A research team led by Akira Noda, a research assistant at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (former graduate student at Toho University), investigated vegetation in grasslands that remain as "vacant lots" in northern Chiba Prefecture.As a result, it was found that there are several vacant lots that have been maintained as forests and grasslands since the Meiji period, and that there are many species of grassland plants.
There are many "vacant lots" that can be regarded as small-scale grasslands in residential areas in Japan. .Many grassland flora and fauna are endangered species.
The research team conducted plant surveys in 36 vacant lots scattered throughout the Chiba New Town area and analyzed the factors that affect species diversity.As a result, vacant land with a long history as a grassland had more species of native grassland plants.No effect of "length of history" was observed for exotic plants and other native plants, and the number of exotic plant species was high in grasslands with long adjacency to farmland and residential land.
In addition, it was found that among the eight native grassland plant species, six species, namely, black-necked tang, tygaya, burnet stork, meadow tang, honey bee, and turfgrass, tended to emerge in open spaces maintained as grasslands for a long period of time.In addition, catfish, burnet, honey bee, and moss tended to appear in places where grass was cut.
Until the end of the Edo period, 'maki' (grazing land for horses) existed extensively in the northern part of Chiba Prefecture.Some grasslands were not used for farmland or residential land for nearly 130 years, but were maintained and managed as forests and grasslands, leading to a large number of grassland plant species.In recent years, from the perspective of international interest in biodiversity and the health and comfort of residents, the value of remaining green spaces in urban suburbs has attracted attention.This research will contribute to systematic conservation of green spaces.
