Ecological Characteristics of the Old-growth Pinus Plantation in the Sendai Bay and the Influence of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the Resulting Tsunami on this Plantation

Abstract

The old-growth Pinus plantation along the Sendai Bay was severely disturbed by the huge tsunami resulting from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. To evaluate the changes in coastal forest vegetation after the tsunami, we conducted an ecological survey of the forest. We compared the results of three surveys conducted during 2002, 2010, and 2011 to clarify the influence of the tsunami on the forest. As many phytosociological survey reports on this forest are available, we conducted a survey from a different perspective, including biological type, tree form, and root type. The results were as follows: 1) the endozoochorous woody species invaded into old-growth Pinus-plantation. As a result, biodiversity has increased. 2) the forest showed two types of tsunami damage—physical damage and sea water damage. 3) evergreen trees and deciduous trees showed a difference in the intensity of damage, and as the occurrence of the tsunami was prior to the deciduous tree activity, the deciduous trees suffered less damage than the evergreen trees.