______http:\\www.paper.edu.cn

The Evergreen Broad-leaved Forests

In Shikoku and Chugoku District, Western Japan

1 DA, Liangjun （E-mail [email protected]）； SONG, Yongchang1; WANG, Xihua1 NAKAMURA Yukito2 MURAKAMI,Yuhide 3;SUZUKI,Shinyichi3

1 East Normal University, 3663 Zhogshan Road, Shanghai 200062, China; 2 Sakushin Gakuin University, Takeshita-machi 908, Utsunomiya, Japan; 3 Japanese Center for International Studies in Ecology, Yamashita-machi 32, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan.

1. Preface Evergreen broad-leaved forest is a type of vegetation developed in warm and moist climate, also zonal vegetation wide spread in moist area of subtropics/warm temperate zone in East Asia. But at the same time, the area of evergreen broad-leaved forest is under the strong influence of human activities. The long-term human activities have affected the eastern part of China, so badly that a great extent of damage had occurred. In spite of protective effort exerted on the naturally restored broad-leaved forests, most of the emerged forests were the coppice forests in the process of secondary succession. The evergreen broad-leaved forest in western part of Japan, the east border of evergreen broad-leaved forest in East Asia, is the extension of that in eastern part of China. There are a lot of similarities between the evergreen broad-leaved forests from two sites. Although the damage of vegetation in area of low elevation was more or less like that in China, the major forest stands next to temples and shrines in areas of low elevation above sea level and in areas of high altitude were well protected. So a basis for the study of phytosociology and vegetation science was provided. In years of investigation, the research team headed by Prof. Miyawakii Akira has on the whole accomplished the classification of vegetation type and built up the hierarchy system (Vegetation of Japan, 1-10). Obviously the classification of community for evergreen broad-leaved forest is an important and also large portion of the study on vegetation science. By the comparative study of evergreen broad-leaved forests between various areas either in China or in Japan, we are able to make an intensive study of evergreen broad-leaved forest in China, including the structure of communities, the dynamics and maintaining mechanism of community, etc. On the other hand, the comparative study will also help studying the origin of evergreen broad-leaved forest among different regions and establishing classification system of community in whole East Asia. The authors had carried on an investigation on the typical community of evergreen broad-leaved forest in Shikoku and Chugoku District, from June6 through June14. The investigation was an important part of work for the project “Comparative study on the landscape ecology and vegetation in eastern part of China and west Japan” granted by the Japanese Ministry of Education. It was also the main part of the project “Comparative study on the evergreen ______中国科技论文在线 http:\\www.paper.edu.cn

broad-leaved forests in eastern part of China and Japan” granted by the National Foundation of Natural Science in China. The result was very promising, valuable information from sampling points such as the data of structure of community was collected.

