Culm dynamics of dwarf bamboo (Sasa kurilensis Makino & Shibata) in relation to forest canopy conditions in beech forests

Dwarf bamboo (Sasa kurilensis) culms in Shirakami-Sanchi's beech forests can survive up to 20 years, with their dynamics significantly influenced by forest canopy conditions. The study found that culm density and biomass varied widely across plots, often responding abruptly to changes like gap formation. Notably, S. kurilensis thrives under closed canopies (dark conditions), as evidenced by an inverse relationship between canopy closure and culm density in 2001, which weakened by 2019. This suggests that understanding bamboo population dynamics requires closer attention to environmental instability and variations in forest structure.

Itabashi, T., Akada, S., Ishida, K., Ishibashi, S., Ohno, M., Matsui, K., Watanabe, Y., Nakashizuka, T., & Makita, A. (2023). Culm dynamics of dwarf bamboo (Sasa kurilensis Makino & Shibata) in relation to forest canopy conditions in beech forests. Advances in Bamboo Science, 2, 100013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bamboo.2022.100013