Bull. Natn. Sci. Mus., Tokyo, Ser. B, 30(3), pp. 89–102, September 22, 2004 Lichen Flora of Mt. Tokachi, Hokkaido, Japan Akira Shimizu1, Masakane Inoue2 and Kwang Hee Moon3 1 Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, 060–0810 Japan E-mail: [email protected] 2 Department of Natural and Environmental Science, Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University, Akita, 010–8502 Japan E-mail: [email protected] 3 Natural Science Institute, Sook Myung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea E-mail: [email protected] Abstract As members of the lichen flora of Mt. Tokachi, an active volcano in Hokkaido, 159 lichen taxa belonging to 69 genera are recognized. Although most of them are common also in arc- tic-alpine and boreal zones of other areas of Japan, Trapelia involuta is reported for first time for Japan. The flora seems to be composed of lichens belonging to the arctic-alpine, circumboreal, Beringian, eastern Asia - North America disjunctive, pan-temperate, Far-Eastern groups. Key words: lichens, flora, Mt. Tokachi, volcanic environment, Hokkaido. Mt. Tokachi (2077 m; 43°25ЈN, 142°41ЈE) is tween 1040 and 700 m (15 in Fig.1); deciduous an active volcano located in the Daisetsuzan Na- forest dominated by Fraxinus mandshurica var. tional Park, Hokkaido, Japan (Fig. 1). The japonica, Acer sp., Alnus hirsuta, Quercus ground around Mt. Tokachi consists of volcanic crispula var. grosseserrata, Ulmus laciniata etc. ejecta and lava (mainly andesite) which were are developed in the riverside below 700 m (16 in erupted during different periods from the Pleis- Fig. 1). Detailed vegetational features are given tocene to the present day (Katsui et al., 1953). in the following description of sampling sites. The last eruption in 1989 was of a small-scale Mean annual precipitation as recorded by the but produced fumes and volcanic ashes. An ac- nearest weather station is approximately 900 mm tive large fumarole is located approximately 1- (Japan Meteorological Agency, 2000–2002), and km northwest of the summit at present. No the ground is covered with snow from the end of lichens are found within a 0.4-km radius of the October to early May. fumarole, after which different species appear at Lichen flora in Hokkaido was surveyed in the various distances away. Hidaka Mountains (Kurokawa & Nakanishi, The study area is situated between 555 and 1971), at Kushiro Marsh (Kashiwadani & Inoue, 2060 m in elevation and the timberlines are ob- 1993) and in Mt. O-akan and its adjacent areas served at about 1300 m. According to Ito & Sato (Ohmura & Kashiwadani, 1997). Although (1981), the vegetation around Mt. Tokachi varies lichens of the present area have been reported in mainly with elevations. Alpine flora with patches taxonomic works of lichens in Japan (Inoue, of Pinus pumila scrub covers the north-facing 1982, 2001), lichens around the active fumarole slope of Mt. Bieifuji (more than 1350 m in eleva- have not been precisely studied before. tion, 12 in Fig. 1); subalpine forests dominated by Field surveys for the lichens were carried out Picea glehnii and Betula ermanii are found be- from 1997 until 2003 within an 8-km radius of tween 1350 and 1040 m (14 in Fig. 1); Abies the active fumarole of Mt. Tokachi. The lichens sachalinensis dominated in the mixed forest be- were collected mainly along mountain trails, on 90 A. Shimizu, M. Inoue and K. H. Moon Fig. 1. Location of the study area including the sampling sites. The active fumarole of Mt. Tokachi (43°25ЈN, 142°41ЈE) is shown by a double circle in the middle left of the topographical map. Major peaks are shown as black triangles and some noted points are shown as black squares. Sampling points are grouped in 1ϳ16 and divided by thick broken lines (see the explanation of sampling sites in the text). Sampling points on rocks are shown by white circles, on soil by white stars and on barks by white squares. volcanic fields and in forests. A total of 1325 lia, Lepraria, and Micarea were excluded from specimens were collected from 378 sampling this study, as further taxonomic studies are re- sites summarized in Fig. 1. Sections of apothecia quired for the Japanese species. All the speci- and thalli were made using a hand-razor, and mens examined are preserved in the herbarium of mounted in distilled water, GAW, Lugol’s iodine the National Science Museum, Tokyo (TNS). solution (Purvis et al., 1992) or lactophenol cot- This study documents the lichen flora in the ton-blue solution. Chemical tests including thin alpine to subalpine zones, which include volcanic layer chromatography (Culberson & Johnson, fields, and presents taxonomic notes about sever- 1982) using the solvent B system and micro crys- al saxicolous species. tal tests (MCT) were conducted if necessary. However, specimens of the genus Bacidia, Buel- Lichen Flora of Mt. Tokachi 91 