Experimental Community Ecology in Miscanthus Sinensis Grassland -change of Species Composition According to Mowing Frequency-

27 Mar Experimental Community Ecology in Miscanthus Sinensis Grassland -change of Species Composition According to Mowing Frequency-

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Abstract

English Abstract

The change of species composition in a Miscanthus sinensis community was recorded in experimental stands different in mowing frequency : 1,2,3,4 and 5 times in a growing season from May to September in 1971 and 1972. Though the yield was almost the same in the stands mowed from 1 to 4 times, the species composition differed according to mowing frequency. Based on the response to mowing frequency, the constituent species of the grassland were classified into three groups. The first group included species that tolerated removal of above-ground parts by mowing. These species were Miscanthus sinensis, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Spodiopogon sibiricus and Solidago virga-aurea var. asiatica. The second group, which showed a reduction of rank in the species sequence of the stand, comprised species such as Erigeron strigosus, Euphrasia maximowiczii, Viola mandshurica and Platycodon grandiflorum. The species belonging to the third group, which showed an increase of rank in the stand as a result of mowing were Carex nervata, Zoysia japonica, and Carex humilis. The frequently mowed stands exhibited a tendency for Erigeron annuus predomi nce. Mowing the stand increased the species diversity of the community. These results suggest that species increase their rank in the community if they gain an advantage by elimi tion of competitive species from the stand, even though the plants lose their photosynthetic organs.