2004 Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 119-128
We investigated the establishment condition of the riparian forest dominated by Celtis sinensis var. japonica and Aphananthe aspera, which are deciduous broad-leaved species widely distributed around rivers in the warm-temperate regions of Japan. The establishment of C. sinensis var. japonica and A. aspera was related to the frequency of flood disturbances. The riparian forest dominated by these species grew on the floodplain, where the average frequency of flood disturbance was 1.3 days per year for 16 years. The development of the riparian forest was prevented on the lower part of the plain, which had more frequent flood disturbances (13.8 days per year). On the alluvial plain outside the riverbank with less frequent flood disturbances, isolated tree remnants consisted of several climax evergreen species of the region, including Machilis thunbergii and Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii, in addition to C. sinensis var. japonica and A. aspera. Thus, the riparian forests dominated by C. sinensis var. japonica and A. aspera must be maintained by the intermediate frequency of flood disturbances.
