Effects of previous forest types and site conditions on species composition and abundance of naturally regenerated trees in young Cryptomeria japonica plantations in northern Japan

Roles of thinning intensity in hardwood recruitment and diversity in a conifer, Criptomeria japonica plantation: A 5-year demographic study

“…In conifer plantations, the abundance and composition of advance regeneration have been considered good predictors of future regeneration of hardwood species (Nagaike et al, 2003;Ito et al, 2003Ito et al, , 2004Gotmark et al, 2005;Yamagawa et al, 2008;Igarashi and Kiyono, 2008), although these factors vary widely with stand age, previous land-use history, distance from seed sources, fertilisation, topography, geology, and altitude (Guariguata et al, 1995;Halpern and Spies, 1995;Thomas et al, 1999;Ito et al, 2003;Ramovs and Roberts, 2003;Masaki et al, 2004;Utsugi et al, 2006;Sugita et al, 2008;Widenfalk and Weslien, 2009). In older stages of conifer plantations, substantial numbers of hardwood species usually grow to large sizes as advance regeneration Sugita et al, 2008), and thinning does not always enhance species richness (Halpern and Spies, 1995;Wetzel and Burgess, 2001;Widenfalk and Weslien, 2009; but see Moya et al, 2009), likely because advance regeneration can predominate even after thinning.…”

“…In older stages of conifer plantations, substantial numbers of hardwood species usually grow to large sizes as advance regeneration Sugita et al, 2008), and thinning does not always enhance species richness (Halpern and Spies, 1995;Wetzel and Burgess, 2001;Widenfalk and Weslien, 2009; but see Moya et al, 2009), likely because advance regeneration can predominate even after thinning. In natural forests, on the other hand, advance regeneration of late-successional species is often suppressed by newly germinated seedlings of early-successional species (i.e.…”

Effects of altitudinal gradient on species composition of naturally regenerated trees in Larix kaempferi plantations in central Japan

“…Some of these sites are unsuitable for productive plantations; for example, those in high altitude areas and in regions prone to heavy snowfall (Masaki et al 2004;Sugita et al 2008). Plantations have now become multi-functional, and are used to produce not only timber but also, for example, to conserve biological diversity (Kerr 1999;Hartley 2002;Nagaike et al 2006;Paritsis and Aizen 2008).…”