A Case Study on the Structure of the Stand in the Forest Surrounding Shimogamo Shrine, Kyoto

Abstract

The structure of the forest surrounding Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto was studied. The investigated forest is located in the off-limit area.
This forest is mixed with evergreen trees and deciduous trees. In the overstory, Castanopsis cuspidata, Cinnamomum Camphora, and Aphananthe. aspera was dominant. The understory trees, saplings, and seedlings of evergreen species, except for the planted species, occurred with high density and high dominance below the closed canopy and the gap of canopy, and at the edge. That suggests stable recruitment of their populations. However, the understory trees; saplings, and seedlings of deciduous species, including pioneer species, occurred below the gap and at the edge, but scarcely did below the closed canopy.
From these results, modes of the regeneration of each species in this forest were considered. And the following prbblems as an urban forest were considered; first the decrease in dominance of Aphananthe aspera, Celtis sinensis, and Zelkova serrata, second the increase in dominance of Cinnamomum Camphora, which was planted, and third the multiplication of Trachycarpus sp. and Aucuba japonica.