2. The natural condition of areas in Shikoku and Chugoku District The Japanese archipelago is mainly composed of four islands, Island Shikoku is the smallest in size. It locates on the southwest side of Kiyi Peninsula in the west end of Island Honshu, also on the northeast side of Island Kyushu, it is between 32°42’ and 34º33’ north latitude and 132º01’ and 134º49’ east longitude. Island Shikoku is made up of four prefectures, i.e., Kochi、Ehime、 Tokushima and Kagawa. The central uplands running from east to west geographically divide the island into the southern and northern part, called the Pacific side and the Setonouchi Sea side separately. The Pacific side is called South Shikoku; composed of Kochi Prefecture and Tokushima Prefecture, while the Setonouchi side, North Shikoku, is composed of Ehime Prefecture and Kagawa Prefecture. The climate in Island Shikoku belongs to Pacific Ocean type. It is warm, and there is little snowfall in winter, and precipitation occurs most in summer. Except of high-elevation areas, the annual average temperature of the whole island falls within the range of 15~17ºC. The average monthly temperature of January, the coldest month, approximates 6~8ºC, and the average monthly temperature of August is round 26~28ºC. The annual precipitation varies considerably between the southern and the northern part. The climatic type of North Shikoku belongs to inland-type and basin-type, therefore the annual precipitation will be mostly round 1100mm, while that of South Shikoku mostly rounds 2500mm, and in area of Yanase even reached 3700mm. Due to the diversified topographic features from coastal area to central uplands and also the variant precipitation between southern and northern part, the types of vegetation are extraordinarily abundant. The evergreen broad-leaved forests dominated by Machilus thunbergii、 Quercus/Cyclobananopsis spp.、Castanopsis spp. spread over areas below 1000m height above sea level, while Fagus forest spread mainly over areas higher than 1000m height. Chugoku District is administratively composed of five prefectures, i.e. Tottori、Shimane、 Okayama、Hiroshima and Yamaguchi. It locates in the west end of Island Hoshu, between 33º32’~36º1’ north latitude and 130º4’~134º32’ east longitude. The natural environment of Chugoku District could be generally divided into south and north parts by the Chugoku-Shanchi mountainous. The southern part includes Okayama Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture, and most parts of Yamaguchi Prefecture on Setonouchi Sea side, it is called Sanyo-chiho Area; and the northern part consists of Tottori Prefecture, Shimane Prefecture and part of Yamaguchi Prefecture, it is called Sanin-chiho Area. The area of Chugoku District is in the nature of a climatic interface between Pacific Ocean Type (Setonouchi Climate Type) and Japan Sea Type. There is no significant difference in temperature between northern and southern part, but in precipitation and its seasonal allocation. The southern part of Tyugoku District belongs to Setonouchi Climate Type. The annual average temperature of coastal area fell in the range of 15~16ºC. The average monthly temperature of the coldest month (January) was 4~5ºC, while the average monthly temperature of August was above 28ºC. Its annual precipitation used to be below 1200mm, and a great part of rainfall took place in the summer. And the northern part belongs to Japan Sea Type climate. The annual average temperature of coastal area along Japan Sea fell in the range of 14~15ºC. The average ______中国科技论文在线 http:\\www.paper.edu.cn

monthly temperature of the coldest month (January) was 3~4ºC, and that of August above 28ºC. By the effect of winter monsoon, the climate of Japan Sea Side Type is characterized by heavy snow in addition to plenty of summer rain. The annual precipitation of most areas used to be above 1600mm, it even reached 3500mm in the middle mountainous area. Like Island Shikoku，the borderline of evergreen broad-leaved forest and Fagus forest locate at the range of 600~700m height above sea level in Chugoku District, but only a few remnants of natural forest stands were found in the region of evergreen broad-leaved forest, because of the long-term effect of human activities. The evergreen broad-leaved secondary and coppices forest as well as secondary forest dominated by Pinus densiflora and deciduous trees are major vegetation types.

3. Study area and method We had made a reconnaissance on the evergreen broad-leaved forests in Aki-Gun, Yasuda-cho, Muroto-shi, Tosa-gun of Kouchi Prefecture in South Shikoku; Miyakubo-cho of Ehime Prefecture in North Shikoku; Kanesiro-cho, Ota-shi, Mihogaseki-cho of Shimane Prefecture, Togo-cho, Tottori-shi of Tottori Prefecture in Sanin-chiho Area; and Hiroshima-shi, Iwakuni-shi of Hiroshima Prefecture in Sanyo-chiho Area; and Anba-san of Kyoto Prefecture etc. We also made a detailed survey on the well-protected forest next to temples and shrines, which were hardly interfered by human activities. All information of thirty quadrats from eighteen sites was collected, including twelve sets of data from investigation by tree for the analysis of community structure. First of all, the method in existence was a comprehensive survey in the study site. On that basis, typical and homogenous forest stands were selected and sampling points were set, then phytosociological methods were adopted to carry on the investigation.

4. Results and discussion The analysis of community classification was carried out by sorting out the data and phytosociological table works. Discussions were also made on the classification of community type and its proper sort in Japanese community classification system. Moreover, the similar relationship in community classification system between China and Japan was discussed in detail.

