DIWPA: DIVERSITAS in the Western Pacific and Asia

March, 2015

DIWPA News Letter
Office: Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Otsu, Japan

No.32

Message from the ChairpersonA3(c): Policy support tools and methodologies for
scenario analysis and modelling of biodiversity andecosystem services. Further, we DIWPA will be auseful network for a master plan 2014 study entitled“Next generation monitoring of biodiversity andecosystem toward further understanding of responses
and improvement of resilience for ecosystem functions
in changing”, though the study has not yet had any
financial support. During the last ten years, Japanesenational universities have been having serious reductionof the budget allotment by our national government
every fiscal year. This also makes the managementof DIWPA stressful. However, we Secretary Officepositively take care of our DIWPA as much as possible,
hoping our members are conducing fruitful biodiversity
research.

lmost two years have passed
since I was in charge of the
DIWPA Chair. Prof. A. Ishida, who
was elected as the new Secretary
General to succeed me, has been
making great efforts to bring DIWPA
to a greater height as much as
Shin-ichi Nakano
possible. I am very much appreciating
for that. Our network has been spreading out mostly
in Asia, providing biodiversity information to thosecountries through our newsletters, contributing capacity
building through International Field Biology Course(IFBC) and supporting Asia-Pacific Biodiversity
Observation Network (AP-BON). In addition, we senda DIWPA Secretary Member (Prof. Yachi) to IPBES asa member of the IPBES expert group on Deliverable

Message from the Secretary GeneralW

e held International Field
Biology Course (IFBC) at the
Kiso Biological Station in August
2014. Two young researchers from
Philippines and a young researcher
from New Zealand were enrolled
in the IFBC, and we conducted
Atsushi Ishidamonitoring of invertebrata andexaminig algae in a mountain stream of the Kiso
river in Japan. Their activity reports are publishedin this newsletter. Furthermore, DIWPA supported
a domestic symposium in Kyoto in September 2014
for the general public. The topics of the symposium
were related to ecology and biological conservation
at the World Natural Heritage sites in Japan. At the
symposium, I (Kyoto University) and Prof. Naoki
Kachi (Tokyo Metropolitan University) talked about
the drought adaptation and evolution of woody

plants, and about interactions among livings and thecountermeasure for alien species within the Ogasawara
islands, respectively. Prof. Tohru Nakashizuka (Tohoku
University) talked about biodiversity and ecologicalservice in the Shirakami mountains. A report in the
countermeasure for alien trees in the Ogasawara islands
is also published in this newsletter.
Now it is a transition period to Future Earth for
DIWPA. Future Earth will open a new era of integrative
sustainable science between ecosystems and humansociety. DIWPA Newsletters will contribute to the newera. From this viewpoint, we need more informationfrom your countries in relation to biodiversity andconservation. It is a pleasure to receive your papers for
DIWPA (diwpa@ecology.kyoto-u.ac.jp).

1

DIWPA News Letter No.32

Report 1

DIWPA International Field Biology Course (IFBC) 2014
Reflections from a New Zealander
Jeremy 'Jay' Piggott

University of Otago(New Zealand)Participants at the front of the the Kiso Biological StationI

had the pleasure of joining the final two daysof 2014 DIWPA International Field Biology
Course (IFBC) at the Kiso Biological Station. The
purpose of my participation in the field course was toconduct stream invertebrate sampling from 12 sites
in the Kiso River catchment (Fig. 1), to complementcomparative samples collected from 20 sites in the
Yasu River catchment to study the genetic diversity
and connectivity of Hydropsyche orientalis andCheumatopsyche brevilineata (Fig. 2; two ubiquitous
net-spinning Trichopterans) along a longitudinal
gradient in multiply stressed streams in Japan.
On my arrival at the Kiso the rain was falling fastly
and heavily, raising concerns that sampling may prove
futile. Fortunately, Dr. Okuda’s determination prevailed

Fig. 1. Kiso River sampling sites (12 total)

2

DIWPA News Letter No.32

Report 1

Fig. 2. Cheumatopsyche brevilineata (left), Hydropsyche orientalis(right)Fig. 5. Obon music and dance festival in the Kisofukishima town
square (Photo: Noboru Okuda)

pleasure of the town’s onsen foot spa (Fig. 6).
Likewise, we relished the local soba delicacies, sakeand delicious homemade food at the Biological Station.
The DNA from the samples collected during thisfield course is now being sequenced in Germany
using both CO1 barcoding and next generation RAD
sequencing to study the genetic structure, diversity andgeneflow of each taxon in detail. This knowledge will
be used to improve our understanding of the genetic
basis of stream invertebrate species’ resistance tostressors and the potential barriers to their dispersal.

