Publication Date:
2012-01-06
Description:
We examined the relationship between fluctuation patterns of groundwater levels (WL) and the distribution dynamics of the vascular plant Sasa palmata , in Sarobetsu Mire, northern Japan. WLs were recorded at 30 stations: 11 Sphagnum lawns, which is the original vegetation type in the area, nine Sasa communities, and ten boundary stations between those two areas. The ten boundary stations were composed of five vegetation change sites and five stable sites, categorized using maps of Sasa distribution in 1977 and 2000. The results showed that Sphagnum lawns and Sasa communities significantly differed in the average, minimum, and fluctuation range of WLs, and increases in WL after rain events. The differences between change sites and stable sites were not significant in the average WL, but were significant in the minimum and fluctuation ranges of WL and the increase in WL after rain events. These results indicate that the distribution dynamics of Sasa communities would be regulated by groundwater flow that was affected by drainage and inflow condition rather than merely groundwater drawdown as suggested in previous studies. The WL regimes at two Sphagnum lawns were similar to those at change sites, suggesting that Sasa may expand into these two stations more readily than the other Sphagnum lawn stations. Content Type Journal Article Category Report Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s11355-011-0159-y Authors Fujimura Yoshiyasu, Botanic Garden, Field Science Centre for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, North 3, West 8, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060-0003 Japan Fujita Hiroko, Botanic Garden, Field Science Centre for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, North 3, West 8, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060-0003 Japan Takada Masayuki, Hokkaido Institute of Environmental Science, North 19, West 12, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0819 Japan Inoue Takashi, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, North 9, West 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8589 Japan Journal Landscape and Ecological Engineering Online ISSN 1860-188X Print ISSN 1860-1871
Print ISSN:
1860-1871
Electronic ISSN:
1860-188X
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
