1. Different biomass-allocation patterns among four tree species in heavily disturbed sites on a volcanic mountain in Hokkaido, northern Japan.
- Author
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Shibuya, Masato, Yajima, Takashi, Yoshida, Mihoko, and Sasaoka, Eiji
- Subjects
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BIOMASS , *TREES , *VOLCANOES , *JAPANESE larch , *MOUNTAINS , *ALLOMETRY , *SPROUTS , *PLANT roots - Abstract
We have compared biomass-allocation patterns and frequency of sprouting among saplings of four tree species ( Larix kaempferi, Betula platyphylla var. japonica, Populus maximowiczii, and Populus sieboldii) growing on a volcanic mountain in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Growing conditions were very harsh on the mountainside. Leaf mass and fine root mass relative to root mass were larger in L. kaempferi, and L. kaempferi root mass was less than for the other species. Sprouting ratios were high for the broadleaved species. Different allometries and sprouting ratios among species suggest that survival strategies for L. kaempferi were different from those for the broadleaved species. L. kaempferi has greater ability to increase leaf mass under harsh growing conditions; this probably results in large photosynthetic production by L. kaempferi on the volcano. In contrast, the two Populus species and Betula platyphylla seem to maintain populations through their ability to produce sprouts from large root systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007
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