Autecology of the Dominant Species in Early Stages of Secondary Succesion in Early Stages of Secondary Succession: on Miscanthus sinensis ANDRESS.

Miscanthus sinensis is the dominant of the final stage in a secondary succession of herbaceous communities following forest clearance in Japan. Changes were followed during the course of its growth, in the rations of the weight of belowground organs, leaves and stems to the weight of the whole plant. The plant weight increased from 0.733 g (the initial wt. of the rhizome bud when planted) to 11.1 g (wt.of the young plant after 182 days). In the later periods, the ratios of the weights of organs to the total plant weight are 0.48 for the belowground organs, 0.23 for leaves and 0.24 for stems. The relationship between the belowground parts (root＋rhizome＋bud: R) and the aboveground parts (T)is described as R=0.94T1.18. The ecological characteristics of this species are compared with those of Chenopodium album L. and Artemisia princeps PAMPAN., which are the dominants at the pioneer and perennial herb stages in the secondary successon. Key words: Ecological characteristics, Miscanthus sinensis, secondary succession, type of life histor