The Determination and Prediction of Pine to Oak Forest Succession in Sugadaira, Central Japan

In order to analyze the succession process from a pine forest to an oak forest, the tree growth of Pinus densiflora and Quercus mongolica ssp. crispula was monitored in a permanent quadrat for 23 years. The measurements were carried out for the stem diameter (DBH) of Pinus densiflora between 1977 and 1999 and for the height of Quercus mongolica ssp. crispula saplings between 1998 and 2000. The floristic composition and the locations of the individual P. densiflora and Q. mongolica ssp. crispula trees and saplings in the quadrat were recorded. P densiflora and Q. mongolica ssp. crispula individuals were randomly distributed within the quadrat. The relative growth rates (RGR) of DBH in P. densiflora were 0.085 $yr^{-1}$ for large trees and 0.056 $yr^{-1}$ for small trees in 1977. The RGR of height for Q. mongolica ssp. crispula was 0.122 $yr^{-1}$. The growth curve for DBH of P. densiflora was approximated by the logistic equation: $$DBH(t) = 30 {[1+1.16exp(-0.13 t)]}^{-1}$$ where DBH (t) the DBH (cm) in year t and t is the number of years since 1977. The growth in height of P. densiflora and Q. mongolica ssp. crispula was described by following equations: $$H (t) = 20.2 {[1+0.407exp(-0.137 t)]}^{-1} (P. densiflora)$$ $$H (t) = 30 {[1+20.7exp(-0.122 t)}^{-1} (Q. mongolica ssp. crispula)$$ Where H (t) is the tree height (m) in year t and t is the number of years since 1977 in P. densiflora and 1998 in Q. mongolica ssp. crispula. With these equations we predicted that the height of Q. mongolica ssp. crispula increases from 2 m in 1999 to 20 m in 2029. Therefore, Q. mongolica ssp. crispula and P. densiflora will be approximately the same height in 2029. The years required for succession from a pine forest to an oak forest are expected 33 with the range between 23 and 44 years.