Geographic pattern and geological origin of floristic composition and genetic variation in the northernmost Fagus crenata forests in island around Japan.

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25450198
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Forest science
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University of Education
• Principal Investigator: Namikawa Kanji 北海道教育大学, 教育学部, 教授 (90192244)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KITAMURA Keiko 国立研究開発法人森林総合研究所, 北海道支所, 研究員 (00343814)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MATSUI Tetsuya 国立研究開発法人森林総合研究所, 研究員 (20414493)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 種組成 / 葉緑体DNAハプロタイプ / 逃避地 / 最終氷期

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There are two haplotypes in chloroplast DNA of Fagus crenata (beech) in Hokkaido. The one is found in the Pacific side of Hokkaido and distributed to Shimokita Peninsula and Kitakami Mountains of Tohoku, northeastern Japan. The other occurs in the Japan sea side of Hokkaido and spread to the Tsugaru Peninsula of Tohoku. These facts suggest that there are two origins of beech in Hokkaido, and the haplotype of the Japan Sea side reached at their northern limit of Kuromatsunai Depression. In this study, while Okushiri Island located in the Japan Sea, dominant haplotype of beech in this island was the type occurred in the Pacific side of Hokkaido and northeastern parts of Tohoku. Further, species composition of beech forest in Okushiri Island is characterized by species common to those in northeastern Tohoku. These facts demonstrate that Okushiri Island might be one of refugia for beech having haplotype common to the Pacific side during the last glacial epoch.

Free Research Field

森林生態学