Reconstruction of forests buried by Fuji 1707 tephra on the southeastern slope of Fuji Volcano, central Japan.

Abstract

The forests which existed until December 16, 1707 AD were reconstructed. At site MK-4 (1745-18785m alt), there were stands composed of subalpine conifers such as Abies veitchii, Tsuga diversifolia and Picea jezoensis, 1 stand of Larix and 1 small stand of deciduous broad-leaved trees, that were distributed in patches. At site MK-2 (1680m alt), there was a forest of Abies, Tsuga diversifolia and Picea jezoensis with a few broadleaved trees. At site MK-5 (1630m alt), there was a forest of Abies, Picea jezoensis and Picea cf. maximowiczii with a few montane-zone elements such as Pterocarya or Pourthiaea. The boundary between the subalpine and montane zones was at approx 1650m alt. The elevation of this boundary is lower than that of the present one on the S slope of Fuji. Since then, the forests have been replaced by a Larix forest or a Quercus and Betula forest at sites MK-2 and MK-5 where the surfaces have become relatively stable; a volcanic desert still exists around site MK-4 situated in the course of an avalanche chute.-from English summary