Structuring processes of a species-rich riparian metacommunty of trees and a test of the neutral theory of biodiversity based on environmental niches vs. competitive stochasticity

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23380087
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Forest science
• Research Institution: Akita Prefectural University
• Principal Investigator: HOSHIZAKI Kazuhiko 秋田県立大学, 生物資源科学部, 准教授 (30322655)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SHIBATA Mitsue 独立行政法人森林総合研究所, 東北支所, グループ長 (10343807) ; HOSHINO Daisuke 国際農林水産業研究センター, 林業領域, 主任研究員 (60391182) ; MATSUSHITA Michinari 独立行政法人森林総合研究所, 林木育種センター, 研究員 (70624899)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MASAKI Takashi 独立行政法人森林総合研究所, 森林食生領域, 領域長 (60353851) ; OSUMI Katsuhiro 鳥取大学, 農学部付属フィールドサイエンスセンター, 教授 (60353611)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 成長関数 / 個体差 / 偶然性 / 生存関数 / 更新ニッチ / 成長と生存のトレードオフ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A recently proposed biodiversity theory, neutral theory of biodiversity, assumes seed-dispersal limitation and competitive equivalence among individuals in species-rich communities, which we tested in this project. In a temperate riparian mixed forest, sapling habitat segregation was found, as well as weak seed dispersal limitations, suggesting classical niche partitioning. Results of analysis of neighborhood competition, in which species-based prediction via competitive ranks and individual match-ups were compared, provided partial support for the competitive equivalence and/or stochastic nature of among-species competition in this community.

Free Research Field

森林生態学