Chronosequence
In Japanese, there has not been any nice translation on chronosequence. The phonological translation is often used. Here, I indicate a tentative translation.
Definition
The sequential set of changes in structure and composition of (plant) communities.
Examples
Plant communities on post-fire forest, glacier retreat, lava, skislope
All ages on the researched sites should be determined.
Fig. Hypothetical procedures to obtain successional sere by chronosequence approach. This is the case of post-fire stand. [Above] Circles indicate the areas that received fire. Squares indicate plots established in the post-fire areas. Numerals indicate the ages after fire. [Below] The sequential changes in species composition. Species A is dominant five years after fire, and then gradually decreases the abundance. Species B is the most common in area where it has passed for 20 years since the last fire. If we assume that the species composition change in time, we determine species A is a pioneer after fire in the region.
Cronosequence on Sakurajima Island, Kyushu, Japan
The survey was conducted on lavas with different ages during the years of 1960 and 1963 (Tagawa 1964).
| Lava | Bummei | An-ei | Taisho | Showa | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code of lava | BU | BM | AS | AF | T1H | T1S | T2S | SK | SA |
| Erupted date | 1476 | 1779 | 1914 | 1946 | |||||
| Plant community | Shrub | Shrub | Herb | Moss/Lichen |
Problems on the assumption of chronosequence
- The intensity, scale and frequency of disturbances are not always same.
References
- Tagawa H. 1964. A study of the volcanic vegetation in Sakurajima, South-west Japan. I. Dynamics of vegetation. Memoirs of the Faculty of Science Kyushu University, Series E. 3: 165-228.
- Tsuyuzaki, S. 2005. Miscanthus sinensis grassland is an indicator plant community to restore ski slope vegetation in Japan. Ecological Indicators 5: 109-115
- succession