Abstract Detail

Society for Economic Botany/BSA Economic Botany Section

Kitagawa, Junko [1], Yamada, Kazuyoshi [2], Ohyama, Motonari [3], Hoshino, Yasuharu [3], Shinozuka, Yoshitsugu [4], Yonenobu, Hitoshi [2], Yasuda, Yoshinori [1].

Analysis of recent vegetation change for the successful regeneration of Kiso-hinoki cypress.

Kiso-hinoki cypress is one of the most beautiful trees in Japan. The forest was severely deforested in the early 17th century, but it was regenerated by the conservation during Edo period. The result from the Taritsu lake on Shirasu mountain pass showed the recovery of forest, however, the productivity has been less than before 17^th century. It is said the regeneration of forest is not successful because of the recent less activity of cutting undergrowth. The main undergrowth is Sasa in Kiso-hinoki cypress forest. To make a forest policy, it is essential to understand the management of the forest during Edo period when the regeneration was successful. Phytolith analysis of the core sediment from Taritsu Lake was conducted at the depth of around AD1610, late 19th century when Meiji restoration occurred and close to the present. In addition, pollen from Fukami-ike Lake in Nagano prefecture was analyzed annually from the early 20^th century to understand the recent change of the forest. The result shows that there is no remarkable difference in the number of phytolith of Sasa type among the samples. Not cutting undergrowth seems not to be the factor which prevents the regeneration of cypress trees. In both samples from around AD 1610 and the late 19^th century, the phytolith of Pleioblastus type was observed. It indicates that Pleioblastus invaded to the open space where cypress trees were cut down. However, the phytolith of Pleioblastus type was not observed in the sample from present. The area has become the place which received little sunshine. Pollen analysis indicated that the rate of evergreen tree increased after the World War II. It might be caused by the plantation of Cryptomeria japonica and the decrease of deciduous oak Together with phytolith analysis, it may be concluded that the increase of the rate of evergreen trees in the forest hinders of the regeneration of cypress forest.

Broader Impacts:

1 - International Research Center for Japanese Studies, 3-2 Oeyama-cho, Goryo, Nshikyo-ku, Kyoto, 610-1192, Japan
2 - Naruto University of Education, 748 Nakashima, Takashima, Naruto-cho, Naruto, 772-8502, Japan
3 - Tohoku University, 12-2, Kawauchi Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-0862, Japan
4 - Hokkaido University, North 10, west 4, Sapporo, Japan

Keywords:
Taritsu Lake
Fukami-ike Lake
pollen analysis
phytolith analysis
forest management
Kiso-hinoki cypress.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 14
Location: Maryland Room/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 2:30 PM
Number: 14005
Abstract ID:215