Yasuyuki Oshima

Seasonal changes in photosynthesis of four understory herbs in deciduous forests

Seasonal patterns of photosynthesis and respiration of single leaves of four understory perennial herbs in deciduous forests were investigated in relation to their leaf growth and light conditions on the forest floor.Anemone flaccida shows rapid growth of leaf area and high rates of gross photosynthesis at light saturation (Psat) in its early stage of development. Its photosynthetic activity is restricted to a brief period of high light intensity before the closure of overstory canopies.Disporum smilacinum possesses light-photosynthesis curves of the shade-leaf type throughout its whole growing period. A shading experiment has shown that this plant is low-light adapted and can utilize weak light efficiently. The light-photosynthesis curve ofSyneilesis palmata shifts from the sun-leaf type to the shade-leaf type in response to the seasonal change of light regime on the forest floor. Evergreen leaves ofPyrola japonica have three year longevity, and light-photosynthesis curves of the shade-leaf type. They maintain some photosynthetic activity even in late autumn and winter.

Probable effects of CO2-induced climatic changes on net primary productivity of terrestrial vegetation in East Asia

Changes in the net primary productivity (NPP) of natural vegetation of monsoon East Asia were simulated under three, doubled CO2-climate scenarios (GISS, GFDL and UKMO). These three scenarios and baseline climate data were converted to grids of 1o×1o meshes. The gridded climatic data were used together with the Chikugo model to assess NPP under baseline and CO2-doubling climates. The potential total net production (TNP0) of East Asia was climatically evaluated to be 154×108 t dry matter year−1. The climatic changes induced by a doubled CO2 concentration are predicted to increase the TNP0 by approximately 9–15%, depending on the climatic scenario. The estimated increase in TNP0 would be limited by the difference between the rate of shift of climatic zones and the rate of migration of vegetation formations.

Light environment and carbon gain of understory herbs associated with sunflecks in a warm temperate deciduous forest in Japan

Seasonal variation in the light environment on the forest floor of a deciduous forest was investigated with special reference to sunflecks. Diurnal variations and seasonal changes in frequency and irradiation period of the sunflecks (sunfleck duration) were measured. The hourly total sunfleck duration varied seasonally; that is, 30–40 min in spring and autumn and about 15–20 min in summer. There was no large variation in the hourly sunfleck duration during daytime hours (from 9.00 to 15.00 h). The emergence frequency of sunflecks was 1.3–4.8 per h with two peaks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The mean duration of a sunfleck, however, showed a characteristic daily pattern with a peak around noon. Sunfleck duration was long around noon, ranging from 12 to 18 min, and short around 10.00 and 14.00 h, ranging from 6 to 10 min. Using the light photosynthesis curves of Pyrola japonica and Syneilesis palmata (Koizumi & Oshima 1985), the contribution of sunflecks to the dry matter production of these understory species was evaluated. It was shown that the sunflecks contributed 7–10% of the carbon gain in S. palmata, but only 2–3% of that in P. japonica.

Species diversity and primary productivity inMiscanthus sinensis grasslands

In an old field grassland dominated byMiscanthus sinensis Anderss. the community structures, phytomass, dominance ofM. sinensis and species diversity were measured. Species and life form composition of the stand were characterized by higher percentages of therophytes, woody and shrubby species, liana and alien species.In an old field grassland dominated byMiscanthus sinensis Anderss. the community structures, phytomass, dominance ofM. sinensis and species diversity were measured. Species and life form composition of the stand were characterized by higher percentages of therophytes, woody and shrubby species, liana and alien species.From May so September in 1982, all the aboveground parts were harvested from each of the four quadrats (2 m×2 m) once a month. Seasonal peak of aboveground phytomass, in September, was 1027 g d.w.m−2 to whichM. sinensis contributed as much as 96.5%. With the progress of the growing season,M. sinensis became increasingly important both in stand phytomass and in dominance, whereas species diversity based on the dry weight contributions of constituent species decreased. Our analysis of these seasonal trends showed that the diversity was largely a function of dominance of the most important species, rather than that of stand phytomass or productivity. The simultaneous measurements of 20 quadrats in late August 1983, also supported the above conclusion.

