Natural Environment of Littoral Zone: Especially on the Role of Vegetation and its Conservation

Abstract

Littoral and riparian zones make a typical ecotone between terrestrial and pelegial or running-water habitats. Concerning to the characteristics and conservation of the environment of these zones, the following subjects are outlined and discussed. (1) The natural environment of littora lzone. (2) Vegetations in littora lzone. (3) Ecological functions of littoral vegetations. (4) Fish habitat and littoral vegetations. (5) Avian habitat and littoral vegetations. (6) Dragonfly habitat and littora lvegetations. (7) Food plants of lepidopteran larvae and riparian vegetations. (8) Water-quality conservation and littoral and riparian vegetations. (9) The waterside landscape and littora lvegetations. (10) Causes of recent destruction of littora lvegetations in Japan. (11) Problems in the conservation of natural environment of littoral zone. (12) Restoration of littoral vegetations.