Fig. 3. Jay Piggott collecting a kick-net invertebrate sample in 12 °C
water (Photo: Noboru Okuda)(despite his infliction of bronchitis) and we successfully
sampled the majority of the sites and successfully
obtained our target species in a number of these (Fig. 3).
On the final day of the workshop, all participants
hastily prepared their oral presentations (Fig. 4). Afterthat we celebrated the conclusion of the field coursewith a yakiniku party, where Christmas (a participantfrom the Philippines) inspired creative song among theparticipants.
Complementing our biological investigations, wewere privileged to enjoy the local Obon festival in
Kisofukishima township (Fig. 5) and the podiatricFig. 6. Participants enjoying the Kisofukishima onsen foot spa (Photo:
Noboru Okuda)

I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to DIWPA,
Profs Nakano and Tayasu, and Dr. Okuda for givingme the opportunity to participate in this international
field course – for the good times, exciting science andnew friendships.

Fig. 4. Jay Piggott presenting his research to field course participants(Photo: Noboru Okuda)

3

DIWPA News Letter No.32

Report 2

DIWPA International Field Biology Course
Kiso River, August 9 to 16, 2014
Michael E. Salandanan
Environmental Laboratory and Research Division
Laguna Lake Development Authority(Philippines)T

he International Field Biology Course (IFBC) for
young scientists was conducted last August 9 to
16, 2014 at Kiso Biological Station in Kyoto University
composed of young scientists from different countries.
The training course aims to promote cooperative
studies and to exchange information on biodiversity
from developing countries. The topic is on stream
ecology, which includes basic limnology in streams,
fundamental ecology and biodiversity.
The study site was established in the middle streamof Kiso River and riparian forest ecosystem. On August
10, 2014, the participants, together with the Professors
and staff of Center for Ecological Research (CER),
attended to the site for a briefing and demonstrationof sampling methods and the use of other equipments
needed for the said activities. Each participant
conducted their own stream flow measurements (water
current, velocity and water discharge), collectedabiotic data using “in-situ” equipments and collected
samples for Chlorophyll “a” concentration and benthic
fauna. Participants were instructed to create theirown research so as to present them on the last day ofactivity. They were also taught the details on how toanalyze and process their own data with the supervisionof the Center for Ecological Research personnel.
On August 13, 2014, the group went to the selected
sampling stations to collect samples and to gather
necessary information for their topics. Participants
were instructed to present their own reports on August
15, 2014 and the undersigned chose the topic “effectof flood in Chlorophyll “a” concentration and Algal
Biomass in the River". The international summer
course for young scientist was successful. Although
it was a short-term program, participants were able togain useful knowledge in their own fields of expertise.
It is highly recommended to participate in such

short courses, especially if it can be of great use to
the Authority. New innovation learned from this shortcourse can be applied to the laboratory. Center for
Ecological Research conducted this summer course
through the use of effective techniques to encourage
participants to apply the learnings in their respective
countries.
Acknowledgments
Attending the IFBC for young scientists could nothave been possible without the effort and generosityof Prof. Noboru Okuda and other staffs of Center for
Ecological Research, Kyoto University. Special thanks
to the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature(RIHN) for providing financial assistance during mystay in the summer field biology course.

4

DIWPA News Letter No.32

Report 3

2014 DIWPA International Field Biology Course in Japan:
Summer monitoring program for young scientists in Kiso River

9-16 August 2014, Kiso Biological Station, Kiso-Fukushima, Nagano
Christmas B. de Guzman
Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research(Japan)Being in Japan for more than a year, I appreciateand enjoy the natural environment and theecosystems I observe every time I go out for a hike up
the mountains and do bird watching.
I am a programme fellow at the Asia-Pacific
Network for Global Change Research (APN) locatedin Kobe and I work towards enhancing the knowledge
and understanding of global change of researchers andpolicy makers. I am handling various projects on global
environmental change along with the Programme
Officer and Head of the APN Communication andScientific Affairs. Most of the projects are focused ona research using climate data, assessments of impactsof climate change and improvement of adaptation
practices that the vulnerable communities use, andsome are working on capacity-building of early career
researchers or scientists within the Asia-Pacific region.
As a young scientist myself, I also aim tocontinually enhance my knowledge and skills andimplement research related to my field of interest.
Although I am working for APN, an intergovernmental
network bridging science and policy towards asustainable Asia-Pacific, my background is on biology
and biodiversity conservation. Back in the Philippines,
I have been involved in a number vof communitybased resource management and local conservation
programmes. I have a great interest in wildlife biology
and biodiversity, and aspire to be a wildlife biologist
implementing conservation programmes in protectedareas and ecosystems that are vulnerable to climatechange. I enjoy doing intensive field work in theforest and working with local communities. I can saythat being a female is not a limitation for me when it
comes to field research. My adventurous nature andmy passion for biodiversity conservation make me ascapable as the male counterparts.