4.1 The main types of evergreen broad-leaved forest in Shikoku and Chugoku District. By analyzing the physiognomy and dominance-type of community and subsidiary comparison among the characteristic and differential species, the classification of evergreen broad-leaved forest was carried out. As first level, it could physiognomically and structurally be classified. Therefore, the dominance-type was distinguished on the basis of the species dominance in second level. Based on the dominance-type, the community type was so established by differential species with the comparison on the strongly combinable companion. Through phytosociological table works, the evergreen broad-leaved forest in Shikoku and Chugoku District was divided into three types. They were evergreen needle-broad-leaved mixed forest, the typical evergreen broad-leaved forest and the coastal windswept evergreen broad-leaved shrub. In the community pre-dominance composition perspective, the forest also could be divided into nine dominance-type (Table 1). The features of each type are presented in detail as follows, as well as the discussion on the subordinate relationship between Sino and Japanese community classification system. ______中国科技论文在线 http:\\www.paper.edu.cn

4.1.1 Evergreen needle-broad-leaved mixed forest Evergreen needle-broad-leaved mixed forest is constructed by species of evergreen needle-leaved trees as well as broad-leaved trees, mainly distributed near the ridge in inland area, with an elevation range of 200-600m a.s.l. Vertically it is distributed above the region of the typical evergreen broad-leaved forests（ Fujiwara,1981,1986;Miyazaki,1982,1983;Hata,1996). Two phytosociological releves were taken in Yanase in Kochi prefecture and Anbasan Mountain in Kyoto prefecture. As a subunit of classification referred to dominance-type, two communities were defined as Quercus sessilifolia’ Abies firma-Tsuge sieboldii community. The characteristic and differential species were Pieris japonica,Illicium anisatum,Plagiogyria japonica and Lycopodium serratum. The sampling points located on the southern slope of 25 degrees, they were close to the ridge of mountain, with elevation of 570m and 400m a.s.l. separately. The vertical structure of community was divided into four layers. The height of first tree layer was 32-34m, coverage 50-80%. The dominant species were the warm-temperate evergreen needle-leaved trees Abies firma and Tsuga sieboldii, while Cryptomeria japonica mixed in, and the diameter of breast height (DBH) reached 65cm. The height of second tree layer was 13-20m, coverage 30-70%. The main dominant species were Quercus/cyclobalanopsis sessilifolia and Q. salicina, the additional mixed species were Camellia japonica, Cleyeza japonica of Theaceae and needle-leaved trees as Cephalotaxus harringtonia, deciduous broad-leaved trees as Acer ssp. etc. The height of shrub layer was 4-5m, coverage 40%. The dominant species were Camellia japonica, Eurya japonica of Theaceae. There were additionally Illicieem anisatum, Pieris japonica, and the sapling of tree layer’s dominant species such as Abies firma, Tsuga sieboldii, Q. sessilifolia and Q. salicina mixed in the shrub layer. The height of herb layer was 0.5-1.5m, coverage 10%. The dominant species were plagiogyria japonica and Dropteris spp. of pteridophytes, these were seedlings of various evergreen trees mixed in the floor of forest. The differential species of this community type were Abies firma, Tsuga sieboldii and Q.ssilifolia. By the judgement of community structure in site and also the comparative analysis of characteristic and differential species, this community was considered to belong to Illicio-Quercetalia acutae order, Quercion acuto-myrsinaefoliae alliance, and Illicio-Abietetum firmae association in the classifying system for evergreen broad-leaved forest in Japan (Miyawaki, 1978; Fujiwara, 1981). In China this community would be considered to be one type of evergreen needle-broad-leaved mixed forest (Wu et al. 1980).

4.1.2 The typical evergreen broad-leaved forest Trees of genera Quercus/Cyclobalanopsis, and Castanopsis of , genus Machilus of Lauraceae are the constructive species of the typical evergreen broad-leaved forest, which is the zonal vegetation type in Shikoku and Tyugoku District. In San-in region, it distributed vertically in areas below 600m height a.s.l. and even reached to 1000m in southern Shikoku District. In the coastal lowlands, Machilus thunbergii forest and Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii forest were mainly distributed. Quercus/Cyclobalanopsis forests dominanted by Q.salicina, Q.acuta and Q.myrsinaefolia were the main type of evergreen broad-leaved forest in high-altitude and inland area; while in the area of Setonouchi climate type, the forest of Q.glauca predominated, and forest of Machilus thunbergii and Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii could hardly be seen. However, Lithocarpus glabra and Castanopsis cuspidata were scattered sparsely ______中国科技论文在线 http:\\www.paper.edu.cn

