ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 5241
Poster No. = 1408


FINE LITTERFALL IN RELATION TO TYPHOON DISTURBANCES IN AN EVERGREEN BROADLEAVED FOREST, SOUTHWESTERN JAPAN


T. Sato (Kyushu Research Center, Forestry & Forest Products Research Institute, Kumamoto 8600862, JAPAN)


In September 1993, a strong typhoon struck and caused severe damages (i.e., uproot and stem breakage) in the Aya Research Site (ARS), an old-growth evergreen broad-leaved forest predominated by genera of Distylium, Persea, and Quercus. During the measurement period (1992-1997), major fluctuation in litterfall occurred in the ARS. Great amount of branches with green leaves fell out due to the 1993 typhoon. After the disturbance, total litterfall dropped from 11.69 t/ha in 1993 to 5.04 t/ha in 1994. Afterwards litterfall mass increased gradually year by year. The component ratio of branch litterfall increased after the typhoon. Many dead branches, caused by the typhoon, almost remained 3 years in canopy due to the slow decomposition rate in teh air. These dead branches were cleaned up by another typhoons and winter monsoon. As compared with less disturbed forest, the 1993 typhoon apparently altered litterfall dynamics in the ARS..


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