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General conclusions concerning riparian forest ecology and conservation

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Abstract

The aim of our research was to understand the dynamics and coexistence mechanisms of riparian forests with respect to natural disturbance and the life-history strategies of plant species and to contribute to the conservation and restoration of riparian ecosystems (see Chapter 1). There are many types of riparian vegetation in Japan (see Chapter 4). We have studied the vegetation of more than 20 riparian forests across Japan, from Hokkaido to Kyushu, and from headwater streams to lowland rivers. The studies were relatively broad, and included geography, vegetation science, population ecology, landscape ecology, and ecophysiology. In this chapter, I describe (1) the natural disturbance regime in riparian areas, (2) the life-history strategies of riparian trees, (3) the coexistence mechanisms of riparian trees, and (4) the conservation and management of riparian forests.

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Sakio, H. (2008). General conclusions concerning riparian forest ecology and conservation. In: Sakio, H., Tamura, T. (eds) Ecology of Riparian Forests in Japan. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-76737-4_21

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