Storage of seedlings in dark is effective in height growth control of containerized Cryptomeria japonica seedlings. However, influence of the storage in dark on the seedlings isn't fully clarified. In the present study, fine root growth after planting was compared among the one-year-old containerized seedlings stored in dark for 4 weeks or 8 weeks and ones without storage in dark (control). The seedlings were watered twice a week during the storage in dark. The storage in dark made the seedlings need a longer time lag for the root growth after planting. The root growth of the seedlings stored in dark recovered within 28 days after planting. Survival rate of the control seedlings in the planting trial under dry soil condition was higher than ones of the seedlings stored in dark. The difference in the survival rates couldn't be explained by ability of root growth under dry soil condition. We indicated that the storage in dark for height growth control needed to consider the negative effects of the storage.

To evaluate the mammal fauna and the habitat selection by its dominant species in the Kochi University Forest consisting of small vegetation patches of different forest physiognomies, we set camera traps in the forest from 2011 to 2016 and calculated the frequency of the photography of each mammal species. After classifying the vegetation patches into five types from the aerial photographs taken in and around the forest we studied, we conducted a part least square regression analysis (PLSR) to understand the habitat selection, by regarding the aforementioned frequency as a response variable, and the distance from an installed camera to a vegetation type of patch and its area as explanatory variables. As a result, we found at least 13 mammal species in the forest, and dominant species were raccoon dogs, wild boars, and hares. These 3 dominant species were clearly different from each other in habitat selection; raccoon dogs were more frequently photographed in the larger patch area of a deciduous broad-leaved forest and at a closer distance to the patches of clearcutting and grassland, wild boars in the larger patch area of an evergreen broad-leaved forest, and hares in the larger patch area of and at a closer distance to clearcutting and grassland. Our results suggest that a forest, consisting of small vegetation patches of different forest physiognomies, such as broad-leaved forest, clearcutting and grassland, and standing near a conifer plantation, is important in supplying diverse feeding and ecological habitats to various mammal species.

The water retention and storage capacity are characterized as storage functions of beech forest soils. There has been an infrequent research focusing on these storage functionalities. This study was conducted to evaluate the high water-storage functionality of the beech forest soil; we established a research site at the Appi Plateau in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The soil water content and thickness was measured, after which we dug two soil profiles and measured its water permeability and retention capacities, which were then evaluated quantitatively. Regarding its water-retention capacity, the soils had a high water-holding capacity and high porosity; regarding the water-storage capacity, the soils had a thickness of < 1 m and fine porosity with in-situ water content; therefore, we concluded that under normal conditions, the water-storage capacity of the soil is low. Furthermore, under wetter conditions in comparison with other beech forest soil profiles in Kyushu, Kinki, and Hokuriku Districts of Japan; it was confirmed that there were similarities between soils used in this study and those gotten from other sites. In comparison with the water-storage functionalities of the Japanese cedar forest soils, we concluded that soils of the beech forest possess a high water-retention capacity, while that of the Japanese cedar forest has a high water-storage capacity.

Because the carbon and nitrogen content of soil and organic matter using SUMIGRAPH (NC-22F, Sumika Chemical Analysis Service) was underestimated by the prescribed method, we clarified the reason and the solution. Incomplete combustion occurred when the amount of introduced sample of soil and organic matter was large, and this resulted in underestimation. Increasing the burning time could solve this problem. From these results, it is possible to perform appropriate analysis by setting the sample weight and burning time (PUMP) within the following range when using this device:

1) For PUMP as 60 seconds→Upper limit of weighing: A layer sample 50 mg, B layer and below sample 100 mg, organic matter 20 mg

2) For PUMP as 120 seconds→Upper limit of weighing: A layer sample 100 mg, B layer and below sample 200 mg, organic matter 20 mg

In order to make sure the sample perfectly burned, it is recommended to check the residual in the quartz cell. The analytical error among the three organizations was small, this result indicating that the analytical error due to the difference in equipment was small.