Development of a flexible management approach for forest-grassland landscape: Utilization of ecosystem functions of woody- and herbaceous-plants

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K12426
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 64040:Social-ecological systems-related
• Research Institution: Forest Research and Management Organization
• Principal Investigator: Koyama Asuka 国立研究開発法人森林研究・整備機構, 森林総合研究所, 主任研究員 等 (90812462)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 生物多様性 / 生態系管理 / 半自然草原 / 埋土種子 / 土地利用変化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to examine an ecosystem management approach for forest-grassland landscape for improving ecosystem multifunctionality, by clarifying the biodiversity and ecosystem functions of herbaceous plants in forest ecosystems and woody plants in grassland ecosystems. This study found that seedbanks of grassland plants that do not appear in standing vegetation exist in the soil of plantation forests with a history of grassland use. This study also found that woody plants growing in semi-natural grasslands can function as habitats for gall-forming insects. These results suggest that flexible management of herbaceous- and woody-plants may lead to reduction of management costs and improving multifunctionality.

Free Research Field

生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

管理縮小による生物多様性損失に歯止めがかからない二次的生態系において、管理の省力化かつ多面的機能の向上を実現できる生態系管理への転換は急務である。本研究の成果は、これまで除去・抑制対象であった森林（特に人工林）に生育する草本植物の生物多様性ポテンシャルおよび半自然草原に定着する木本植物が担う生態系機能を明らかにしたことで、より柔軟な生態系管理に移行することの重要性を示したものである。