Ecology of Riparian Forests in Japan : Disturbance, Life History, and Regeneration

Riparian forests along streams and rivers are diverse in species, structure, and regeneration processes, and have important ecological functions in maintaining landscape and biodiversity. This book discusses riparian forests from subpolar to warm-temperate zones, covering headwater streams, braided rivers on alluvial fans, and low-gradient meandering rivers. It presents the dynamics and mechanisms that govern the coexistence of riparian tree species, tree demography, the response to water stress of trees, and the conservation of endangered species, and focuses on natural disturbances, life-history strategies, and the ecophysiology of trees. Because many riparian landscapes have been degraded and are disappearing at an alarming rate, the regeneration of the remaining riparian ecosystems is urgent. With contributions by more than 20 experts in diverse fields, this book offers useful information for the conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of riparian ecosystems that remain in world streams and rivers. Front Matter....Pages I-XVI Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Features of riparian forests in Japan....Pages 3-11 Front Matter....Pages 13-13 Occurrence of hillslope processes affecting riparian vegetation in upstream watersheds of Japan....Pages 15-30 Sediment dynamics and characteristics with respect to river disturbance....Pages 31-45 Front Matter....Pages 47-47 Vegetation-geographic evaluation of the syntaxonomic system of valley-bottom forests occurring in the cooltemperate zone of the Japanese Archipelago....Pages 49-72 Front Matter....Pages 73-73 Coexistence mechanisms of three riparian species in the upper basin with respect to their life histories, ecophysiology, and disturbance regimes....Pages 75-90 Population dynamics and key stages in two Japanese riparian elements....Pages 91-105 Rodent seed hoarding and regeneration of Aesculus turbinata : patterns, processes and implications....Pages 107-122 Longitudinal variation in disturbance regime and community structure of a riparian forest established on a small alluvial fan in warm-temperate southern Kyushu, Japan....Pages 123-136 Front Matter....Pages 137-137 Structure and composition of riparian forests with reference to geomorphic conditions....Pages 139-152 Mosaic structure of riparian forests on the riverbed and floodplain of a braided river: A case study in the Kamikouchi Valley of the Azusa River....Pages 153-164 Coexistence of Salix species in a seasonally flooded habitat....Pages 165-174 Front Matter....Pages 175-175 Process of willow community establishment and topographic change of riverbed in a warm-temperate region of Japan....Pages 177-190 Growth and nutrient economy of riparian Salix gracilistyla ....Pages 191-204 The expansion of woody shrub vegetation ( Elaeagnus umbellata ) along a regulated river channel....Pages 205-221 Front Matter....Pages 223-223 Distribution pattern and regeneration of swamp forest species with respect to site conditions....Pages 225-236 Flooding adaptations of wetland trees....Pages 237-247 Front Matter....Pages 249-249 Diversity of tree species in mountain riparian forest in relation to disturbance-mediated microtopography....Pages 251-266 Diversity of forest floor vegegation with landform type....Pages 267-278 Front Matter....Pages 279-279 Ecology and conservation of an endangered willow, Salix hukaoana ....Pages 281-297 Strategy for the reallocation of plantations to semi-natural forest for the conservation of endangered riparian tree species....Pages 299-310 Front Matter....Pages 311-311 General conclusions concerning riparian forest ecology and conservation....Pages 313-329 Back Matter....Pages 331-339