（Fujiwara,1981,1986;Miyazaki,1982,1983;Hata,1996）. Data of fourteen sampling points for the typical evergreen broad-leaved forest were collected from Yasuda-cho, Muroto-shi, Tosa-sanson of Kochi Prefecture in South Shikoku; Miyakubo-cho of Ehime Prefecture in North Shikoku; also Kaneshiro-cho, Ohta-shi of Shimane prefecture, Togo-cho, Tottori-shi of Tottori prefecture in Sanin-chiho Area, and Hiroshima-shi, Iwakuni-shi of Hiroshima predecture in Sanyo-chiho Area of Tyugoku District. The characteristic and differential species of the typical evergreen broad-leaved forest were Ficus erecta, Trachelospermum asiaticum f.intermedium, Kadsura japonica and Ardisia japonica (Tab.1). According to the dominant species of community, the typical evergreen broad-leaved forest investigated could be further classified into six following types. 1. macropodum’Q.salicina Community 2. Nandina domestica’Q.glauca Community 3. Photinia glabra’Lithocarpus glabra Community 4. Ternstroemia gymnanthera’Castanopsis cuspidata Community 5. Castanopsis cuspidata var.sieboldii Community 6. Aphananthe aspera’Machilus thunbergii Community

1) Daphniphyllum macropodum’Q.salicina Community The investigation was carried out in a forest surrounding a shrine in Kaneshiro-cho of Shimane prefecture in Sanin-chiho Area of Tyugoku District. The sampling plot located on upper-middle portion of southeast slope about 25 degrees, the altitude was 410m a.s.l. Total 44 species of vascular were found in the plot. Vertically the community was composed of 4 layers. The height of first tree layer was 25m, coverage 90%. Its dominant species was Q.salicina, diameter of breast-height 70-90cm, the largest near 100cm, and Cryptomeria japonica was found mixed in. The height of second tree layer was 13m, coverage 30%. Its dominant species were Camellia japonica, Ilex pedunculosa and Neolitsea sericea. Daphniphyllum macropodum and others were found mixed in. The height of shrub layer was 4m, coverage 20%. Its dominant species were Daphniphyllum macropodum, Ligustrum japonicum and Lindera umbellata, additionally Ilex spp., species of Theaceae and Lauraceae, and needle-leaved Cryptomeria japonica and Torreya nucifera var. radicans were found mixed in. The height of herb layer was 0.3m, coverage only 5%, but species richness was higher than other layers. 28 different species were found in forest floor. The dominant species were Dryopteris erythrosora and Sasa palmala, besides, many seedlings of evergreen trees as well as evergreen liana like Smilax spp. and Hedera rhombea were found mixed in. The differential species of this community were Q.salicina and Daphniphyllum macropodum. By the judgement of community structure in site and the comparative analysis of characteristic and differential species, this community was considered in the classifying system of evergreen broad-leaved forest in Japan (Miyawaki, 1978; Fujiwara, 1981) as belonging to Illicio-Quercetalia acutae order, Quercion acuto-myrsinaefoliae alliance, Acubo-Quercetum salicinae association. The similar community type mainly distributed on hill or mountain area in northern part of China could be recognized in Sino-classification system of vegetation type(Wu et al. 1980;Song 1987;1995;2000). 2) Nandina domestica’Q.glauca Community The survey was carried out in Tosa-sanson in Kochi prefecture of South Shikoku. The altitude of sampling plot was 150m a.s.l. It located on middle and lower portion of southwest ______中国科技论文在线 http:\\www.paper.edu.cn

