Abstract
The ecological roles of stem sprouts and creeping sprouts ofAucuba japonica Thunb. were investigated through comparisons of the population structure at individual and stem level between two sites with different disturbance histories. Age and size structure of individuals indicated fewer chances for establishment of new individuals in undisturbed population. Maintenance of population was achieved by stem replacement within a clump and vegetative propagation with creeping sprouts which adapted to the non-severe disturbances. Rapid recovery by vigorous sprouting and encouraged seedling recruitment were detected in the disturbed sites. Results of the stem level analysis suggested transformation of stem sprouts into creeping sprouts. The major role of stem sprouts shifted from the maintenance of individuals to recovery of individuals by a severe disturbance. These differentiation of ecological roles among stem types, and their flexible changes according to disturbance regimes were thought to be the reasons whyA. japonica can achieve both the rapid dominance in a disturbed stand and the stable population in a less disturbed stand.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Denslow, J.S. (1980) Gap partitioning among tropical rainforest trees. Biotropica 12, suppl.: 47–55.
Denslow, J.S., Schultz, J.C., Vitousek, P.M., and Strain, B.R. (1990) Growth responses of tropical shrubs to treefall gap environments. Ecology 71: 165–179.
Gyokusen, K., Iijima, Y., and Yahata, T. (1991) Spatial distribution and morphological features of root sprouts in niseakashia (Robinia pseudo-acasia L.) growing under a coastal black pine forests. Bull. Kyushu Univ. For. 64: 13–28. (in Japanese with English summary)
Hara, N. (1980) Shoot development ofAucuba japonica I. Morphological study. Bot. Mag. Tokyo 93: 101–116.
Harper, J.L. (1977) Population biology of plants. 892pp, Academic Press, London.
Ida, H. and Nakagoshi, N. (1994) Regeneration of temperate deciduous forest inSasa grassland: Process of zonation ofFagus crenata forest-Quercus mongolica var.grosseserrata forest-Sasa grassland. Jpn. J. Ecol. 44: 271–281. (in Japanese with English summary)
Isobe, H. and Kikuchi, T. (1989) Differences in shoot form and age ofAucuba japonica Thunb. corresponding to the micro-landforms on a hill slope. Ecol. Rev. 21: 277–281.
Ito, S. (1996) Studies on the forest dynamics control on the basis of the physiological functions of sprouts. Bull. Miyazaki Univ. For. 13: 1–76.
Ito, S. and Gyokusen, K. (1992) Effects of defoliation, bud removal and girdling treatments on sprouting ofQuercus acutissima Carr. J. Fac. Agric. Kyushu Univ. 37: 189–196.
Ito, S. and Nakamura, F. (1994) Forest disturbance and regeneration in relation to earth surface movement. Jpn. J. For. Environ. 36: 31–40. (in Japanese with English summary)
Ito, S. and Gyokusen, K. (1996) Analysis of the multistem clump structure ofLitsea japonica Juss. growing in a coastal dwarfforest. Ecol. Res. 11: 17–22.
Ito, S., Yahata, H., and Suzaki, T. (1989) Comparisons of early growth between seedlings and relationship between original tree size and vigor of sprouts ofPasania edulis. J. Fac. Agric. Kyushu Univ. 34: 77–94.
Itou, K. and Saito, A. (1994) Seed dispersal and seedling survival ofAucuba japonica in broad-leaved forest. Bull. Kyushu Br. Jpn. For. Soc. 47: 85–86. (In Japanese)
Kume, A. and Ino, Y. (1993) Comparison of ecophysiological responses to heavy snow in two varieties ofAucuba japonica with different areas of distribution. Ecol. Res. 8: 111–121.
Manabe, T., Yamamoto, S., and Chiba, K. (1991a) Stump sprouting of evergreen shrub,Eurya japonica, within a current year of the cutting. J. Jpn. Soc. Rev. Tech. 16 (4): 1–9. (in Japanese with English summary)
Manabe, T., Yamamoto, S., and Chiba, K. (1991b) Seedling recruitment and sprouting of evergreen shrub,Eurya japonica, at disturbed sites. J. Jpn. Soc. Rev. Tech. 17 (1): 27–36. (in Japanese with English summary)
Morisita, M. (1959) Measuring of the dispersion of individuals and analysis of the distributional patterns. Mem. Fac. Sci. Kyushu Univ., Ser. E (Biol.) 2: 215–235.
