Abstract
The nut productivity, density of fallen nuts, seedling appearance and seedling survival of a Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume) were investigated at three localities, Mt Gozaisho, Mt Hodaka and Mt Bandai, Japan, from 1976 to 1992. Two patterns of cycles, a short cycle and a long one, were confirmed in the beech nut productivity. Synchronization in the long cycle was recognized both on Mt Hodaka and Mt Bandai. On Mt Gozaisho, the beech nut productivity was quite low, and the seedlings disappeared within 1 year. The phenomenon on Mt Gozaisho seemed to be caused by the low matter production mainly due to erosion and poor soils. A large number of seedlings appeared in the next spring of heavy mast years on Mt Hodaka and Mt Bandai. The large beech nut productivity contributed to the large seedling supply, and this enhanced the survival probability of beech seedlings. This demonstrates the possibility that beech seedlings survived longer even under dense dwarf bamboos, particularly if the seedling supply was large.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Hara M. (1983) A study of the regeneration process of a Japanese beech forest.Ecological Review 20: 115–129.
Hashizume H. (1987) Production and dispersal of reproductive organs ofFagaceae species in natural forests.Hardwood Research 4: 271–290 (in Japanese).
Hashizume H &Yamamoto S. (1974) Seed bearing of beech trees (Fagus crenata Blume) in the Chugoku District of Japan. (I) A survey of fruit bearing.Journal of the Japanese Forestry Society 56: 165–170 (in Japanese with English summary).
Hilton G. M. &Packham J. R. (1986) Annual and regional variation in English beech mast (Fagus sylvatica L.).Arboricultural Journal 10: 3–14.
Hiroki S. &Matsubara T. (1982) Ecological studies on the plants ofFagaceae III. Comparative studies on the seed and seedling stages.Japanese Journal of Ecology 32: 227–240 (in Japanese with English summary).
Hiroki S. &Matsubara T. (1984) A case study on forest dynamics on Mt. Gozaisho. Shu-Seibutsugaku-Kenkyu8: 11–20.
Janzen D. H. (1971) Seed predation by animals.Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 2: 465–492.
Kamitani T. (1986) Studies on the process of formation of secondary beech forest in a heavy snowfall region (III) Seed production in secondary beech forests with six different diameter classes.Journal of the Japanese Forestry Society 68: 447–453 (in Japanese with English summary).
Kikuchi S. (1968) A research on the fruit-bearing of beech forests for the natural regeneration.Bulletin of the Yamagata University (Agricultural Science) 5: 451–456 (in Japanese with English summary).
Maeda T. (1988) Studies on natural regeneration of beech (Fagus crenata Blume).Special Bulletin of the College of Agriculture Utsunomiya University 46: 1–79 (in Japanese with English summary).
Maeda T. &Miyakawa K. (1971) New techniques for natural regeneration of beech. In:New Techniques for Natural Regeneration, pp. 179–252. Sobun, Tokyo (in Japanese).
Matthews J. D. (1955) The influence of weather on the frequency of beech mast years in England.Forestry 28: 108–116.
Miguchi H. &Maruyama K. (1984) Ecological studies on a natural beech forest (XXXVI) Development and dynamics of beech nuts in a mast year.Journal of the Japanese Forestry Society 66: 320–327 (in Japanese with English summary).
Nakashizuka T. (1988) Regeneration of beech (Fagus crenata) after the simultaneous death of under growing dwarf bamboo (Sasa kurilensis).Ecological Research 3: 21–35.
Nakashizuka T. &Numata M. (1982) Regeneration process of climax beech forests I. Structure of a beech forest with the undergrowth ofSasa.Japanese Journal of Ecology 32: 57–67.
Nomoto N. (1956) Analysis of the succession process on the beech-oak forest.Japanese Journal of Ecology 6: 102–113.
Ohkubo T., Niwa A., Kaji M. &Hamaya T. (1989) Nut fall, production, and seedling survival in a naturalFagus japonica forest in the Chichibu Mountains, Central Japan.Japanese Journal of Ecology 39: 17–26 (in Japanese with English summary).
Saito H., Imai H. &Tateoka M. (1991) Peculiarities of sexual reproduction inFagus crenata forests in relation to annual production of reproductive organs.Ecological Research 6: 277–290.
Salisbury E. J. (1942)The Reproductive Capacity of Plants. William Clowes and Sons, London.
Sasaki C. (1985) Periodicity of seed production of broad-leaved trees and shrubs native to the central area of Hokkaido.Hokkaido Forest Tree Breeding Association 28: 20–25 (in Japanese).
Schwappach A. (1895) Die Samenproduction der wichtigsten Waldholzarten in Preussen.Zeitshrift für Forst-und Jagdwesen 27: 147–174.
Smythe N. (1970) Relationships between fruiting seasons and seed dispersal methods in a neotropical forest.American Naturalist 104: 25–35.
Suzuki W. (1989) Fruiting cycle and local variation on seed production of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume).Japanese Journal of Forest Environment 31: 7–13. (in Japanese).
Yanagiya S., Kon T. &Konishi A. (1971) On the characteristics of floor plants and regeneration of Buna (Fagus crenata) natural forest, especially on Sasa plants.Journal of the Japanese Forestry Society 53: 146–148 (in Japanese).
Yoshioka K. (1939) Montane forest on Mt. Hakkoda. I. On the forests ofFagus-Sasa climax zone.Ecological Review 4: 27–38 (in Japanese with English summary).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Hiroki, S., Matsubara, T. Fluctuation of nut production and seedling appearance of a Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume). Ecol. Res. 10, 161–169 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02347938
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02347938