Abstract
In this study we investigated the influence of clearcutting on the vegetative cover of the herb layer, its species composition, and the flowering of forest herbs in a coppice forest in Hino City, Tokyo.
We established four study sites (site A, B, C, and D) in different years after clearcutting of the canopy trees. Site A was the initial phase (0 years after clearcutting), site B was the early phase (5 years after clearcutting), site C was the middle phase (14 years after clearcutting), and site D was the late phase (48 years after clearcutting). From 1999-2001, we studied the vegetative cover of the herb layer, its species composition, and the presence or absence of flowering of the herb species. According to life form and habit, forest herbs were categorized in four types:(1) annual and biennial, (2) grassland perennial, (3) human-disturbance perennial, and (4) forest perennial.
The results showed that the vegetative cover of the herb layer, the number of species, and the number of flowering species of forest herbs increased rapidly during the initial phase. The degree of influence of clearcutting differed by life-form type.
The results suggest that clearcutting in a coppice forest can conserve biodiversity.
