The authors studied biomass and cover ratio of understories in old Cryptomeria japonica plantations at the northern part of Okayama Prefecture. Results were as follows. The relationship between stand density per hectare (SD) and relative light intensity (RLI) was expressed by the power equation (RLI=2703*SD^<-0.89> r^2 =0.842). The both of the biomass and vegetation coverage of understories were linerarly related to the RLI (r^2 =0.900, 0.833). They were also related to the stand density, the basal area and the crown projection area. The results showed that the biomass and the vegetation coverage of understries could be estimated by one of the other measurement data for the forest. We concluded that the biomass and the coverage of understory vegetation could be estimated by one of the forest measurement items such as stand density, RLI, basal area and crown projection.

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Fungal community structure and chemical and physical properties of each fungal colonies in decaying beech (Fagus crenata) logs were studied in a cool temperate deciduous forest in Japan. Lignocellulose index (LCI ; relative amount of holocellulose in lignocellulose matrix) was lower in colonies of Ceratocystis sp. (anamorph) and a sterile mycelium than other species. Nitrogen content was higher in colonies of Ceratocystis sp. (anamorph) and Psathyrella candolleana than other species. Water content was higher in a colony of Pleurotus ostreatus than Trametes versicolor, Xylaria sp. (anamorph) and a sterile mycelium. It is suggested that these small scale variation in chemical and physical properties within logs were occurred as a result of the variation in fungal decay ability among species.

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The objectives of this study are to determine the timing and the anatomical process of flower bud differentiation in Aesculus turbinata trees. Changes in the morphology and anatomy of meristematic tissues in 8-different trees growing in the Tottori University Forests in Okayama Prefecture were studied in 1998. The flower bud differentiation occurred in mid-July at the period of the cessation of branch shoot elongation and rapid increase in the size of buds. The timing of flower bud formation was possible to estimate by the appearance of developing buds when 4 bud scales were formed on the surface of them.

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Wintering avifauna on five natural forest plots on lower mountainous area in Shikoku, southwestern Japan were studied from 1998 to 2001. A total of 41 bird species of 21 families were listed, varying 17-30 species on each plot. We estimated that 21-39 species existed on each forest, though our fauna lists included only 60-80% of them. On broad-leaved forest plots many seed-eaters, fruit-eaters and bush users were recorded. On the other hand, many insectivores and tree trunk users were observed on old-growth coniferous forest plots.

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As the Misen Mountains are only habitat of Sika deer in Shimane Prefecture, home ranges of four male deer and two female deer were investigated by the radio tracking method. The relationship between home range and woody-plant species composition were also examined in this area. The home range area of female deer was significantly larger than that of male deer. The population of Sika deer in this area was considered as the sedentary type because the home range did not change seasonally. Coniferous forests have a function of shelter from snow and wind. In this area evergreen broadleaved forests are widely distributed, so they had the same function as coniferous forests in the northern Japan. The home range differed between daytime and night, Sika deer stayed in forests of mountains in the daytime and moved to feed in fields and orchards in the night. The home range areas were related to the tree density and the relative dominance of plus and minus selective species for feeding. The home rage size and location were strongly influenced by the feeding behavior of Sika deer in this area.

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[in Japanese]

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