Changes in Vegetation Area and Species Richness of the Secondary Forest for 50 years in Mt.Rokko, Southeastern Hyogo Prefecture

Abstract

A secondary forest was created by afforest of Pinus densiflora in Mt. Rokko which was bare mountain. In recent years, the vegetation has changed due to pine wilt disease and progress of succession, however the changes in secondary forests that have shifted from bare mountain regions have not been clarified. The objective of this study was to comprehensively understand the changes in the areas of secondary forests and species diversity from the 1950's to the present. It was found that succession has progressed and the areas of Quercus serrata forests that have low species diversity have increased. A decrease in the species diversity was not confirmed in Pinus densiflora forests; however the forests have been changed to a community that has many component species of evergreen forests. Based on these results, it is suggested that the species diversity in secondary forests whole Mt.Rokko will decrease in the future. Further, the results indicated that the component species of summer-green forests that had existed in Mt.Rokko before became bare mountain would disappear.