki K. & Ohsawa M. (1995) Successional change of forest pattern along topographical gradients in warm-temperate mixed forest in Mt Kiyosumi, Central Japan. Ecological Research 10: 223–234.
Pieloue E. C. (1966) The measurement of diversity in different types of biological collections. Journal of Theoretical Biology 13: 131–144.
Pinder J. E. Iii, Kroh G. C., White J. D. & Basham May A. M. (1997) The relationship between vegetation type and topography in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Plant Ecology 131: 17–29.
Sakai A. & Ohsawa M. (1993) Vegetation pattern and microtopography on a landslide scar of Mt Kiyosumi, Central Japan. Ecological Research 8: 47–56.
Sakai A. & Ohsawa M. (1994) Topographical pattern of the forest vegetation on a river basin in a warm temperate hilly region, central Japan. Ecological Research 9: 269–280.
Shimizu Y. (1984) Regeneration of the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest at Chichijima in the Bonin (Ogasawara) islands with reference to an environmental gradient and canopy gaps. Japanese Journal of Ecology 34: 87–100.
Shinzato T., Taba K., Hirata E. & Yamamori N. (1986) Regeneration of Castanopsis sieboldii forest. 1 Studies on stratification and age structure of a natural stand. The Science Bulletin of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus 33: 245–256 (in Japanese with English summary).
Sokal R. R. & Rohlf F. J. (1995) Biometry, 3rd edn. W.H. Freeman Co, New York.
Sunakawa S. & Yamamori N. (1964) Stand composition of mature broad-leaved trees. The Science Bulletin of the Division of Agriculture, Home Economics and Engineering, University of The Ryukyus 11: 83–101 (in Japanese with English summary).
Yamada T., Itoh A., Kanzaki M., Yamakura T., Suzuki E. & Ashton P. S. (2000) Local and geographical distributions for a tropical tree genus, Scaphium (Sterculiaceae) in the Far East. Plant Ecology 148: 23–30.
Yamakura T., Kanzaki M., Itoh A., Ohkubo T., Ogino K., Chai E. O. K., Lee H. S. & Ashton P. S. (1995) Topography of large-scale research plot established within a tropical rain forest at Lambir, Sarawak. Tropics 5: 41–56.
Yamakura T., Kanzaki M., Itoh A., Ohkubo T., Ogino K., Chai E. O. K., Lee H. S. & Ashton P. S. (1996) Forest structure of a tropical rain forest at Lambir, Sarawak with special reference to the dependency of its physiognomic dimensions on topography. Tropics 6: 1–18.
Yoshida N. & Ohsawa M. (1999) Seedling success of Tsuga sieboldii along a microtopographic gradient in a mixed cool-temperature forest in Japan. Plant Ecology 140: 89–98.
Zak D. R., Hairston A. & Grigal D. F. (1991) Topographic influences on nitrogen cycling within an upland pin oak ecosystem. Forest Science 37: 45–53.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Enoki, T. Microtopography and distribution of canopy trees in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Japan. Ecol Res 18, 103–113 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1703.2003.00549.x
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1703.2003.00549.x