slope of 35 degrees. The basic rock in the nature was limestone. There were 54 species of in the plot. Vertically the structure of community was composed of 3 layers. The height of tree layer was 10m, coverage 90%. Q.glauca was the dominant species in tree layer, its diameter of breast height was 5-15cm. The evergreen broad-leaved Eriobotrya japonica and deciduous broad-leaved Diospyros kaki and Premna japonica were the main companions of tree layer. The height of shrub layer was 5m, coverage 40%. Aucuba japonica and Nandina domestica were the dominant species. Besides, sapling of Q.glauca that were the dominant species of tree layer also predominated. The evergreen shrubs like Ligustrum japonicum, Neolitsea sericea, Camellia japonica, and also the deciduous Aphananthe aspera and Lespedeza buergeri mixed in. The height of herb layer was 1.0m, coverage as low as 20%. The dominant species were Ardisia japonica and Liriope spicata. The evergreen liana like Trachelospermum asiaticum f. intermedium, Hedera rhombea and Euonymus fortunei var. radicans often mixed in, as well as the evergreen shrubs like Ligustzum japonicum and pteridophyte like Dryopteris erythrosora, and on forest floor like Ophiopogon japonicus, Cymbidium goeringii, etc. The differential species of this type were Q.glauca, Liriope spicata and Nandina domestica. By the judgement of community structure in site and the comparative analysis of characteristic and differential species, this community was deemed as belonging to Illicio-Quercetalia acutae order, Quercion acuto-myrsinaefoliae alliance, Nandino-Quercetum glaucae association in the classifying system of evergreen broad-leaved forest in Japan (Miyawaki 1978; Fujiwara, 1981). The similar community type mainly distributed on hill or mountain area in northern part of China, and could be recognized in Sino-classification system of vegetation type (Wu et al. 1980;Song 1987; 1995; 2000). 3)Photinia glabra’Lithocarpus glabra Community The investigation was carried out in a forest surrounding a shrine in Hiroshima-shi, Sanyo-chiho Area of Tyugoku District. The sampling plot located on middle portion of a southern slope of 20 degrees, the altitude was 100m a.s.l. It was quite dry inside the forest. There were 47 species of vascular plants in the plot. Vertically the structure of community was composed of four layers. The height of first tree layer was 20m, coverage 90%. Lithocarpus glabra was dominant species of the layer; its diameter of breast height was 15-25cm. Q.glauca was the main companion species. The height of second tree layer was 14m, coverage 15%. Dendropanax trifidus dominated this layer, while evergreen broad-leaved Cleyera japonica, Q.glauca, Symplocos lucida, Ilex rotunda and I.integza mixed in. The height of shrub layer was 7m, coverage 40%. Photinia glabra of Rosaceae and Eurya japonica of Theaceae co-dominated this layer, additionally the dominant species of tree layer Lithocarpus glabra as well as other evergreen broad-leaved species like Q.glauca, Dendropanax trifidus, Cinnamomum japonicum, Symplocos prunifolia, Vaccinium bracteatum and Ilex chinensis mixed in. The height of herb layer was 1.0m, coverage 10%. Lithocarpus glabra, the dominant species of tree layer, as well as Ardisia japonica, plus Dryopteris spp. of pteridophyte dominated this layer, while seedlings of many different evergreen trees and Cymbidium goeringii, Liriope muscari mxed in forest floor. The differential species of this community were Lithocarpus glabra and Photinia glabra. By the judgement of community structure in site and the comparative analysis of differential species, this community was considered to belong to Illicio-Quercetalia acutae order, Quercion acuto-myrsinaefoliae alliance, Illici buergeri-Pasanietum glabrae association in the classifying system of evergreen broad-leaved forest in Japan (Miyawaki, 1978; Fujiwara, 1981). The similar ______中国科技论文在线 http:\\www.paper.edu.cn

community type mainly distributed on hill or mountain limestone area in northern part of China, and could be recognized in Sino-classification system of vegetation type(Wu et al. 1980;Song 1987;1995;2000).

