Vegetation Formation in Estuarine Tidal Flats: Influences of Basin Scale and River-Crossing Structures of the Eight Rivers of Ise Bay in Mie and Aichi Prefectures, Japan

Korehisa  Kaneko; Seiich  Nohara

doi:10.4236/oje.2014.415081

Korehisa Kaneko¹^*, Seiich Nohara²

Abstract: In this study, we examined the influences of the differences in basin scale and river-crossing structures of 8 rivers of Ise Bay in Mie and Aichi Prefectures, Japan on the vegetation in the estuarine tidal flats of these rivers. The dominant plant communities of the estuarine tidal flats formed from rivers of large-scale river basins (exceeding 300 km2) were determined. In the Miya River, the dominant plant community was the Suaeda maritima and Artemisia fukudo community. In the Kushida River, the dominant plant community was composed of Phacelurus latifolius, Artemisia fukudo, Phragmites australis, and bamboo. In the Kumozu River, the dominant community was composed of the coastal plants Calystegia soldanella, Lathyrus japonicus, and Carex pumila and the exotic plant of Lolium multiflorum. The plant community of Suzuka River was dominated by the exotic plant of Eragrostis curvula. Among the estuarine tidal flats influenced by a small-scale river basin (50 km2 or less), the plant community of Shinbori River (Fukue tidal flat) was dominated by Suaeda maritima, and the plant communities of the Shio and Harai Rivers were dominated by Phragmites australis. The plant community of Tanaka River was dominated by Phragmites australis and coastal plants. Regarding the relationship between the vegetation and the river environment for each study site, we hypothesised that in a large basin area with few structures crossing the river, the river water catchment in the estuary after heavy rains caused large areas of disturbance and formed bare land, providing suitable habitat for an annual salt marsh plant community. In contrast, in cases with many structures crossing the river, a stable channel, an excavated riverbed and the suppression of runoff and the resulting disturbance of the estuary, flooding did not occur during high tide. Moreover, we hypothesised that in a small basin with many structures crossing the river, disturbance to the estuary was not likely, and the perennial salt marsh plant community of Phragmites australis would be widely distributed, except for a river type such as the Shinbori River, in which tide and river flow were managed by a final closure.

Keywords: Annual Salt Marsh Plant, Perennial Salt Marsh Plant, River-Crossing Structure, Water Level, River Basin

Cite this paper: Kaneko, K. and Nohara, S. (2014) Vegetation Formation in Estuarine Tidal Flats: Influences of Basin Scale and River-Crossing Structures of the Eight Rivers of Ise Bay in Mie and Aichi Prefectures, Japan. Open Journal of Ecology, 4, 974-988. doi: 10.4236/oje.2014.415081.

References

[1] Nishihara, T. (1997) As for Recent Movement of “Reproduction Project of Sea in Japan”—The Action Plan Was Settled on in the Ise Bay and the Hiroshima Bay. Japanese Journal of Coastal Zone Studies, 19, 3-5.

[2] Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan (2007) Revision, List of Threatened Wildlife of Japan. Wildlife Division, Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

[3] Department of the Environment Aichi Prefectural Government (2009) Threatened Wildlife of Aichi Prefecture, RED DETA BOOK AICHI 2009. Plants, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

[4] Mie Prefecture, Environmental Conservation Agency (2005) Threatened Wildlife of Mie 2005. Plants Mushroom, Mie Prefecture, Japan.

[5] Kaneko, K., Yabe, T. and Nohara, S. (2005) Vegetation Changes and Topographic Feature in the Delta of Obitsu River in Tokyo Bay. Japanese Journal of Landscape Ecology, 9, 27-32.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5738/jale.9.2_27

[6] Kobayashi, S. (1996) The State Environment of Salt Marsh Plant Community in the Estuary—River Course Characteristics and Salinity Concentration Environment. Research Report of Ehime Prefectural Science Museum JAPAN, 1, 35-44.

