Structure and damage prevention ability of coastal Pinus thunbergii forests in the Fukiage sand dunes, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
2018
Teramoto, Y. (Kagoshima University, Kagoshima (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture) | Kohno, S. | Chun, K.W. | Kim, S.W. | Doi, M. | Matsumoto, J. | Shimokawa, E.
Here we studied the structure, succession, and species composition of woody plants, as well as the soil characteristics and ability of coastal Pinus thunbergii forests to prevent coastal damage resulting from blowing sand and strong winds in the Fukiage sand dunes, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Specifically, we compared these factors in two transects that were perpendicular to the shoreline and stretched for 250 m from the shoreline to the inland area: one (transect 1) was damaged severely by pine wilt disease, and the other (transect 2) was almost undamaged. According to the results, the height, age, number, diversity, succession progression, and basal area at breast height of woody plants all increased with increasing distance from the shoreline in both transects. The A horizon and soil acidity showed the same increasing trend in both transects. At the same distance from the shoreline along the transects, the values of the above factors (i.e., height, age, number, diversity, succession progression, basal area at breast height of woody plants, A horizon, and soil acidity) were lower in transect 1 than in transect 2. Moreover, the ability of coastal P. thunbergii forests to prevent coastal damage resulting from blowing sand and strong winds increased with increasing distance from the shoreline in both transects. At the same distance from the shoreline along the transects, the ability of coastal P. thunbergii forests to prevent coastal damage resulting blowing sand and strong winds was lower in transect 1 than in transect 2.
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