Trying out my chances to join a field course
I learned about DIWPA and the International Field
Biology Course while I was browsing through thewebsite of Kyoto University’s Center for EcologicalResearch (CER). I checked the announcement about
the field course and read through the details on how toapply. It entails eight days of intensive field work in
Kiso-Fukushima, Nagano, where the Kiso Biological
Station is based.
The international field course is a part of the JointUse and Cooperative Research Program by CER and
it also serves as a curriculum for students of Kyoto
University. The aim of the project is to monitor
the long-term dynamics of riparian ecosystems
under ongoing anthropogenic disturbances, such as
eutrophication, river improvement and global climatechanges. One of its objectives is to train young

5

DIWPA News Letter No.32

Report 3
project alongside the researchers from Kyoto University
and other institutions who work on different fields/
disciplines. I have gained new knowledge on terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystem interactions, assessment of
epilithic algal biomass, behavioural adaptations ofaquatic insects, and of course, the standard proceduresin handling laboratory tools and equipments.
Immersion with local culture
Staying in Kiso, I had the chance to experience andenjoy a tour at a local sake brewery. Along with otherteam members, we were oriented with a variety of raw
materials (biological resource) used in producing sakeand observed the production facility.
Kiso town is popular for its sake as well as for its
soba. It must be because of the healthy environmentthat provides resources and paves the way for the
production of good sake and soba. Indeed, local
biodiversity is important as it offers people with diverse
ecosystem services.
On the second last day of the workshop, we decided
to enjoy a local summer festival. It was an unforgettable
experience as I joined in the traditional dance alongwith the local people. Almost all of the members of theteam danced and enjoyed the festivities. On our way
back to our research quarters, we passed by a hot springand soaked our tired feet. It was a rewarding time for
us after days of field and laboratory work.

researchers as new-generation leading ecologists who
can manage international projects. Hence, when I sent
my application for the workshop, I received acceptanceto participate as the field course provides capacity
building for young researchers.
Knowledge gained and lessons learned
The fieldwork familiarized me with basic stream
ecology and trained me on assessment and monitoringof riparian ecosystems, and identification of aquatic
macroinvertebrates, and on laboratory techniques. I amvery elated every time I look a collected individual for
identification through the microscope. At first, I find it
hard to do the task at hand as identification of aquatic
insects is not within my expertise. I have not taken
a course on terrestrial and aquatic insects during myundergraduate years and therefore, it was a challenging
experience to properly identify the collectedindividuals. Without the help and support of the othermembers of the team, I would not be able to finish mypart.
I am grateful to get a hang of how on-site researchis conducted in Japan. Also, I can say I am proud of
myself to be the only female participant. I believe I
have shown to the team that field research knows nogender. I have also done what the male participants arecapable of doing such as going into the water when theriver is on the rise and currents become speedy becauseof the heavy rain, carrying bulky tools from one station
to another, waking up at midnight to check driftnets
and collecting macrobenthos, among others. All for thesake of science.
It was a fascinating experience to be involved in thisZest for environment and scientific insights
Working with the team and being part of theworkshop was an awesome experience. It was
something different for me as it was my first time doinga field work in Japan. The team was very helpful and

