Host: The Japanese Forestry Society
We investigated the effects of disturbance and topographic environment on tree community dynamics of a selectively cut conifer-hardwood mixed stand using logistic regression. All living trees in the study area (6.72ha) were tagged, and their diameter were measured before each logging. We measured the location of all living trees, cut stumps and fallen trees in 2002. Topographic factors had effect on dynamics of trees in broad range of size and were main factor affecting growth and mortality of large trees. Disturbance and vegetation had effects on recruitment and growth of small trees. While recruitment of conifers was positively affected by abundance of large conifers, recruitment of hardwoods was promoted by death of large conifers. This suggests that gaps created by logging of conifers are often replaced by hardwoods, and hardwoods should increase their dominance in long-term dynamics.
