Mechanisms of conifer dominance in tropical forests: life history, hydraulics and soil nutrition

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23255003
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 海外学術
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: Aiba Shin-ichiro 鹿児島大学, 理工学域理学系, 准教授 (60322319)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): Kitayama Kanehiro 京都大学, 農学研究科, 教授 (20324684) ; Takyu Masaaki 東京農業大学, 地域環境学部, 教授 (00366410) ; Miyamoto Kazuki 森林総合研究所, 四国支所, 研究員 (60353877)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Seino Tatsuyuki 筑波大学, 生命農学研究科, 准教授 (40362420)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 植物生態学 / 裸子植物 / 針葉樹

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Conifers of families Podocarpaceae and Araucariaceae can become dominant in mountains and on nutrient-poor soils in tropical forests which are otherwise dominated by angiosperm trees. Conifer dominance increases on more nutrient-deficient soils. On soils with intermediate fertility, conifers are 'long-lived pioneers', which regenerate during rare disturbance events and reside in canopy for a long time. On severely nutrient-deficient soils, conifers regenerate continuously. We suggest that soil fertility affects the growth of angiosperm trees, which modifies the light environments in the forest, and thereby determines conifer dominance. Apparently drought-resistant characters in conifers seem to reflect the adaptation to nutrient deficiency.

Free Research Field

植物生態学