• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.253-260
• /
• 2010

It has been well established that leaf longevity is linked to the carbon economy of plants. We used this relationship to predict leaf lifetime carbon gains from leaf lifespan, and estimated the gross primary production (GPP) of a young deciduous forest of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) located in central Japan. The light-saturated photosynthetic rates of the leaves were measured repeatedly during the growing season. We used the leaf lifespan to calculate the conversion coefficient from the light-saturated photosynthetic rate into the realized leaf lifetime carbon gain under field conditions. The leaf turnover rate was estimated using litter traps. GPP was estimated as the product of lifetime carbon gain per unit of leaf mass, and the annual leaf turnover rate. The GPP of the forest in 2007 was estimated to be $1.2{\times}10^3gCm^{-2}y^{-1}$, which was within the range of previously reported GPP values of beech forests in Japan, and was close to the GPP of a European beech forest, as estimated by eddy flux measurements.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.33-37
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate food preference and developmental characteristics of the gray field slug, $Deroceras$ $reticulatum$ M$\ddot{u}$ller (Stylommatophora: Limacidae) using various foods. The food preference of $D.$ $reticulatum$ was most highest on Chinese cabbage ($Brassica$ $campestris$ L., followed on cucumber ($Cucumis$ $sativus$ L.), and significantly low on beet ($Beta$ $vulgaris$ var. Ruba), kale($Brassica$ $oleracea$ L. var. $acephala$ D.C), carrot (Daucus carota L.) and Chinese cabbage ($Brassica$ $campestris$ L.) which were not different significantly. The total number of eggs laid by $D.$ $reticulatum$ was the highest (n = 109.6) on cucumber and the lowest (n = 10.1) on leaf perilla ($Perilla$ $frutescens$ var. $japonica$ Hara). Hatchability was the highest (92.4%) on cucumber and the lowest (62.5%) on leaf perilla. The egg developmental period was not significantly different from 12 days to 13 days among host plants. Juvenile period and adult longevity ranged from 75 days to 111 days and 66 days to 187 days, respectively. Thereby, life span from egg to adult longevity of $D.$ $reticulatum$ was the longest on cucumber with 273 days and the shortest on 190 days on leaf perilla.