Takehiko Katsuno

Distribution Pattern of Amphibian on Rural Landscape in the Middle Reaches of the Oita River Northeast Kyusyu

This study aimed at acquiring the knowledge about the distribution pattern of amphibians on the rural landscape in the middle reaches of the Oita River. Here were recognized two URODELA species and ten ANURA species, twelve species of amphibians in total. In the running water area, Hynobius naevius and Rana tagoi inhabited in streams of a headwater in wooded regions, and Buergeria buergeri inhabited only the main current of the Oita River. In standing water area, the subject of our investigation was classified into the extensive distribution species, Hyla japonica, R. nigromaculata and Rhacophorus schlegelii, the uneven distribution species, R. limnocharis, R. rugosa, the limited distribution species, Cynops pyrrhogaster, R. ornativentris, and the rare species, Bufo japonicus, R. japonica. Especially the limited distribution species were guessed to be under the influence of the distribution restrictions by the altitude and the ability to colonize upper paddy fields. The distribution of each species corresponded to landscape elements relevant to the wetlands from the hillside to the Oita River, much the same pattern applying to every part of the three target basins. We were able to clarify the relationship between the landscape structure and the amphibians in this target rural district which mainly consists of step-like paddy field.

The Discussion of Conservation and the Habitat's Requirements of Schlegel's Green Tree Frog (Rhacophorus schlegelii) on the South Tama-hills

都市域におけるカエル類の保全を検討するため, 多摩丘陵南部においてシュレーゲルアオガエルの鳴き声による個体数把握を行い, 各生息地の環境条件との関係を調べた。生息地点は全域で77地点であり, そのうち30個体以上の計数個体数が得られたのは10地点のみであった。水田タイプ毎の個体数密度は過湿田>湿田>乾田の順であり, 都市緑地における過湿田・湿田の重要性が示された。また, 分散能を考慮した地域個体群としての評価を加えることにより, 多くの地点が不安定な状態の個体群であることが示された。得られた結果を基に, 本種の生息に必要な整備・管理指針および丘陵全体でのメタ個体群の保全について考察を加えた。

The Forming Process of Cherry Trees Plantation Landscape in Matsuzaki Town, Izu Peninsula

The leaves of Oshima cherry (Prunus Wilson var. speciosa Makino) are edible and used to wrap sakuramochi. Seventy percent of leaves of the Oshima cherry are produced in Matsuzaki town, Izu Peninsula. In this town, cherry trees are cultivated for harvesting their leaves. These trees are closely planted and pruned, enabling them to grow many tillers, which spread out and form the distinctive landscape in this area. In this study, we investigated the actual distribution, forming process of leaves in cherry tree fields, and change in the production process in Matsuzaki town. From the results, we assumed that the number of cherry trees planted corresponded to the amount of charcoal produced. However, the field cultivation method of cherry trees was devised only by the end of the 1960s, after the production of charcoal decreased due to an energy revolution, which resulted in a crisis in the cherry tree leaf production. It was considered that cherry tree fields were distributed throughout Matsuzaki town. However, our results show that these fields are unevenly distributed.

The Faunistic Composition of Frogs Corresponding to the Rice Fields with Various Conditions in Noubi Plains

We elected an area where uniform paddy cultivation is done by the overall community, and divided roughly into five rice field types; I(Rice field and lotus field mixture area), II(Pond adjoining area), III(Rotation of crops area of rice, wheat and soybean), IV(Fabricated field / Mixture of the waterway of the ground and concrete) and V(Not-fabricated field / Mixture of the waterway of the ground and concrete) in Noubi plains. We conducted a line census investigation on a ridge in order to investigate the species composition of frogs according to the rice field type. The results of our survey, there were large numbers of frogs in the areas which have a moist cultivating environment (TypeI, V). In contrast, in the well-drained rice fields (TypeII, III and IV) where rice seedlings were transplanted in June, there were small numbers of frogs irrespective of the environmental structure. The number of frogs in Type I where different crops (rice and lotus) were cultivated in parallel was larger than that in Type V because the waterside has always existed there.

“Rural Settlement and Rural Planning” and “Open Space and Natural Environments”

This report reviews the history of studies of rural settlement, and rural planning in the field of the landscape architecture. This was already a important theme when the Japanese Institute of Landscape Architect (JILA) was started. Until 1960, there were few studies of rural planning as compared to the abundant studies of open space in urban areas and natural parks. In this report, the author reviewed several famous books of landscape architecture that were published between 1960 and 1970. When the IFLA (International Federation of Landscape Architect) congress was held in Tokyo, their book was also published. This book reconsiders the traditional rural landscape very well. Then after, was closed upthe problem withthe open space inruralarea through the decrease of naturalenvironment and the urbanization. Between 1965 and 1969 there were some topics related to Hachirogata Rural Developing. After 1970, the following issues became dominant 72 Journal of Rural Planning Association Vol. 2, No. 2, 1983. 9 * the problem of mixed living and open space * the meaning of a windbreak small forests and copse * landscape management through ecological landscape studies. Between 1975 and 1979 the field expanded into environmental planning, the consideration of green, open space in general rural planning sphere. After 1980, many studies were increasingly concerned with the diminution of natural resources, e. g. an investigation into the actual condition of green space in rural districts, rural consolidation and the land embellishment in West-Germany. In the future we must investigate the traditional use of green space in rural areas, the functions of green space, and classification of these areas. The following considerations are necessary for the studies in another field * rural district consolidation with a plan * function of green space in the rural area * landscape maintenance in rural districts and rural area * the conservation of the natural habitat.