Moriyama, Y. and Yamamoto, S. (1994) Occurrence pattern and size structure of clonal patches ofChamaecyparis pisifera under a closed canopy and a canopy gap in an old-growthC. picifera forest. J. Jpn. For. Soc. 76: 426–432.
Ogawa, M. and Hukusima, T. (1996) Root sprout and seedling dynamics ofPrunus ssiori inAbies mariesii forest in Oku-Nikko, Kanto District. J. Jpn. For. Soc. 78: 195–200.
Ohkubo, T., Kaji, M., and Hamaya, T. (1988) Structure of primary Japanese beech forest in the Chichibu mountain, central Japan with special reference to regeneration processes. Ecol. Res. 3: 101–116.
Sakai, A. (1997) Ecological significance of sprouts tree species. — sprouting characteristics as a strategy of life history. Shuseibutugaku Kenkyu 21: 1–12. (in Japanese)
Shimano, K. and Okitsu, S. (1993) Regeneration of mixedFagus crenata-Fagus japonica forests in Mt. Mito, Okutama, west of Tokyo. Jpn. J. Ecol. 43: 13–19.
Sugita, H. (1993) Reconstruction of the history of aThujopsis dolabrata var. hondai forest (II) Regeneration pattern. J. Jpn. For. Soc. 75: 201–207. (in Japanese with English summary)
Suzuki, W. (1989) The structure and seed production of two population ofRubus palamatus var.coptophyllus under different light conditions. J. Jpn. For. Soc. 71: 349–355.
Suzuki, W. (1990) Comparative ecology ofRubus species (Rosaceas) II Reproductive characteristics of threeRubus species,R. palmatus var.coptophyllus, R. microphyllus andR. crataegifolius. Plant Species Biol. 5: 263–275.
Suzuki, W. (1992) The formation structure of theRubus palmatus var.coptophyllus population developed after the thinning ofChamaecyparis obtusa plantation. J. Jpn. For. Soc. 74: 229–237.
Suzuki, W. and Maeda, T. (1981) Formation and structure of theRubus community (I) Eco-physiological analysis ofRubus species. J. Jpn. For. Soc. 92: 235–237. (in Japanese)
Taira, H. (1994) The regeneration system of Tateyama sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) J. Jpn. For. Soc. 76: 547–552. (in Japanese with English summary)
Takasu, H. (1991) Field Watching 3. 103pp, Hokuryukan, Tokyo, 34–37. (in Japanese)
Tanaka, N. (1985) Patchy structure of a temperate mixed forest and topography in the Chichibu mountains. Jpn. J. Ecol. 35: 153–167. (in Japanese with English summary)
Tanimoto, T. (1993) Sprouting of beech (Fagus crenata Blume) in the regeneration of the beech forests and its environmental condition. Jpn. J. For. Environ. 35: 42–49. (in Japanese with English summary)
Taylor, J.S., Blake, T.J., and Pharis, R.P. (1982) The role of plant hormones and carbohydrates in the growth and survival of coppicedEucalyptus seedlings. Physiol. Plant. 55: 421–430.
Yamamoto, S. (1993) Structure and dynamics of an old-growthChamaecyparis forest in Akasawa Forest Reserve, Kiso district, central Japan. Jpn. J. For. Environ. 35: 32–41.
Yamamoto, S., Moriyama, Y., and Kobayashi, M. (1994) Two types of vegetative reproduction ofChamaecyparis pisifera (Sieb. et Zucc.) Endl. Jpn. J. For. Environ. 36: 57–59.
Yamamura, Y. (1986) Matter-economical roles of the evergreen foliage ofAucuba japonica, an understorey shrub in the warm-temperate region of Japan. II. Leaf demography, productivity and dry matter economy. Bot. Mag. Tokyo 99: 323–332.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Ito, K., Ito, S., Gyokusen, K. et al. Ecological roles of stem sprouts and creeping sprouts ofAucuba japonica Thunb.. J For Res 4, 137–143 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02762238
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02762238