Effects of Pieris japonica (Ericaceae) dominance on cool temperate forest altered-understory environments and soil microbiomes in Southern Japan

Abstract

The number of plants unpalatable to deer increases with increasing deer numbers. In the Kyushu Mountain area of Southern Japan, Pieris japonica (Ericaceae), an unpalatable shrub, has become the monodominant vegetation under evergreen conifer and deciduous broad-leaved tree stands. The monodominance of unpalatable plants in the understory has potential advantages and drawbacks; however, the effects of Pieris dominance are not well understood. To assess the effects of P. japonica dominances on forest environments and ecosystems, we investigated understory environments and soil microbiomes in Pieris-dominant sites. Under the deciduous broad-leaved trees, Pieris dominance leads to considerable Pieris leaf litter and humus weights and low soil bulk density and canopy openness. In the soil fungal community and fungal functional groups, the relative abundance of symbiotrophic fungi, particularly ectomycorrhizal fungi in Pieris-dominant sites were lower than in other-vegetation understory sites and saprotrophic fungi vice versa. Because few seedlings and saplings were found under Pieris shrubs, Pieris dominance in the understory might exclude other plant species. The results of this study will contribute to the Pieris population and forest management following deer overgrazing.