6

DIWPA News Letter No.32

Report 3(Photo: Noboru Okuda)

supportive in guiding us along the way. My loquacious
nature helped me gain a lot of skills from the mentors.
I think it really helps to ask when you are not sure ofsomething. On the other hand, it is also good when
you try first and do it yourself. “Once all your ideas
and resources are exhausted, that is the time when you
ask and seek help.” I am quoting this line because thisis one of the valuable lessons I have learned in theworkshop. Something a student may not learn within
the confines of the university building.
Going back to May 2013 when I was writing myresearch proposal as part of the requirements of MSc
Wildlife Studies at University of the Philippines Los
Baños (UPLB), I am passionate on habitat and species
distribution modelling of the critically-endangered
Palawan forest turtle (Siebenrockiella leytensis) andsince then, I know for sure that my interest lies onconservation science. I feel one with nature every time I
am out in the woods and I have the zest working for theenvironment. My energy is unrelenting and a bumpy
trail does not always seem to falter me. Because of the
field experience I had in Kiso, I became interested to
explore my options in conducting my research in Japanand contribute to the efforts in sustainably managing
the country’s ecosystems. At the moment, I am looking
for possibilities to get admitted, receive a scholarshipand do further studies focusing on the relationships
among ecologically-important indicator species andspecies threatened or at risk to climate change, thehabitats, and human systems in Japan. It was truly
rewarding to be part of the 2014 DIWPA InternationalField Biology Course.
Acknowledgments
I would like to take this opportunity to thank thefollowing people who inspired me to do my best:
Dr. Noboru Okuda. Dr. Shin-ichi Nakano, Dr. Ichiro
Tayasu, Dr. Jun-ichi Okano, Dr. Hiromitsu Kamauchi
and Mr. Shohei Fujinaga.

Mail Us!

We welcome your articles,
news or any information
related to biodiversity.
Please send them todiwpa@ ecology.kyoto-u.ac.jp

7

DIWPA News Letter No.32

Report 4

Countermeasure against alien trees in the Ogasawara(Bonin) islands, a World Natural Heritage site, in Japan
Shin-ichi Aikawa

Japan Forest Technology Association(Japan)T

he Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands are oceanicislands, located about 1,000 km south of Tokyoin a subtropical climate region. The fauna and flora of
the islands are unique. For example, approximately
94% of land snails and approximately 70% of tree
species are endemic in the islands. To conserve theunique ecosystems, the islands have been inscribedon a World Natural Heritage Site from June in 2011(see more details No. 25 in DIWPA Newsletter).
However, in the present, the forest ecosystem has been
threatened by many invasive, alien species of animals
and plants. Since the start of immigration in the middleof nineteenth century, many species were introducedby human into the islands for various purposes (Table
1). Some alien species have expanded quickly in theislands, and the habitants of some native species havebeen suppressed. (see more details No. 29 in DIWPA
Newsletter). Therefore, we have many critical issues
to protect the unique ecosystems, as follows; 1) how
to prevent the invasion of new species, 2) how to
exclude invaded alien species, and 3) how to regenerate
ecosystems after the elimination of alien species.
Many alien species became deeply embedded in thefunction of ecosystem. Thus there is a possible risk thatthe ecosystem is changed by the elimination of alien
species.
Feral goats are also a troubling species in many
oceanic islands. The grazing by them gives the
Table 1. Four major alien tree species in the Ogasawara (Bonin)
islands, and its introduced years and the purposes.

Fig. 1. Rapid invasion of Casuarina equisetifolia trees in the northernpart of Ani-jima island. When feral goats were eliminated in April 2007,
the vegetation cover was very poor. However, during only six years
from 2007 to 2013, invasive Casuarina trees rapidly covered in the
area.

8

DIWPA News Letter No.32

Report 4
Blume, Casuarina equisetifolia L., Pinus luchuensis
Mayr, and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit,
are regarded as major invasive alian trees in Chichijima island or the group islands. The area of theirdistribution is still wide and it is still in the outside ofhuman management.
The main objectives of ongoing project are to
restore the native forest ecosystem. Therefore, various
monitoring activities have been conducted to detect the
impact of the extermination. Before the exterminationof alien trees, the survey of vegetation, insects, landsnails, land water animals, and birds are conducted inand around the target area. After the extermination,such survey is repeatedly conducted at several-years
interval.
Currently, the herbicide injection treatment is used
as a major extermination technique to kill alien trees at
the field. Since 2008, the technique has been applied
to the national and public lands in the islands. The
type of herbicide and the procedure of the method aredescribed, as follows. As herbicide, Roundup Maxload(Nissan Chemical Industrial Ltd., Tokyo, Japan),including 48% Glyphosate-potassium are used. The
amount of herbicide used to a tree is dependent on the
diameter of the target tree and tree species (Table 2).
In the procedure for injection, at first, the number ofholes for herbicide injection is determined based on the
diameter of the main stem at 30 cm high. After that,
we drill holes at an interval at 30 cm high of the main
stem, inject 1 ml of Roundup Maxload in each hole,vegetation severely damage in the Ogasawara islands.
Bare grounds were sometimes created at many placesin the islands, and resulted in the soil erosion. In
the 2000s, all feral goats had been eliminated in all
Ogasawara islands, except for Chichi-jima that is themain island with the largest area. After the eliminationof goats, the vegetation was recovered by native orendemic tree species at some places. However, inthe other cases, the vegetation was quickly coveredby alien tree species (Fig. 1). For example, the rapid
expansion of alien trees has been found in Ani-jimaisland (Fig. 2). The natural vegetation in Ani-jimaisland are predominated by many endemic or native
trees adapted to drought environment, and the uniqueforests, called dry dwarf forest, are developed. Thus
the vegetation in Ani-jima island is recognized as avery important region for the endemic species. The
island is very valuable not only for conservation but
also for research related to adaptation and evolution ofanimals and plants. To prevent the expansion of alien
tree species and to conserve the natural vegetationand ecosystem, many efforts have been conductedby Forestry Agency, Ministry of the Environment,
and Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Consequently,
the elimination of many alien trees has been strongly
conducted in the Ogasawara islands.
In the present, some alien trees with fast growing
and vigorous fecundity, such as Bischofia javanica

