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 (543KB)
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70,082,000 Yen (FY1998; 23,287,000 Yen)
Canopy Dynamics, Regeneration, Plant-Animal Interaction, Herbivore
In order to clarify the plant and animal interaction in disturbed and non-disturbed patches in a forest, canopy structure and gap formation process and their effects on the seedling establishment, plant defense mechanism against herbivore and animal behavior were studied in the Pasoh Forest Reserve. Canopy structure were found to be dependent on the soil and topography, whereas the distribution and size of the canopy gaps were found not to be greatly changed between the two census in 1995 and 1997. Mortality and growth of juvenile trees were much influenced by the presence of canopy gaps. In addition, density of insect herbivore and their damage on seedling growth were higher under gaps than closed canopy, whereas the predators on these insects were more abundant in gaps than in the closed canopy. Rodents, one of major seed predator, were inactivated by the gap formation, primarily due to that they try to avoid such open sites where they are easily attacked by their predator. These results suggested that the Pasoh F. R. appears to be in a equilibrium condition in terms of gap formation rate, but the regeneration after gap formation were strictly regulated by the interaction among the tree seedlings, herbivores and predators. If one component of such interaction does not function well, the regeneration process of the forest will be disordered.
Tropical rain forest, Plant-Animal Interaction. Plant Defense Mechanism, Canopy Structure and Gap dynamics, Gene flow of Canopy forming Trees, small mammals.