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Why to create a list of bryophytes in Shinagawa ?

There is a very simple answer to this question, even though it might not be considered very scientific - this area is easily accessible to the author.

Nevertheless, this study will help to improve our understanding of bryophyte distribution in urban areas. Shinagawa, one of the 23 "inner districts" of metropolitan Tokyo is one of the most densly populated areas in the world. Natural and semi-natural habitats are quite rare.

Therefore locations were selected that still bear a potential higher number of bryophyte species, like temples, shrines and parks. On the other hand there are sites, like those of demolished houses and construction sites that are untouched for a longer period of time, allowing ephemeral species to emerge.

Earlier works like that about the bryophytes of the Imperial Pallace show a rather high diversity of species. Due to the smaller size of the locations visited during this study species numbers reach only up to 40 species (e.g. Saikouji-Temple).

These small sized locations with a rather high diversity should be protected. Tidyly cleaned and almost completely sealed temple areas were found occationally (e.g. Houtouji-Temple) fighting every "little nature" trying to emerge.

May this study inspire others to look closer into their close sourrounding - it's definately worth it.


Selected references:
  • Higuchi, M. [樋口 正信], Furuki, T. [古木 達郎] (2000) Bryophytes of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo [皇居のコケ類]. Memoirs of the National Science Museum [国立科学博物館専報] 34:89-124 - Article as PDF-File
  • Higuchi, M. [樋口 正信], Furuki, T. [古木 達郎] (2006) Bryophytes of the Coastal Area of the Sagami Sea, Central Japan [相模灘沿岸域の蘇苔類]. Memoirs of the National Science Museum [国立科学博物館専報] 42:15-35
  • - Article as PDF-File
  • Sasaki, S. [佐々木シゲ子] (2005) Bryophytes of Totsuka-ku Yokohama and the Adjacent Area [横浜市戸塚区とその周辺の蘚苔類]. Natural History Report of Kanagawa [神奈川自然誌資料] 26:31-38
  • - Article as PDF-File
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Last update: Thu May 22, 2014