Mosses supporting barren land

FUSHI JOURNAL

September 2022

Mosses supporting barren land

Goshikigahara Forest stretches over a lava field at the foot of Mount Norikura in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture (Central Japan). The main primeval forest area is the highest rated primeval vegetation, equivalent to Vegetation Nature 9, Specific Plant Community Selection Criteria A, which is almost unaffected by humans according to the Ministry of the Environment's criteria. The mysterious nature of the area, with its misty atmosphere, we provided a good opportunity to learn about the primeval vegetation.

岐阜県高山市（中部日本）にある乗鞍山麓の溶岩地帯に広がる五色ヶ原の森。メインとなる原生林エリアは、環境省基準で人間の影響をほとんど受けていない植生自然９、特定植物群落選定基準Aに相当する最高評価の原生植生。霧が立ち込める神秘的な自然の演出もあり、私たちは原生植生を学ぶ良い機会を得た。

There are many undulations as the lava cools and hardens as it moves. The surface is covered with countless holes where volcanic gases erupt, and mosses grow thanks to the water that seeps into the holes.

溶岩が冷え固まりながら移動するため、多くの起伏がある。その表面は火山ガスが噴き出た穴が無数にあき、そこに染み込んだ水のおかげでコケ類が育つ。

In forests with poor soils, mosses play an important role. Mosses grow on the surface of the soil to hold moisture, and the seeds of plants germinate and grow with the moisture stored by the mosses. In forests spreading over barren lava belts, mosses play the role of soil.

貧弱な土壌しかない森においては、コケ類の役割は大きい。コケ類が育つことで水分が保持され、その表面に受け止められた植物の種子はコケ類が蓄えた水分で発芽し成長する。不毛な溶岩帯に広がる森林は、コケ類が土壌の役割を担っていた。