Factors determining the expansion of alder forests in a wetland isolated by artificial dikes and drainage ditches

Shida, Yuichiro; Nakamura, Futoshi; Yamada, Hiroyuki; Nakamura, Takatoshi; Yoshimura, Nobuhiko; Kaneko, Masami

doi:10.1672/08-175.1

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The soil pH of hummocks in alder forest at our study site was thus notably low. Low pH could be one of the factors that limit alder distribution (Shida et al 2009). It is therefore difficult to argue that low pH was the factor that promoted seedling establishment.…”

Section: Germination Characteristics Of Japanese Aldermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a significant increase in canopy density of alder trees in Kushiro mire should be attributed to seedling establishment (Shida et al 2009). Alder seedlings can establish opportunistically even in the herbaceous fen when litter is less accumulated, seedlings can avoid submergence on hummocks and sufficient numbers of seeds are dispersed.…”

Section: Germination Characteristics Of Japanese Aldermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It grows mainly in wet lowlands and is very uncommon in hilly and mountain areas. Because alder is rapidly expanding in mire areas in northern Japan, the resulting simplification of mire vegetation and the accompanying losses of wetland animal habitat are serious concerns (Shida et al 2009). To address this situation, we need information about the population dynamics of Alnus japonica and the factors that permit growth of alder populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microenvironmental conditions for Japanese alder seedling establishment in a hummocky fen

Shida

Nakamura

2011

Plant Ecol

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In this article, we focused on hummocky microtopography as a prominent feature of mires and explored the microenvironmental conditions suitable for alder seedling establishment. Japanese alder (Alnus japonica) forest is widely distributed in wetlands in northern Japan. However, because alder seedlings are rare in mires, alder population dynamics and conditions that favor the establishment of alder seedlings are still unknown. The study was conducted in northern Japan at a site in mesotrophic mire. We surveyed the seedling density, the microenvironmental conditions (light, litter cover, and soil quality), and the density of dispersed seeds in alder forest and in the adjacent herbaceous fen. In addition, we performed a laboratory experiment to examine the germination characteristics of alder. Seedlings grew only on hummocks in alder forest. The percentage of litter cover on hummocks was lower than in hollows, and the density of dispersed seeds in alder forest was much higher than in herbaceous fen. Seeds of Japanese alder germinated under both light and dark conditions, and the germination rate were high under light and high-temperature conditions. Our results suggest that litter cover may inhibit seedling establishment and hummocks that characterized by less litter cover are suitable place for the establishment of seedlings. We conclude that hummocky microtopography and abundant seed rain in the mire enable the establishment of Japanese alder seedlings.

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Section: Germination Characteristics Of Japanese Aldermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Germination Characteristics Of Japanese Aldermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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