Ecology of Riparian Forests in Japan
Disturbance, Life History, and Regeneration

Riparian forests along streams and rivers are diverse in species, structure, and regeneration processes, and have important ecological functions in maintaining landscape and biodiversity. This book discusses riparian forests from subpolar to warm-temperate zones, covering headwater streams, braided rivers on alluvial fans, and low-gradient meandering rivers. It presents the dynamics and mechanisms that govern the coexistence of riparian tree species, tree demography, the response to water stress of trees, and the conservation of endangered species, and focuses on natural disturbances, life-history strategies, and the ecophysiology of trees. Because many riparian landscapes have been degraded and are disappearing at an alarming rate, the regeneration of the remaining riparian ecosystems is urgent. With contributions by more than 20 experts in diverse fields, this book offers useful information for the conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of riparian ecosystems that remain in world streams and rivers.

Contents Foreword
F. NAKAMURA

Preface



Part 1: Introduction



1 Features of Riparian Forests in Japan
H. SAKIO



Part 2: Geography, disturbance regime and dynamics of sediments in riparian zone

2 Occurrence of hillslope processes affecting riparian vegetation in upstream watersheds of Japan
T. TAMURA

3 Sediment dynamics and characteristics with respect to river disturbance
S. YANAI



Part 3: Riparian community

4 Vegetation-geographic evaluation of the syntaxonomic system of valley-bottom forests occurring in the cool-temperate zone of the Japanese Archipelago K. OHNO



Part 4: Riparian forests in headwater stream

5 Coexistence mechanisms of three riparian species in the upper basin with respect to their life histories, ecophysiology, and disturbance regimes
H. SAKIO, M. KUBO, K. SHIMANO and K. OHNO

6 Population dynamics and key stages in two Japanese riparian elements
Y. KANEKO and T. TAKADA

7 Rodent seed hoarding and regeneration of Aesculus turbinata: patterns, processes and implications
K. HOSHIZAKI

8 Longitudinal variation in disturbance regime and community structure of a riparian forest established on a small alluvial fan in warm-temperate southern Kyushu, Japan
H. ITO and S. ITO

Part 5: Riparian forests on wide alluvial fan

9 Structure and composition of riparian forests with reference to geomorphic conditions
S. KIKUCHI

10 Mosaic structure of riparian forests on the riverbed and floodplain of a braided river: A case study in the Kamikouchi Valley of the Azusa River S. ISHIKAWA

11 Coexistence of Salix species in a seasonally flooded habitat
K. NIIYAMA



Part 6: Riparian forests in lowland regions

12 Process of willow community establishment and topographic change of riverbed in a warm-temperate region of Japan
M. KAMADA

13 Growth and nutrient economy of riparian Salix gracilistyla
A. SASAKI and T. NAKATSUBO

14 The expansion of woody shrub vegetation (Elaeagnus umbellata) along a regulated river channel
M. KOHRI



Part 7: Riparian forests in wetland



15 Distribution pattern and regeneration of swamp forest species with respect to site conditions
H. FUJITA and Y. FUJIMURA

16 Flooding adaptations of wetland trees F. IWANAGA and F. YAMAMOTO



Part 8: Species diversity of riparian forests

17 Diversity of tree species in mountain riparian forest in relation to disturbance-mediated microtopography
T. MASAKI, K. OSUMI, K. HOSHIZAKI, D. HOSHINO, K. TAKAHASHI, K. MATSUNE and W.SUZUKI

18 Diversity of forest floor vegetation with landform type
M. KAWANISHI, H. SAKIO and K. OHNO



Part 9: Endangered species and its conservation

19 Ecology and conservation of an endangered willow, Salix hukaoana
W. SUZUKI and S. KIKUCHI

20 Strategy for the reallocation of plantations to semi-natural forest for the conservation of endangered riparian tree species
S. ITO, Y. MITSUDA, G. P. BUCKLEY and M. TAKAGI



Part 10: Conclusion

21 General Conclusions Concerning Riparian Forest Ecology and Conservation
H. SAKIO



Subject Index