A Vegetation Ecological View of theJapanese Archipelago

• Main Author: 宮脇 昭
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 1984
• Subjects: Tundra
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10131/7152; https://ynu.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=5264; https://ynu.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=5264&item_no=1&attribute_id=20&file_no=1

Four main vegetation regions can be recognized in the Japanese archipelago : a lowland region of evergreen broad-leaved forest （Camellietea japonicae region） a lowland-to-montane region of summergreen broad-leaved forest （Fagetea crenatae region）; various regions of subalpine needle leaved forests （Vaccinio-Piceetea region） and small regions of alpine heaths or "tundra" plus treeline krummholz. The evergreen broad-leaved forests are generally dominated by Castanopsis cuspidata (incl. var. siebodii）, Persea thunbergii, and/or various evergreen Quercus species. The understorey contains the character species Camellia japonica as well as various other evergreen smaller trees, shrubs, and herbs. This evergreen forest vegetation has been almost completely destroyed by human settlement activities. The summergreen broad-leaved forests are generally dominated by Fagus crenata and /or other holarctic deciduous trees （e.g. Ulmus, Acer） but may also contain conifers, evergreen broad-leaved understorey species, and a conspicuous ground cover of Sasa spp., a dwarf bamboo. Various wetlands are also well developed in this reion, including raised bogs and various types of fens. The vegetation of this region has recently been clear-cut over large areas and converted to conifer plantations （Larix, Cryptmeria, Chamaecyparis）. The subalpine needle-leaved forests occur above the summergreen forests wherever the mountains rise high enough, generally within the belt 1600-2500 meters in central Honshu), The most important species are Abies mariesii and A. veitchii, Tsuga diversifolia, Picea jezoensis, and Larix kaempheri, with Vaccinium spp. as character species. Above the subalpine forests (generally above 2500 m in central Honshu), and on unstable sites below, occur Pinus pumil krummholz and various alpine meadows and heaths. All of these subalpine and alpine areas are currently threatened by expanding tourism. Potential natural vegetation represents the theoretical vegetation which would arise, under current conditions, if all ...