4)Ternstroemia gymnanthera’Castanopsis cuspidata Community The investigation was carried out in Yasuda-cho, Kochi prefecture of South Shikoku; Miyakubo-cho,Ehime prefecture of North Shikoku under the Setonouchi climate; Hiroshima-shi and Iwakuni-shi, Hiroshima prefecture of Sanyo-chiho Area in Tyugoku District. The altitude of five sampling plots was separately from 40m to 120m a.s.l. They spread on the slopes of ruptured hills or next to the ridge, the incline was from 10 to 15 degrees. It was relatively dry inside forests. There were 24 to 43 species of vascular plant in plots. Vertically the structure of communities was composed of four layers. The height of first tree layer was 18-28m, coverage 80-90%. Castanopsis cuspidata was the dominant species. Its diameter of breast-height was 30-60cm, the largest one even reached 69cm. Evergreen broad-leaved trees like Ilex spp., Cinnamomum japonicum and Myrica rubra were also seen in this layer. The height of second tree layer was 10-13m, coverage 20-60%. However there was no dominant species clearly visible, many evergreen broad-leaved trees mixed in second tree layer, like Dendropanax trifidus, and Camellia japonica, Cleyera japonica, Ternstroemia gymnanthera of Theaceae, as well as Ilex spp., Symplocos spp., Machilus thunbergii, etc. The height of shrub layer was 4-6m, coverage 20-60%, in exception of the species in tree layer, the evergreen broad-leaved shrubs such as Eurya japonica, Photinia glabra, Ficus erecta, Ligustrum japonicum and Neolitsea sericea occurred frequently. The height of herb layer was 0.5-1.5m, coverage 10-60%. The species occurred mostly in this layer were Trachelospermum asiaticum f. intermedium, Ardisia crenata, A.japonica; and pteridophytes like Dryopteris erythrosora, etc. occurred too. Beside, there were seedlings of many evergreen trees. The differential species of this type of community were Castanopsis cuspidata, Ternstroemia gymnanthera, Myrica rubra, Lophatherum gracile, Ilex chinensis, Ilex rotunda, Ardisia crenata and Dicranopteris linearis. By the judgement of community structure in site and the comparative analysis of characteristic and differential species, this community was considered in the classifying system of evergreen broad-leaved forest in Japan (Miyawaki, 1978; Fujiwara, 1981) as belonging to Myrsino-Castanopsieta sieboldii order, Maeso japonicae-Castanopsion sieboldii alliance, Symploco glaucae-castanopsietum sieboldii association. The similar community type mainly distributed on hill or mountain area in central part of China, and could be recognized in Sino-classification system of vegetation type(Wu et al. 1980; Song 1987; 1995; 2000; Da et al. 2000). 5)Castanopsis cuspidata var.sieboldii Community The investigation was carried out in forest next to temples and shrines in Yasuda-cho and Muroto-shi, Kochi prefecture in South Shikoku; Ohta-shi in Shimane prefecture and Togo-cho in Tottori prefecture, Sanin-chiho Area in Tyugoku District. Five sampling plots located on the middle-lower portion of slopes of 10-35 degrees, the altitude was from 90m to 290m a.s.l. separately. There were 30-55 species of vascular plant in the plots. Vertically the structure of community was composed of four layers. The features of first tree layer were 18-24m of height, 90-95% of coverage, the dominant species was Castanopsis cuspudata var. sieboldii, and in one of the communities Machilus Thunbergii acting as co-dominant species; the diameter of breast-height of dominant species measured 30-70cm, that of the largest one 105cm, with mixed ______中国科技论文在线 http:\\www.paper.edu.cn

