1991 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 209-223
Forest dynamics of an evergreen oak (Quercus acuta) forest were studied in the Kannami Virgin Forest, Central Japan, as part of a regionally comparative study of warm-temperate forest dynamics. And consequently, a regeneration complex was clarified. The complex was composed of four sequential phases : gap, building, mature, degenerate, and sub-types of these phases. Based on densities of tall-tree species in each layer of each community type and on the structure of each community type, two typical sequences of micro-succession were estimated. One is from the "under layers remaining type" gap phase through the building phase, the canopy of which is dominated by evergreen broad-leaved tall-tree species, to the evergreen broad-leaved type mature phase. The other is from the "all layers collapsed type" gap phase through the building phase, the canopy of which is dominated by summer-green broad-leaved tall-tree species, to the summer-green broad-leaved type mature phase. This type of forest dynamics, a co-existing pattern of warm-temperate evergreen oak and temperate summer-green broad-leaved tall-tree species, may prevail in distribution fringes of evergreen broad-leaved forests.
