Impacts of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) invasion on dry matter and carbon and nitrogen stocks in a broad‐leaved secondary forest located in Kyoto, western Japan

Abstract

In western and central Japan, the expansion of exotic moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel ex J. Houz.) populations into neighboring vegetation has become a serious problem. Although the effects of bamboo invasion on biodiversity have been well studied, shifts in nutrient stocks and cycling, which are fundamental for ecosystem functioning, are not fully understood. To explore the effects of P. pubescens invasion on ecosystem functions we examined above-and below-ground dry matter and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks in a pure broad-leaved tree stand, a pure bamboo stand, and two tree-bamboo mixed stands with different vegetation mix ratios in the secondary forest of Kyoto, western Japan. In the process of invasion, bamboo shoots offset broad-leaved tree deaths; thus, no clear trend was apparent in total above-or below-ground biomass or in plant C and N stocks during invasion. However, the ratio of above-ground to below-ground biomass (T/R ratio at the stand level) decreased with increasing bamboo dominance, especially in the early stages of invasion. This shift indicates that rapid bamboo rhizomatous growth is a main driver of substantial changes in stand structure. We also detected rises in the C/N ratio of forest-floor organic matter during bamboo invasion. Thus major impacts of P. pubescens invasion into broad-leaved forests include not only early shifts in biomass allocation, but also changes in the distribution pattern of C and N stored in plants and soil.

Accessing the impacts of bamboo expansion on NPP and N cycling in evergreen broadleaved forest in subtropical China

“…. The total biomass of the BDF was 205.5 t ha −1 , which was in the range of 132.8–309.2 t ha −1 previously reported for equivalent vegetation in various regions of China and Japan142526. The biomass showed limited changes because the increase in bamboo biomass (131.2 t ha −1 ) was nearly sufficient to compensate for the loss of tree biomass (127.1 t ha −1 ) (Fig.…”

“…is the most broadly distributed bamboo species in subtropical China10. Because it grows quickly and has a leptomorph (running) rhizome system, P. pubescens can spread rapidly into disturbed forests as well as undisturbed forests, including areas characterized by shrubs11, coniferous forest12, mixed needle and broadleaved forest13 and pure broadleaved forest1415. The unbridled expansion of P. pubescens has imposed great ecological consequences on these forests413, therefore, it has been considered as one of the greatest contemporary threats to woody forests in China.…”

“…Apart from its effects on plant biomass and production, nitrogen dynamics are essentially driven by the development of a bamboo biomass pool. It is likely that bamboo have relatively higher leaf N concentration than those of the dominant species in broadleaved forest14. This shift in tissue quality, along with a shift toward greater belowground biomass, will alter aboveground N pools and soil N pool, as well as litter dynamics.…”

IMPACT OF Bambusa tuldoides MUNRO (POACEAE) ON FOREST REGENERATION

“…Studies about natural regeneration are important to comprehend the forest dynamics and structure, helping in management and monitoring of environmental changes (LARPKERN et al, 2011;LIMA et al, 2012;FUKUSHIMA et al, 2015).…”

“…Current studies indicate that bamboos change forest structure, floristic composition and resilience of vegetal communities (ELIAS et al, 2015;FUKUSHIMA et al, 2015). Studies about natural regeneration in bamboodominated forest remnants allow show impacts in vegetal community and may to indicate restoration practices.…”