species like Machilus thunbergii, Distylium racemosum, Q.acuta, Q.salicina, etc. The height of second tree layer was 12-15m, coverage 20-50%. The dominant species of this layer was Camellia japonica. The main mixed species were Cleyera japonica, Distylium racemosum, Quercus/Cyclobalanopsis spp., Ilex spp., Symplocos spp. etc. The height of shrub layer was 3-5m, coverage 20-40%. In addition to the species of tree layer, the evergreen broad-leaved shrubs like Eurya japonica, Ficus erecta, Ligustrum japonicum, Neolitsea sericea were frequently occurred. The height of herb layer was 0.5-1.5m, coverage 10-40%. The species occurring mostly were pteridophytes like Arachniodes spp. and Dryopteris spp. etc, as well as Ardisia japonica, Trachelospermum asiaticum f. intermedium, and many evergreen trees. The differential species of this community were Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii, glabra and Daphniphyllum teijsmannii. Based on the characteristic and differential species, Castanopsis cuspidata var.sieboldii Community could be further specified into two subunits i.e. South Shikoku type and Sanin-chiho Area type. The differential species of South Shikoku type were Neolitsea aciculata, Myrsine seguinii, Meliosma rigida, Lasianthus japonicus, Symplocos tanakae, Arachniodes aristata and A.sporadosora. By the judgment of community structure in site and comparative analysis of characteristic and differential species, this subtypes was considered in the classifying system of evergreen broad-leaved forests in Japan (Miyawaki, 1978; Fujiwara, 1981) as belonging to order Myrsino-castanopsieta sieboldii, alliance Maeso japonicae-Castanopsion sieboldii, association Arachniodo-Castanopsietum sieboldii. However there was no clearly visible differential species of Sanin-chiho Area type, it could be considered as belonging to the same association Arachnido-castanopsietum sieboldii like the South Shikoku counterpart. The similar community type to Castanopsis cuspidata var.sieboldii Community mainly distributed on hill or mountain area in central part of China, and could be recognized in Sino-classification system of vegetation type(Wu et al. 1980;Song 1987;1995;2000; Da et al. 2000). 6) Aphananthe aspera'Machilus thunbergii Community The investigation was taken at a forest next to the shrine in Tottori-shi, Tottori prefecture in Sanin-chiho Area of Tyugoku District. The sampling point located on plateau of 30m height a.s.l. It was relatively moist inside the forest. There were 28 species of vascular plant in the plot. Vertically the structure of community was composed of four layers The features of first tree layer were: height round 20m, coverage reached 100%, Machilus thunbergii the dominant species, its diameter of breast-height (DBH) reached 1.2m, mixed with Aphananthe aspera, Ilex integra and Phellodendron amurense. The height of second tree layer was 12m, coverage 40%, Camellia japonica was the dominant species, mixed with evergreen broad-leaved trees like Machilus thunbergii and Neolitsea serieea of Lauraceae as well as Cleyera japonica, etc. The height of shrub layer was 6m, coverage 40%. Aucuba japonica and Camellia japonica were the dominant species; additionally evergreen trees like Cinnamomum japonicum, Dendronpanax trificus, Q.myrsinaefolia as well as Cleyera japonica and Eurya japonica of Theaceae mixed in. The height of herb layer was 0.8m, coverage 40%. Aucuba japonica, Ardisia crispa and Aspidistra elatior were the dominant species. Most of the mixed species were seedlings of evergreen trees, however, some lianas like Hedera rhombea and pteridophytes like Dryopteris erythrosora, etc. also mixed in. The differential species of this type were Machilus thunbergii and Aphananthe aspera. By the judgement of the community structure in site and the comparative analysis of characteristic and differential species, this community was considered in the classifying system of evergreen ______中国科技论文在线 http:\\www.paper.edu.cn

broad-leaved forests in Japan (Miyawaki, 1978; Fujiwara, 1981), as belonging to order Myrsino-Castanopsieta sieboldii, alliance Maeso japonicae-Castanopsion sieboldii, association Polysticho-Perseetum thunbergii. The similar community type mainly distributed on gentle slope and especially in valley in China, and could be recognized in Sino-classification system of vegetation type(Wu et al. 1980;Song 1987;1995;2000).

4.1.3 The coastal windswept evergreen broad-leaved shrub They were established by Quercus phillyraeoides, Pittosporum tobira, Euonymus japonicus and Litsea japonica, mostly distributed on the rapid rise and sandy gravel area under the coastal windswept condition. Because of the influence of oceanic wind, the physiognomy of community was a form of coppice forest（Fujiwara,1981,1986;Miyazaki,1982,1983;Hata,1996). Data from two sampling points of the coastal windswept evergreen broad-leaved shrub were obtained from area near seashore in Miyakubo-cho, Ehime prefecture in North Shikoku; and in Mihogaseki-cho, Shimane prefecture in Sanin-chiho Area, in Tyugoku District. The character istic and differential species were Pittosporum tobira and Farfugium japonicum(Tab.1). According to the dominant species of community and species combination, the coastal windswept evergreen broad-leaved shrub investigated could be further divided into two subtypes, i.e. 1.Quercus phillyraeoides community; 2.Cyrtomium falcatum’ Litsea japonica community. 1) Quercus phillyraeoides community The investigation was taken in Miyakubo-cho of Ehime prefecture in North Shikoku. The sampling point located on the slope of ruptured cliffs along seashore, the degree of incline was 40 degrees. It was rather dry inside the forest. The species composition of community was relatively poor, only eighteen species were found. Vertically the structure of community was composed of three layers. The features of tree layer were as follows: height 9m, coverage 80%, Quercus phillyraeoides the dominant species, its diameter of breast-height was 15-20cm, the mixed species were P.tobira and deciduous Q.variabilis and Q.serrata. The height of shrub layer was 4m, coverage 10%, species of most frequent occurrence were evergreen shrubs like P.tobira, Ficus erecta, etc. The height of herb layer was under 1m, plants on the forest floor were sparse, coverage only 5%. Besides the evergreen P.tobira and Juniperus rigida, etc, some seaside plants like Farfugium japonicum and occurred too. The differential species of the community was Q.phillyracoides. By the judgement of community structure in site and the comparative analysis of characteristic and differential species, this community was considered, in the classifying system of evergreen broad-leaved forests in Japan (Miyawaki, 1978; Fujiwara, 1981), as belonging to order Myrsino-Castanopsieta sieboldii, alliance Raphiolepida-Quercino phillyraeoides, association Pittasporo-Quercetum phillyraeoidis. 2)Cyrtomium falcatum’ Litsea japonica community The investigation was taken in Mihogaseki-cho, Shimane prefecture in Sanin-chiho Area, in Tyugoku District. The sampling point located on slope of ruptured cliff along seashore of 10m height a.s.l., the degree of incline was 40 degrees. It was rather dry inside the forest. The composition of species was relatively poor, only nineteen species were found. Vertically the structure of community was composed of three layers. About the tree layer, its height was 10m, coverage 40%. The species mostly found were sun plants, like as deciduous Rhus sylvestirs, Celtis sinensis var. japonica and Morus australis, their diameters of breast-height (DBH) varied from 15cm to 25cm. The height of shrub layer was 5m, coverage 90%. Litsea japonica was the dominant species, and evergreen shrubs like Elaeagnus macrophylla, P.tobira, Ficus erecta, ______中国科技论文在线 http:\\www.paper.edu.cn