Table 2. Applied amount of herbicide (Roundup) to provide effective
killing in invasive Bischofia javanica trees (left column) and in the otherinvasive trees (right column).

Fig. 2. Distribution map of alien trees in Ani-jima islands. The blue
color shows the area where invasive of Pinus luchuensis was
confirmed, and the red color shows the area where invasive of
Casuarina equisetifolia was confirmed in the early the 2000s. The dark
blue and red colors show the area predominated by alien trees. The
white color show the area predominated by native trees.

9DIWPA News Letter No.32

Report 4

Fig. 3. The procedure of the herbicide injection treatment for killing of alien trees.
(1) Drilling: Making holes for herbicide injection at 30 cm high above the ground(2) Drug injection: Injection of 1 ml of herbicide (Roundup) in each hole(3) Plugging: Bunging up the holes with wood plugs to prevent leakage of herbicideand finally bung up the holes with wood plugs (Fig. 3).
In order to confirm the impact of the using of
herbicide on the ecosystem, chemical analyses of soil
and water have been conducted after the herbicideinjection treatments. As the results, at the present,
residual constituent compounds of herbicide haverarely been detected from the soil and water, but its
concentration was very low. Furthermore, the death ofadjacent trees has also never observed except for thecase that the treated trees are connected to the adjacenttrees in the same tree species.

Using this technique, we have succeeded theelimination of hundreds of thousands of alien trees
in the islands (Fig. 4). As a result, the habitat of thenative and endemic species has been greatly expanded.
However, in the empty sites after the elimination, notonly native tree species but also alien tree species haveestablished. Yearly maintenance would be needed torestore native vegetation after the elimination. Canopygap formation caused by the elimination of big trees
will largely change the environments in the understory.
In greenhouse experiments, it has been shown that

Fig. 4. A typical vegetation (called dry dwarf forest) in Chichi-jima island taken in July 2014. The conspicuous dead trees with white color were
killed by the herbicide injection treatment. (Photo: Atsushi Ishida)

10

DIWPA News Letter No.32

Report 4

Fig. 5. Small stations to brush shoes and remove seeds attached on clothes, using adhesive tape (left). Some goods for cleaning are equippedin the box. He is cleaning the bottom of his shoes on the brushing mat (right). (Photos: Atsushi Ishida)

the growth of invasive Bischofia javanica seedlings
is superior to that of native trees especially in underchanging light and soil nutrients (Yamashita et al.
2000, Yamashita et al. 2002, Osone et al. 2014).
To prevent the seed dispersal and re-invation of thealien trees, extermination of all alien trees in the islands
will be acquired. If we permit the invation of new
species into the islands, we have to pay to restore theoriginal ecosystem. Therefore, to prevent new invation
into islands or into areas in the islands, we set several
rules. When we enter the islands or areas, we have tobrush or wash shoes, and to remove seeds attached on
clothes, using adhesive tape. Small stations are set atthe gates of trekking roads and the adequate goods arein the equipped box (Fig. 5). To maintain the native
vegetation in the islands for a long time, it is necessary
to continue the long-term and wide-range activities not
only for the nature but also for inhabitants and visitors.

