2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

the effects of invasive woody species on belowground ecosystem of oceanic island

Research Project

Project/Area Number	21710243
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Resource conservation science
Research Institution	Tohoku University
Principal Investigator	KUROKAWA Hiroko 東北大学, 大学院・生命科学研究科, 助教 (70515733)
Project Period (FY)	2009 – 2011
Keywords	生態系保全 / 外来種 / 生態系機能
Research Abstract	The aim of this study was to understand how an invasive woody species, Bischofia javanica, affect soil ecosystem of oceanic islands, Ogasawara, in Japan. First, we compared the leaf functional traits of B. javanica to those of native woody species in Ogasawara. We found that B. javanica had higher phenolic concentrations in their leaves when compared to native woody species. It is also suggested that B. javanica increased soil acidity and decreased phenolic concentrations and microbial activity in soils probably through their leaf litter.