Euonymus japonicus, etc, were main companion species. The height of herb layer was under 0.8m, coverage 40%, Cyrtomium falcatum predominated, however, some evergreen and seaside plants like Farfugium japonicum, Elaeagnus macrophylla, P.tobira and Eurya emarginata were also found. The differential species were Litsea japonica, Cyrtomium falcatum and Elaeagnus macrophylla. By the judgement of community structure in site and comparative analysis of characteristic and differential species, this community was considered, in the classifying system of evergreen broad-leaved forest in japan (Miyawaki, 1978; Fujiwara, 1981), as belonging to order Myrsino-Castanopsieta sieboldii, alliance Rhaphiolepida-Quercino phillyraeoidis, association Cyrtomio-Litseetum japonicae.

4. References Da L.J. et al. (2000) Comparative Study on Community Structure of Some Castanopsis Forest of Eastern China with Western Japan. In:Abstracts 43rd Symposium of International Association for Vegetation Science.,P-79.

Fujiwara K. (1981) Phytosociological Investigation of the Evergreen Broad-leaved Forest of Japan-Ⅰ．Bull. Inst. Envir. Sci. Technol. Yokohama Natn. Univ. 7: 67-133.

Fujiwara K. (1986) Phytosociological Investigation of the Evergreen Broad-leaved Forest of Japan-Ⅳ．Bull. Inst. Envir. Sci. Technol. Yokohama Natn. Univ. 13: 99-149.

Hata Y. (1996) The Actual Situation in Plant Communities of Chugoku and Shikoku District. (edit. NACS-J & WWF Japan; Red Data Book of Plant Communities in Japan) 86-89. Abox, Tokyo.

Miyawaki A. (1982) Vegetation of Japan Shikoku.Shibundo,Tokyo. 539pp.

Miyawaki A. (1983) Vegetation of Japan Chugoku.Shibundo,Tokyo. 540pp.

Miyawaki A. et al. (1978) Handbook of Japanese Vegetation. Shibundo,Tokyo. 872pp.

Song Y.C. (1988) Broad-leaved Evergreen Forests in Central Japan in Comparison with Eastern China, Veroff. Geobot. Inst. ETH, Stiftung Rubel, Zurich 98 (1988): 197~224

Song Y.C. (2000) Evergreen broad-leaved Forest of East Asia. In:Abstracts 43rd Symposium of International Association for Vegetation Science.,C2-9.

Song Y.C., Wang X. R. et al. (1995) Vegetation and Flora of Tiantong National Forest Park, Zhejiang Province. 208 pp.

Wu Z.Y, (ed.), 1980, Vegetation of China. (In Chinese). Science Press, Beijing. 1375pp.