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Newsletter ‐ Asian conservation ecology
This newsletter reports ongoing field
observation study in Cambodia, recent
major activities, and upcoming events
Eco-hydrological research at a rubber plantation in Cambodia
The area occupied by rubber plantations in
South-East Asia is rapidly increasing. Meanwhile,
the environmental impacts on carbon balance,
water resources and climate of such land-use
changes, with respect to the surrounding as well
as global ecosystems, are not sufficiently
understood. This is the focus of the GCOE
program, which is set within a core study site at a
rubber plantation in Cambodia. Here we introduce
the site and describe the ongoing studies taking
place there.
Mekong River at Kampong Cham
<Study site and team>
In co-operation with the Cambodian Rubber
Research Institute (CRRI; director: Dr. Yin Song)
and University of Hawaii at Manoa (Professor
Thomas W. Giambelluca), the GCOE team,
consisting of experts in forest eco-physiology and
hydrology from Kyushu University (leader: Dr.
Tomo’omi Kumagai), set the study site at an
experimental rubber plantation of CRRI in
Kampong Cham, Cambodia. The experimental
plantation is composed of many square plots with
different ages and clone types. Among these, we
selected two different clone plots in which trees
were planted in 2001 and 2004. These plots are
used for educating graduate students, as well as
for several studies, as described below.
Rubber plantation of CRRI
Micrometeorological observation tower Newsletter (Asian Conservat ion Ecology) Vol.2, No.5 (October 2010)
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Newsletter ‐ Asian conservation ecology <Ongoing studies>
1. Water, energy and CO2 exchanges between the ecosystem and atmosphere
In 2008, a micrometeorological observation tower
was installed in the study plot by a team from the
University of Hawaii. Using an eddy covariance
system on the top of the tower, we are
continuously measuring water, energy and CO2
exchanges between the rubber ecosystem and
atmosphere. To evaluate the CO2 storage flux
within the canopy, in September 2010, a GCOE
team installed an observation system to measure
the vertical profile of CO2 concentrations.
Inter-comparison with other vegetation data and
modelling will enable us to clarify
inter-relationship characteristics between the
rubber plantation ecosystem and the surrounding
environments through gas exchanges.
Tapping of rubber
2. Components of the canopy-scale gas exchanges
Gas exchanges in the vegetation at the canopy
scale include gas exchanges by plants,
decomposition of soil organic matter and abiotic
evaporation. We are examining these
components to clarify the functional abilities of the
rubber plantation. In January and April 2010, we
installed sapflow sensors to 20 rubber trees to
estimate whole-tree water usage. In August 2010,
we began observations on the decomposition of
soil organic matter, and we hope to begin soil
respiration measurements in near future.
Sapflow sensors
Recent major activities
■
Field course
• Tai-hu fish field course was conducted in China from Sept. 16 to Sept. 28, 2010
focusing on the investigation of Ayumodoki of
the Tai-hu Lake.
■
International Seminar
• Dr. Niels Anten (Utrecht University, The Netherlands) Light competition during early
secondary forest succession: How does it
work and can we give it direction? (Sept. 12,
2010, Kyushu University, Fukuoka)
Upcoming events
■
Field course
• Oct. 18~30, 2010: Global field course in Tai-hu Lake Basin, China
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Newsletter ‐ Asian conservation ecology
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Symposium & Meeting
• Nov. 11, 2010: International symposium on current situation and challenges of forests
and rubber plantations in Cambodia
■
Others
• Nov. 11, 2010: The signing ceremony for agreement of academic cooperation between
Forestry Administration of Cambodia and
Kyushu University
•
Nov. 11, 2010: The signing ceremony for agreement of academic cooperation betweenGeneral Directorate of rubber of Cambodia and Kyushu University