[7] Kamata, M. and Ogura, Y. (2006) Habitat Evaluation for Plant Communities as a Salt Marsh in the Naka River, Shikoku Japan. Ecology and Civil Engineering, 8, 245-261. http://dx.doi.org/10.3825/ece.8.245

[8] Kaneko, K. and Nohara, S. (2013) Vegetation Communities in Estuarine Tidal Flats in the Different River and Basin Environments of the Four Major Rivers of Ise Bay (Suzuka, Tanaka, Kushida), Mie Prefecture, Japan. Open Journal of Ecology, 3, 205-213. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oje.2013.32024

[9] Kaneko, K. and Nohara, S. (2014) The Influence of Changes in the Degree and Frequency of Disturbance on the Annual Salt Marsh Plant (Suaeda maritima, Artemisia scoparia) Communities in Estuarine Tidal Flats: A Case Study of the Kushida River in Mie Prefecture, Japan. Open Journal of Ecology, 4, 1-10.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oje.2014.41001

[10] Kikuchi, E. and Kurihara, Y. (1988) Tide River. In: Kurihara, Y., Ed., Estuarine and Coastal Area of Ecology and Eco-Technology, Tokai University Press, Tokyo, 150-160.

[11] Delaune, R., Patrick, W. and Buresh, R. (1978) Sedimentation Rates Determined by 137 Cs Dating in a Rapidly Accreting Salt Marsh. Nature, 275, 532-533. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/275532a0

[12] Deleeuw, J., Demunck, W., Olff, H. and Bakker, J. (1993) Does Zonation Reflect the Succession of Salt Marsh Vegetation—A Comparison of an Estuarine and a Coastal Island Marsh in the Netherlands. Acta Botanica Neerlandica, 42, 435-445. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.1993.tb00719.x

[13] Dijkema, K.S. (1997) The Influence of Salt Marsh Vegetation on Sedimentation. In: Eisma, D., Ed., Intertidal Deposits River Mouths, Tidal Flats and Coastal Lagoons, CRC Press, Boca Ration, 403-414.

[14] Hatton, R.S., Delaune, R.D. and Patrick, W.H.J. (1983) Sedimentation, Accretion, and Subsidence in Marshes of Barataria Basin, Louisiana. Limnology and Oceanography, 28, 494-502.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4319/lo.1983.28.3.0494

[15] Water Information System in Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan.
http://www1.river.go.jp/

[16] Miyawaki, A., Okuda, S. and Suzuki, N. (1975) Vegetation in der Umgebung der Bucht von Tokyo. Institution for Transport Policy Studies, Tokyo.

[17] Kusanagi, T. (1986) Diagnosis of Primary Colour Weed. Rural Culture Association, Tokyo.

[18] Shimizu, T., Ed. (2003) Naturalized Plants of Japan. HEIBONSHA, Tokyo.

[19] Huiskes, A.H.L., Koutstaal, B.P., Herman, P.M.J., Beeftink, W.G., Markusse, M.M. and Munck, W.D.E. (1995) Seed Dispersal of Halophytes in Tidal Salt Marshes. Journal of Ecology, 83, 559-567. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2261624

[20] Hutchings, M.J. and Russel, P.J. (1989) The Seed Regeneration Dynamics of an Emergent Salt Marsh. Journal of Ecology, 77, 615-637. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2260974

[21] Kitamura, S. (1942) Ecology of Artemisia scoparia. Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica, 11, 59-60.

[22] Kitamura, S., Murata, G. and Hori, M. (1963) Colored Illustrations of Herbaceous Plants of Japan Vol. 1 (Sympetalae). Reserved Edition, Hoikusha Publishing, Co., Ltd., Osaka.

[23] Makino, T. (1996) Revised Makino’s Illustrated Flora in Color. In: Ono, M., Ooba, H., Nishida, M. and Murata, J., Eds., Gamopetalae, Hokuryukan Publishing, Co., Ltd., Tokyo.

[24] Ichikawa, S. and Kachi, N. (2000) Differential Salt Tolerance of Two Artemisia Species Growing in Contrasting Coastal Habitats. Ecological Research, 15, 241-247.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1703.2000.00345.x

[25] Katsuyama, H. and Shimaoka, C. (2003) Vegetation and Distribution of Phacelurus latifolius in Mie Prefecture, Japan. Annual Research Report of Mie-Prefecture Environmental Conservation Agency, 9, 35-47.

[26] Okuda, S. (1997) World Plants of Japan, Growth Environment Separately. Shogakukan Inc., Tokyo.

[27] Scott, W.R. and William, A.N. (1993) Vegetation Change on a Northeast Tidal Marsh: Interaction of Sea-Level Rise and Marsh Accretion. Ecology, 74, 96-103.