Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth characteristics of six tree species on Hokkaido Island, northern Japan

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Ecological Research

Based on growth data obtained from 13 804 individual trees in 110 permanent plots, diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) growth was modeled for six major tree species growing in Hokkaido Island, northern Japan. For each species, d.b.h. growth was regressed on independent variables, indicating the effects of initial size, competition, climate and topography. In developing the d.b.h. growth models, independent variables were selected using the stepwise method. For all species analyzed, the final models accounted for significant amounts of the variation (r2 = 5.65−20.99%; P < 5%) in d.b.h. growth. Significant (P < 5%) effects of competition, climate and topography on d.b.h. growth were detected. The model obtained can be used in simulations of forest dynamics. Some ecological questions were examined using the d.b.h. growth models obtained. For hardwoods, the d.b.h. growth rate did not correlate with the published grouping of species in terms of shade-tolerance; however, the plasticity in d.b.h. growth in the presence of competition seemed to be correlated with the shade-tolerance of species. The degree of asymmetry in competition evaluated for each species was not correlated with the availability of underground resources, which was expressed by surrogate variables (mean values of climatic and topographic variables for species). The degree of asymmetry in competition was not different between conifers and hardwoods.

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

  • Abe N. (1991) Forest management support system for Abies sachalinensis MAST. planted forest (I) Estimation of site index for yield at sub-compartment by planted direction of a slope. Transactions of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Forestry Society 102: 159–160. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Abrams M. D., Copenheaver C. A., Terazawa K., Umeki K., Takiya M., Akashi N. (1999) A 370-year dendroecological history of an old-growth Abies–Acer–Quercus forest in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Canadian Journal of Forest Science 29: 1891–1899.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous (1984). Manual for Permanent Plot Census. Office of Prefectural Forest Management, Sapporo (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Barclay H. J. & Layton C. R. (1990) Growth and mortality in managed Douglas fir: Relation to a competition index. Forest Ecology and Management 36: 187–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bazzaz F. A. (1979) The physiological ecology of plant succession. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 10: 351–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Botkin D. B. (1993) Forest Dynamics: an Ecological Model. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grime J. P. (1979) Plant Strategies and Vegetation Processes. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hairston A. B. & Grigal D. F. (1991) Topographic influences on soils and trees within single mapping units on a sandy outwash landscape. Forest Ecology and Management 43: 35–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hara T. (1992) Effects of the mode of competition on stationary size distribution in plant populations. Annals of Botany 69: 509–513.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hara T. (1993a) Effects of variation in individual growth on plant species coexistence. Journal of Vegetation Science 4: 409–416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hara T. (1993b) Mode of competition and size-structure dynamics in plant communities. Plant Species Biology 8: 75–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper J. L. (1977) Population Biology of Plants. Academic Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatakeyama S. (1981) Genetical and breeding studies on the regional differences of interprovenence variation in Abies sachalinensis MAST. Bulletin of the Hokkaido Forest Experiment Station 19: 1–91 (in Japanese with English summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • Higo M. (1987) Growth characteristics of Quercus mongolica var. grosseserrata, Tilia japonica and Acer mono seedlings. Research Bulletin of the College Experiment Forests Hokkaido University 44: 139–152 (in Japanese with English summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiura T., Fujiwara K., Hojyo H., Okada J., Udo H., Okuyama S., Morita H., Fukuta H., Fujito E., Fukui T., Takahata M., Arikura K., Sugiyama H., Takeda T. (1995) Stand structure and long-term dynamics of primeval forests in Nakagawa Experimental Forest, Hokkaido University. Research Bulletin of the Hokkaido University Forests 52: 85–94 (in Japanese with English summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiura T., Uejima N., Okuda A., Hohjo H., Ishida N., Okuyama S. (1998) Crowding effects on diameter growth for Abies sachalinensis, Quercus crispula and Acer mono trees in a northern mixed forest, Nakagawa Experimental Forest. Research Bulletin of the Hokkaido University Forests 55: 255–261 (in Japanese with English summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang S. & Titus S. J. (1995) An individual tree diameter increment model for White Spruce in Alberta. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 25: 1455–1465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishikawa Y., Haruki M., Ito K. (1986) Ecological studies of mixed forests in Nopporo national forest, central Hokkaido, Japan: Relationships between the distribution of aged forests and environmental factors. Environmental Science, Hokkaido 9: 225–238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishikawa Y. & Ito K. (1989) The regeneration process in a mixed forest in central Hokkaido, Japan. Vegetatio 79: 75–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishizuka M. & Sugawara S. (1986) Composition and structure of natural mixed forests in central Hokkaido (I) Composition differences and species characteristics by elevation and from disturbance. Journal of the Japanese Forestry Society 68: 79–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishizuka M. & Sugawara S. (1989) Composition and structure of natural mixed forests in central Hokkaido (II) Effect of disturbances on the forest vegetation patterns along the topographic moisture gradients. Journal of the Japanese Forestry Society. 71: 89–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenny H. (1980) The Soil Resource: Origin and Behavior. Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 276–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kikuzawa K., Asai T., Fukuchi M., Mizutani E. (1979) Structure and growth of deciduous hardwood stand in Hokkaido (I) An analysis of stand in Mikasa City. Bulletin of the Hokkaido Forest Experiment Station 17: 1–11 (in Japanese with English summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kikuzawa K. & Umeki K. (1996) Effect of canopy structure on degree of asymmetry of competition in two forest stands in northern Japan. Annals of Botany 77: 565–571.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimura N., Ogasawara S., Kisanuki H., Kurahashi A., Watanabe S. (1996) Survival process variation of seven Ezo spruce (Picea jezoensis) proveneances under the nursery condition. Transactions of the Meeting in Hokkaido Branch of the Japanese Forestry Society 44: 95–97 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kira T. (1991) Forest ecosystems of east and southeast Asia in a global perspective. Ecological Research 6: 185–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kisanuki H. & Kurahashi A. (1998) Difference in growth and first seed production of Quercus mongolica var. grosseserrata among some provenance. Transactions of the Meeting in Hokkaido Branch of the Japanese Forestry Society 46: 160–162. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohyama T. & Shigesada N. (1995) A size-distribution-based model of forest dynamics along a latitudinal enironmental gradient. Vegetatio 121: 117–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koike T. (1988) Leaf structure and photosynthetic performance as related to the forest succession of deciduous broad-leaved trees. Plant Species Biology 3: 77–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubota Y. & Hara T. (1995) Canopy tree competition and species coexistence in a sub-boreal forest, northern Japan. Annals of Botany 76: 503–512.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubota Y., Konno Y., Hiura T. (1994) Stand structure and growth patterns of understorey trees in a coniferous forest, Taisetsuzan National Park, northern Japan. Ecological Research 9: 333–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monserud R. A. & Sterba H. (1996) A basal area increment model for individual trees growing in even- and uneven-aged forest stands in Austria. Forest Ecology and Management 80: 57–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy P. A. & Shelton M. G. (1996) An individual-tree basal area growth model for loblolly pine stands. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 26: 327–331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Namikawa K., Ishikawa Y., Sano J. (1997) Stand dynamics during a 12 year period in a second-growth stand in a cool temperate forest in northern Japan. Ecological Research 12: 277–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peet R. K. & Christensen N. L. (1980) Succession: a population process. Vegetatio 43: 131–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quicke H. E., Meldahl R. S., Kush J. S. (1994) Basal area growth of individual trees: a model derived from a regional longleaf pine growth study. Forest Science 40: 528–542.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan T. P. (1997) Modern Regression Methods. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sato T. (1992) Comparison of branching pattern between Abies sachalinensis and Picea jezoensis saplings. Transactions of the Meeting in Hokkaido Branch of the Japanese Forestry Society 40: 86–88 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwinning S. & Weiner J. (1998) Mechanisms determining the degree of size asymmetry in competition among plants. Oecologia 113: 447–455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith S. H. & Bell J. F. (1983) Using competitive stress index to estimate diameter growth for thinned Douglas-fir stands. Forest Science 29: 491–499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stage A. R. (1976) An expression for the effect of aspect, slope and habitat type on tree growth. Forest Science 22: 457–460.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terazawa K. & Usui G. (1987) Distribution and seasonal change of potential evapotranspiration/precipitation from May to October in Hokkaido. Bulletin of Hokkaido Forest Experiment Station 25: 36–49. (in Japanese with English summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • Uemura S. (1994) Climatic preferences and frequent co-occurrence of boreal and temperate plants in Hokkaido Island, northern Japan. Vegetatio 112: 113–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Umeki K. & Kikuzawa K. (1999) Long-term growth dynamics of natural forests in Hokkaido Island, northern Japan. Journal of Vegetation Science 10: 815–824.

