2006 Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 3-14
Understanding the relationship between tree phytolith composition and vegetation is indispensable for the reconstruction of past forest vegetation by phytolith analysis. To examine the relationship between modern tree phytolith assemblages and the compositon of lucidophyllous forests in the southern part of Miyazaki Prefecture, we studied six types of phytolith, i.e., Quercus subgen. Cyclobalanopsis type, Castanopsis type, Distylium type, Lauraceae type, Pinaceae type, and Sabiaceae type, derived from leaves of major tree species in these forests. Concentration of Quercus subgen. Cyclobalanopsis type and Castanopsis type phytoliths in modern assemblages reflected the dominance of Quercus subgen. Cyclobalanopsis and Castanopsis species in the study sites. Occurrence of Lauraceae type and Sabiaceae type phytoliths in modern assemblages corresponded to the distribution of Litsea acuminata and Meliosma rigida in the study sites, respectively. Pinaceae type phytoliths tended to appear in secondary lucidophyllous forests with Pinus trees. Distylium type phytoliths in modern assemblages concentrated highly in the study plots including those without Distylium racemosum trees. The exceptional abundance of Distylium type phytoliths in modern assemblages implied an overestimate of Distylium trees by phytolith analysis.