ermanii and grasses; elevation 880–1340 m. Sampling Sites and Enumeration of Lichens May 16, 1998, August 17, 2000, October 7, Sampling sites 2000, May 26, 2001 and June 17, 2001. The following provides the abbreviations of Furanodake (1): Around Mt. Furano, extending sampling sites with location numbers in Fig. 1. from Kamifurano-cho to Furano-shi. Rocky All sites were located in Prov. Ishikari, Hokkai- slopes and alpine flora with patches of Pinus do. pumila scrubs; elevation 1750–1900 m. August Ansei (6): Along Nukkakushifuranuigawa valley 1, 1997 and August 15,1998. upper Tokachidake Spa, Kamifurano-cho. Kamihoro (3): Around Mt. Kamifurano and Mt. There are two solfataras in this area at An- Kamihorokamettoku, extending from Kamifu- seikakou (1440 m) and 0.8 km northeast of rano-cho to Shintoku-cho. Rocky ridge and Tokachidake Spa. Fragile lava field partly cov- dry riverbeds with scattered Pinus pumila ered with Pinus pumila scrub; elevation scrubs; elevation 1800–1905 m. August 1, 1260–1500 m. September 16, 2000 and May 1997, August 23, 1998, September 9, 2000, 26, 2001. June 3, 2001 and June 9, 2001. Bakemono (5): Along Sanpouzanzawa valley in- Karesawa (14): Along the trail on the north cluding the west ridge of Mt. Kamifurano, slopes of the Karesawa River, Biei-cho. Tran- southwest of Bakemonoiwa, Kamifurano-cho. sitional area between alpine and subalpine Dry riverbeds surrounded by Pinus pumila and zones with Picea glehnii, Betula ermanii, Sorbus commixta scrubs; elevation 1500– Pinus pumila, Sorbus commixta and Sasa 1750 m. September 16, 2000 and June 9, 2001. kurilensis; elevation 1040–1350 m. May 4, Bieidake (11): Around Mt. Biei, Biei-cho. Rocky 1998, September 19, 1998 and September 26, ridges and alpine flora with Pinus pumila 1998. scrubs; elevation 1680–2040 m. September 5, Kumonodaira (10): Around Kumonodaira includ- 1998, September 13, 1998, August 20, 2000 ing Ponpizawa valley, Biei-cho. Volcanic boul- and August 27, 2000. ders and alpine flora with patches of Pinus Bieifuji (12): Around Mt. Bieifuji, extending pumila scrub; elevation 1315–1535 m. August from Biei-cho to Shintoku-cho. Rocky slope 27, 2000, October 7, 2000 and June 17, 2001. covered with Pinus pumila scrubs with Sasa Oputateshike (13): Along the trail between Mt. kurilensis below 1520 m; elevation 1350– Oputateshike and Mt. Bebetsu, extending from 1865 m. September 13, 1998 and September Biei-cho to Shintoku-cho. Rocky ridges; eleva- 19, 1998. tion 1825–1940 m. May 3, 1998. Bieigawa (16): Along Biei River behind the Shi- Sandanyama (7): Along the trail between Fukiage rogane Camp Ground and near Shirogane- Spa and Taihouiwa via Mt. Sandan, Kamifura- Fudo Waterfall, Biei-cho. Riverside mixed no-cho. Timberline is observed at approxi- forests with Fraxinus mandshurica, Abies mately 1200 m; Picea glehnii and Sasa sachalinensis, Betula ermanii, Acer sp., Tilia kurilensis dominate below it and Pinus pumila japonica, Quercus crispula, Alnus hirsuta and scrub dominate above it; elevation 1040– Phellodendron amurense; elevation 560– 1865 m. May 21, 1998, August 2, 2000 and 700 m. May 30, 1998, October 23, 1998, May May 12, 2001. 8, 1999, September 4, 1999 and April 6, 2003. Sanpouzan (2): Along the trail from Mt. Furano Bohgakudai (9): Around Bohgakudai and be- to the southwest col of Mt. Kamifurano, ex- tween Bohgakudai and Tokachidake Mountain tending from Kamifurano-cho to Shintoku- Refuge, extending from Kamifurano-cho to cho. Numerous boulders were found on the Biei-cho. Volcanic ejecta and lava fields with west slope of Mt. Sanpou. Rocky ridges with scattered Pinus pumila scrub, stunted Betula scattered scrubs of Rhododendron aureum and 92 A. Shimizu, M. Inoue and K. H. Moon Pinus pumila; elevation 1700–1866 m. August Characteristic features for this species are, 1, 1997, August 22, 1998 and September 30, 1) the areolate or less peltate thalli with 2000. slightly swollen areoles to 1.5 mm wide, 2) Seinen (15): Along the woodland paths behind the areoles with smooth or ridged surfaces, Seinen-no-ie around the Abaregawa and Iouza- the black lower surface of areoles with wa Rivers, Biei-cho. Mixed forest of Abies black rhizines, 3) the asci with numerous sachalinensis, Betula ermanii and Acan- colorless spores and 4) the absence of thopanax sciadophylloides with Sasa kurilen- chemical substance. Specimens from the sis; elevation 700–1040 m. May 16, 1998, May present area are identical with Rabenhorst: 30, 1998, September 26, 1998, October 3, Lich. Eur. Exs. 872 preserved in TNS. This 1998 and October 10, 1998. species resembles A. asahinae, an endemic Shimohoro (4): Northwest col of Mt. Shimo- species to Japan, from which it differs in horokamettoku, Shintoku-cho. Highland having thicker thalli with rough surface marsh surrounded by forest of Picea glehnii with warty projections. and Betula ermanii; elevation about 1280 m.