References
Yamashita N, Ishida A, Kushima H, Tanaka N (2000)
Acclimation to sudden increase in light favoring andinvasive over native trees in subtropical islands, Japan.
Oecologia, 125: 412-419.
Yamashita N, Koike N, Ishida A (2002) Leaf ontogenetic
dependence of light acclimation in invasive and native
subtropical trees of different successional status. Plant,
Cell and Environmnet, 25: 1341-1356.
Osone Y, Yazaki K, Masaki T, Ishida A (2014) Responses
to nitrogen pulses and growth under low nitrogen
availability in invasive and native tree species withdifferent successional status. Journal of Plant Research,
127: 315-328.

11

DIWPA News Letter No.32

New Site

Tolbachik eruption in 2012-2013 in Kamchatka, Russia
Sergei Grishin
Institute of Biology and Soil Science
Far East Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences(Russia)Fig. 1. Tolbachik volcano. Blocky lava flows introducing in the forest
belt in winter.

Fig. 2. Lava flows moving into the forest igniting standing trees only inthe front of the flow. (Photo: D.Melnikov)

T

mountain tundra, and others) buried by lava flows
and of distribution of deposits of volcanic ash, 2) to
identify the impact of the eruption on the terrestrial
ecosystem including the soil, the higher and lower
plants, fungi, and animals, as well as the transformationof biogeochemical cycles of elements within theecosystem, and 3) to bookmark the sites recorded
by GPS for a long-term monitoring of ecosystems
following the eruption. To achieve the objectives, thevolcanic impacts have been examined at five thematicclusters, as follows: 1) vegetation, 2) soil-pyroclastic
cover, 3) biogeochemical aspects in the formation of
the territory, 4) living components of soil (especially inalgae, fungi, and nematodes), and 5) wildlife (especiallyin small mammals). Before the eruptive event of 20122013, eruptions occurred in 1941 and in 1975-1976 in
the twentieth century. Since 1976, researchers of IBSSFEB RAS have studied the vegetation and soil coverarea, and the impact on them of the eruption (Grishin
1992 and 1994, Grishin & Shlyakhov 2009, Grishin
et al. 2013). Because flora, vegetation, and soils havealready examined before the eruption in 2012-2013, wehave some information in the previous conditions inforest ecosystems.
The latest eruption began suddenly on November 27

olbachik (N55° 49’51”, E160° 19’33”) is a
volcanic complex on the Kamchatka Peninsulain the far east of Russia. It consists of two volcanoes,
Plosky (flat) Tolbachik (3,085 m ASL) and Ostry (sharp)
Tolbachik (3,682 m ASL). In the late November 2012,a major volcanic eruption started in the northern partof Tolbachinsky Dol (the central part of the Kamchatka
Peninsula) (Fig. 1). Tolbachinsky Dol is in Holocene
lava plateau, having an area of approximately 900 km2(Fedotov S.A. 1984). As the result of eruption, thevast area of Tolbachinsky Dol has been covered byextensive lava flows over tens of square kilometers.
The unpredictable event gives us important information
for the study of succession and dynamics of plant
cover and wildlife following the eruption. To examine
the successional process, a group of seven researcherswith different specialties was formed within Instituteof Biology and Soil Science (IBSS FEB RAS,
Vladivostok, Russia). We aim to conduct an integrated
research to understand more detailed process interrestrial ecosystems following volcanic events. We
have started the research: 1) to detect the extent of
ecosystem change from ground-based observations
and satellite data, including identification of the areasof different vegetation types (forests, elfin, grasslands,

12

DIWPA News Letter No.32

New Sitein the north-eastern sector of the Dole. At the second
stage of the eruption (first half of 2013), a vast lava
flow was formed, reaching up to 4 km in length and
up to 3 km in width. In August 2013, the lava flowed
to channels and tunnels, located under the cover of
hardened lava, and passed several kilometers downfrom the crater in the active zone. The lava squeezedon the surface looks like red plastic "pillows". Its
temperature measured with a pyrometer at a peripheral
point of the lava was 650-700 ° C (Fig. 4). Squeezed
out lava flowed slowly (approximately 1 m / h) withburning and burying the vegetation (Fig. 5). Based onsatellite images, the area overlapped by the lava flows
reached approximately 35 km2 in June 2013. The study
sites where vegetation succession was examined in
1995 and 2006 (Grishin et al. 2013) were covered bylava.
By surveying of the area in eruption and its impact
with satellite images, we identified land area coveredby lava flow of 2012-2013 into six major categories inlands: 1) volcanic badlands in the alpine and subalpine
zones (800-1,800 m ASL) covered with very sparse
grasses and vegetation with moss and lichen, 2) oldlava flow land with approximately 1,000 years old, witha partially formed grass-shrub vegetation at altitudesof less than 1,400 m; they
have areas with relatively
narrow (300-500 m inwidth), but long (up to 1215 km) bands, 3) cinder
deserts near the eruptionarea, consisted of two
major fields with outcropof lava and petrophytic
plants, 4) areas ofFig. 3. The side of cooled lava flow, covered with detritus. Trees
without contact with lava were not injured. (August, 2014)

