Effects of tree size and crown inundation on the extent of tsunami damage of six broadleaved woody species on the southern Sanriku Coast

Abstract

We examined whether tree size and crown inundation influence individual damage for six broadleaved woody species in two the 2011 tsunami inundated areas on the southern Sanriku Coast, Japan. Although the survival rates of all species exceeded 50% and they were fairly even, the extent of crown damage differed with the species and the study areas. Results of analyses with generalized linear models, revealed that the extent of crown damage decreased with tree size for Machilus thunbergii, Zelkova serrata, Callicarpa japonica and Acer mono but increased for Camellia japonica and Euonymus japonicus. The extent of crown damage increased with the extent of crown inundation for Camellia japonica, M. thunbergii, E. japonicus and Callicarpa japonica. We need to evaluate the tolerance of broadleaved woody species to tsunami considering tree size and crown inundation.