A Case Study of a 10-Year Change in the Vegetation and Water Environments of Volcanic Mires in South-Western Japan

Variations in the groundwater environments and dominant species of volcanic mire vegetation were monitored for 10 years in a volcanic area in south-western Japan. The correlation between changes in groundwater environments and vegetation revealed that changes in water environments determine the dominant species of volcanic mire vegetation. The amount of spring water supplied to the mire vegetation determines the water-table depth and the subsequent nutrient supply. The Sphagnum spp. coverage decreased with increasing base cation concentrations, particularly the Ca2+ concentration up to 40 mg/L. The Moliniopsis japonica coverage increased with the decreasing Sphagnum spp. coverage. The nutritional variables of water supplied to vegetation affected by volcanic activity changed the type of dominant species. A 10-year change in vegetation in the volcanic mires revealed that vegetation succession in volcanic mires evolved from ombrogenous to minerogenous and from minerogenous to ombrogenous communities. The water environment promoted changes in the dominant species.