    Google Scholar 

  • Usui G. (1981) Cloudless solar irradiation on slopes in Hokkaido, with tables for 42–45 latitude. Transactions of the Annual Meeting of the Japanese Forestry Society 92: 173–176 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe S. (1994) Specia of Trees. University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiner J. (1990) Asymmetric competition in plant populations. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 5: 360–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker R. H. (1975) Communities and Ecosystems, 2nd edn. Macmillan, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright E. F., Coates K. D., Canham C. D., Bartemucci P. (1998) Species variability in growth response to light across climatic regions in northwestern British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 28: 871–886.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wykoff W. R. (1990) A basal area increment model for individual conifers in the northern Rocky Mountains. Forest Science 36: 1077–1104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanagisawa N. & Fujita N. (1999) Different distribution patterns of woody species on a slope in relation to vertical root distribution and dynamics of soil moisture profiles. Ecological Research 14: 165–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yim Y.-J. & Kira T. (1975) Distribution of forest vegetation and climate in the Korean Peninsula. I. Distribution of some indices of thermal climate. Japanese Journal of Ecology 25: 77–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yokozawa M. & Hara T. (1992) A canopy photosynthesis model for the dynamics of size structure and self-thinning in plant populations. Annals of Botany 70: 305–316.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dohoku Branch Station, Hokkaido Forestry Research Institute, Homare, Nakagawa, Hokkaido, 098-2805, Japan

    Kiyoshi Umeki

Authors
  1. Kiyoshi Umeki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kiyoshi Umeki.

About this article

Cite this article

Umeki, K. Growth characteristics of six tree species on Hokkaido Island, northern Japan. Ecol Res 16, 435–450 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1703.2001.00409.x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1703.2001.00409.x

Key words

Search

Navigation