in 2012, without almost seismic activity. Moderate ash
fall was observed only at the beginning of the eruption.
According to satellite imagery, fine ash was deposited
toward a northwesterly direction with a distance ofabout 85 km and a width of 10-12 km. The thickness ofash deposits did not exceed a few millimeters. Basedon the weak toning of snow covered by dark tephra,during the winter and spring in 2012-2013, the ash fall
was rare and small and an impact was detected on only
the sparse vegetation in the mountainous area.
Lava flow from the two centers of eruption locatedat approximately 1,800 and 1,500 m ASL, rushed tothe south and then turned to west in the early days.
The lava flow from the northern center moved on only
the first day (on December 1) of the eruption, reachingan altitude of about 700 m ASL and passing about 10
km. The lava flow from the southern center effusedparticularly and intensively during the first 2-3 weeks.
They passed more than 15 km through the alpine zoneof volcanic desert, semi-desert, and subalpine zone.
Furthermore, the lava flow intruded deeply in theforest area, passing in it 8 km and reaching an altitude
of about 300 m. Due to frosty winter and snow cover,forest fires did not arise, but trees caught on fire when
they contacted to red-hot lava (Figs 2, 3). The width oflava flow was 1,500 m in average. In the mountainouspart of the Dole (1,100-1,600 m ASL), an extensive
lava field was formed over 5 km in length and 2.5-3 km
in width. The field was completely filled by new lava,
and a few old cinder cones remained standing. During
the eruption new lava layer overlapped, consequently
the thickness of lava layer reached several tens ofmeters.
Following the cessation of the first stage of eruption(the end of 2012), the activity was still observed only

Fig. 4. Temperature at a point in red hot lava measured with anemission pyrometer was 650-700 °C.

13

DIWPA News Letter No.32

New Sitethe lava flow. Furthermore, we did not see there not
only damaged vegetation, but also mass death ofanimals. According to our short-term observations,
small animals, such as red and reddish-gray vole,stoat and hare, have developed new habitats on thesides of cooled new lava flow (where it is still hot
and saturated by gases in the depths) and the safetysurrounding areas. Moderate ash falls gave vegetationsome impact locally in the mountain (above 1,600 m
ASL), mainly to the east of the active crater. There wasredeposition of fresh tephra caused by blowing out andflushing. As a result the tephra was accumulated insome depressions over the area. Vegetation was buriedin such sites, their size generally less than 100-200 m
in diameter. However, in vegetation in the adjacentareas, only minor damage was found. Certain change
in forest ecosystems may occur at several years after
the eruption, according to observation after 1975-1976
eruption.
We sampled in the eruption's area more than 100
kg of volcanic deposits, soil and plants, to analyze
the elements et al. at the laboratories of IBSS FEB

Fig. 5. Squeezed lava slowly (about 1 m / h) advancing to theadjacent territory while burning and burying the vegetation.

subalpine elfin wood trees and meadows, growing
alder (Alnus fruticosa) and Japanese stone pine (Pinus
pumila), interspersed with grassy meadows and scoria
wastelands; the vegetation of the areas was impacted
by heavy ash fall of 1975, 5) forest fragments of birch
Betula ermanii (in the range of 600-900 m ASL); theupper parts of the forests are limited by sparse forest
stands, and 6) larch forests growing Larix cajanderi(less than 600 m ASL) and sparse larch forests (in therange of 600-900 m ASL). Almost all area coveredby new lava flows had volcanic landscape with poor
vegetation (No. 1-3 in the above land category).
Their total area exceeds 20 km 2. Forest vegetation,
the most productive component of vegetation of
Tolbachinsky Dol, was destroyed in the ares about 8
km2. Importantly, that duration of succession on lavaof the Dol is very long: the mature forests growing on
old lava in this area have developed during the periods
about 2,000 years (Grishin 1992 and 1994). The area
covered by lava flows of 2012-2013 is close to the area
covered by lava of southern vent of Great Tolbachik
fissure eruption of 1975-1976 (36 km2 ) (Fedotov &Markhinin 1984). These areas are major centers of
the largest lava effusion in the recent history (fromthe end of the XVII century) of the Russian Far East.
Lava flows of other major eruptions were significantly
smaller in size.
Relief at the northern part of the Dol dramaticallychanged; the vegetation was destroyed by lava flow
over a large area. Surprisingly, despite the verylarge lava flows, the effect of this eruption on theenvironment was very small outside the lava cover.
In trees growing at a meter from the side of the lava
flow, we could not find any oppression caused by

Fig. 6. A heavy scoria field formed locally near the active crater.

