Potential for the Restoration of Uncovered Stand Floor Vegetation Caused by the Trampling of Secondary Stands of Quercus serrata in a Suburban Area of Tokyo

In this study, we carried out an experimental restoration of the floor vegetation of the secondary stands of Quercus serrata which became uncovered caused by trampling. The study sites were located in a suburban district of Tokyo, and the experiment was carried out from June to September in 1998. We collected data before the restoration compared them with those obtained at the end of three-month experiment period. The results revealed that the height and the coverage of herb layer did not change significantly. However, the number of recorded species in herb layer increased after the restoration and it showed a correlation with the area of the studied stands and with the calculated stand area available per person living within 250 meters of the examined stands. Furthermore, the number of trampling intolerant species having non-rosette and non-turf forms, considered as characteristic species of the secondary Q. serrata stands, increased after the restoration. This also correlated with the area of Q. serrata stands around the examined stands that existed in 1974. These relations show that not only the area of the present stands but the past landscape in their surroundings should be incorporated as an index when evaluating restoration potential of stand floor vegetation.