2010 Volume 52 Issue 2 Pages 79-86
To clarify the relationship between stand development and establishment of seedlings, we examined community structure, relative light intensity (RLI) on forest floor, and establishment of seedlings in four stands of different developmental stage in subalpine Abies forest. We determined the developmental level of each stand based on maximum diameter at breast height and maximum tree height. Tree density was lowest in the most developed stand. Seedling density was highest in the most developed stand, and the RLI was also highest in the stand. The density of 3-10 years old seedling was higher in the most developed stand than younger stands. Therefore, it is suggested that more seedlings can establish in the mature stand with low tree density (i.e., high light intensity) than in younger stands with higher tree density (i.e., lower light intensity). Seedlings were observed with more than 6% of RLI, and the seedling density increased with RLI. Moreover, the RLI decreased with tree density of ≥1.3m in height, and the RLI was 6% in the stand with 6,000 individuals per hectare. Thus, it is thought that Abies seedlings can establish in a mature stand with 6% of RLI when the tree density decreases by 6,000 individuals per hectare with stand development.