Fig. 7. Dr. Takashi Nakano on cooled surface of lava. (August, 2014)

14

DIWPA News Letter No.32

New SiteFig. 8. A field base camp on the edge of the scoria desert near the cooled side of lava flow.

RAS and the other institutes (Fig. 6). To examine
the change of vegetation and ecosystem following
volcanic activity, beside the field work on Tolbachik,our expeditionary team continues yearly field researchat Kamchatka’s active volcanoes, Sheveluch andKluchevskoy. In 2014 we went there again. That
was a small team, but a Japanese co-researcher, Dr.
Takashi Nakano, also joined us (Fig. 7). He has studied
vegetation change at Mt. Fuji, a famous volcano in
Japan (see his report in DIWPA Newsletter No.24 in2011).
We have studied change of vegetation on lava flow.
However, there is few study in Tolbachinsky Dol area.
The eruption destroyed not only vegetation, but also
infrastructure. The lava covered two of three basecamps that are capable to use for a year. Furthermore,
the road between the eruption area and Kozyrevsk
village was also destroyed. Only source for drinking
water was also filled with lava. However, since thebeginning of the eruption at Tolbachik, many visitors
including tourists, photographers and researchers, havevisited to look at the erupting volcano. They comenot only from Kamchatka, but also from many otherregions of Russia and other countries. Because thisis a rare chance for observation of recent impacts ofactive volcano, the number of visitors will increase
yearly. The vast landscape caused by the following
eruption and lava flow and the subsequent change ofvegetation and ecosystems are very interesting aspects
for scientific research, as well as for many people withgreat interest for eco-tourism (Figs 8, 9).
References
Fedotov S.A., Markhinin Ye. K. (Eds.) (1984) The Great
Tolbachik Fissure Eruption; geological and geophysical data
1975-1976, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, United
Kingdom, 353 p.
Grishin S.Yu. (1992) Successions of subalpine vegetation onlava flows of Talbachinsky Dol (Kamchatka). Botanicheskiy
Zhurnal, No. 1. : 92-100 (in Russian).
Grishin S.Yu. (1994) Role of Pinus pumila in primarysuccession on the lava flows of volcanoes of Kamchatka.
Proceedings-international Workshop on Subalpine Stone
Pines and Their Environment. Forest Service, U.S. Dept. ofAgriculture. p. 240-244.
Grishin S.Yu., Shlyakhov S.A. (2009). Vegetation and soilsof the Tolbachik area (Kamchatka). Vestnik KRAUNC, Earth
Science Series, 2 (14): 130-142 (in Russian).
http://www.kscnet.ru/kraesc/2009/2009_14/art13.pdf
Grishin S.Yu., Krestov P.V., Verkholat V.P. et al. (2013).
Dynamics of vegetation of Tolbachinsky Dol (Kamchatka) in thelast decades. Komarov Memorial Lectures, LXI. Vladivostok. p.
119-158 (in Russian).

Fig. 9. Evening bonfire at a field camp with the eruption in the
background.

15

DIWPA OFFICE

For a free subscription to this newsletter, or addresschange, please e-mail to the DIWPA OFFICE
diwpa@ecology.kyoto-u.ac.jp
We are ready to deliver an electronic copy to you. Thankyou for your cooperation in promoting paperless.
Also, we always welcome your articles, news or any

Chairperson		Shin-ichi Nakano

Secretary General

Atsushi Ishida

Secretary

Shigeo Yachi

			Takashi Osono			

Shoko Sakai

Assistant Secretary

Akiko Seki

Center for Ecological Research
Kyoto University

information related to biodiversity for DIWPA News Letter.

509-3, 2-chome, Hirano,
Otsu 520-2113, JAPANPlease send them to us.

Tel & Fax: +81-77-549-8238
E-mail: diwpa@ecology.kyoto-u.ac.jp
http://diwpa.ecology.kyoto-u.ac.jp/