Probable effects of CO2-induced climatic warming on the thermal environment of ponded shallow water

A physical model was developed for describing the thermal environment of ponded shallow water as a model for rice fields in relation to climatic conditions. The model was used to assess probable effects of CO2-induced warming on the thermal conditions of ponded shallow water. It was assumed that an altered equilibrium climate was produced by atmospheric CO2 which was twice that of present levels. The 1951–80 climatic means of Japan were used as baseline data. Water temperature and energy balance characteristics predicted from the model were compared between both climates. The most notable results were that water temperature under CO2 doubling rose 2 to 4 °C. These increases in temperature would induce a remarkable northward shift of the 15 °C isotherm which characterizes the isochrone of safe transplanting dates for rice seedlings. CO2-warming would have a considerable influence on the energy balance characteristics, intensifying the evaporation rate from the water surface. Changes in thermal conditions of rice fields due to CO2-induced climatic warming are, therefore, expected to bring about significant effects on aquatic environments and the life forms they support.

Structure and regeneration ofFraxinus spaethiana-Pterocarya rhoifolia forests in unstable valleys in the Chichibu Mountains, central Japan

The structure of temperate deciduous forests dominated byFraxinus spaethiana andPterocarya rhoifolia in V-shaped valleys in the Chichibu Mountains, central Japan was studied to clarify their dynamics, with special reference to disturbance. Forest structure and annual ring analysis revealed that the forests have been subjected to mass movement (mud flow) in the past. The size and age structure, and diameter growth curves, indicated thatF. spaethiana is relatively shade tolerant, long living and slow-growing, whileP. rhoifolia is less shade tolerant, short living, but fast growing.Pterocarya rhoifolia appears to depend on large-scale but rare disturbances.Fraxinus spaethiana establishes its seedlings on relatively unstable substrate in V-shaped valleys, but once established, they survive a long time with high shade tolerance. The dominance and coexistence of the two species may primarily depend on the intensity and frequency of geomorphological processes.

Life history and population dynamics of the Japanese jam, Dioscorea japonica Thumb. I: Effects of initial plant size and light intensity on growth

Shoot morphology at the emergence ofDioscorea japonica Thumb. could be classed into the following three types: (1) a seedling emergence with only one leaf (Se type), (2) a plant consisting of one stem and one leaf, which has emerged from a small tuber (rhizophore) or bulbil less than 50 mg in dry weight (S type) and (3) a twiner with many leaves, which has emerged from a tuber or a bulbil of more than 50 mg in dry weight (L type). The Se type failed to develop beyond the second leaf stage in 1.5% sunlight exposure.The effects of initial plant (seeds, bulbils and tubers) size and light intensity on plant growth were analyzed. The larger the initial plant size was, the greater the growth in height and leaf area was. The distribution ratio of assimilated substances in leaves was high in smaller plants at the early growth stage. The distribution ratio in the tubers of larger plants became high at the early stage of growth. In all three types at over 3% sunlight exposure, the switch-over from the vegetative to reproductive growth phase occurred simultaneously at a later growth stage, but the Se type at 1.5% sunlight exposure showed a very early switch-over in its development; this switch-over may be related to shade tolerance capacity. The L type showed shade avoidance by forming a large productive structure as a twiner

Effect of 2 x CO2 climatic warming on water temperature and agricultural potential in China

Water temperature under the current and future climates are estimated using the water temperature physical model, weather data and general circulation model (GCM)- scenarios to assess effects of C02-induced climatic changes on the natural environment surrounding the agriculture of China. The most notable results obtained for the GCM-2 X CO2 scenarios are that the safe transplanting date for rice plants would be about 20-30 days earlier than that under present climatic conditions. This means that the rice cultivation period would be prolonged by approximately 30-50 days, and also that the increase in effective accumulated water temperature is more than 700-1200 degree days in the semi-arid region of China and 1300-2000 degree days in main rice-producing areas of the southern part of China. This indicates that the northern limit of the safely cultivable area of Indica and hybrid rice cultivars may reach on the south of Huang He, indicating the increment in the potential rice production of China. On the other hand, these changes in temperature environment of shallow water due to C02-climate warming could cause an increase in evaporation from water surface. The increase in evaporation due to the future climatic warming is about 16-40%. However, the GCM-2 X CO2 scenarios indicate that the mean increasing rate of precipitation due to climatic change would be only 15-20% by the middle of the 21st century. Therefore, the imbalance of water to be expected in the next century may cause a shortage of water resources available for paddy rice cultivation.