Zonal plant distribution and edaphic and micrometeorological conditions on a coastal sand dune

Abstract Some edaphic and meteorological conditions were examined to detect environmental gradients from shoreline to inland at the Kado‐ori coast, Ibaraki, Japan, in 1989. Zonal distribution patterns of coastal dune plant species, including three ubiquitous perennials, Calystegia soldanella, Carex kobomugi and Ischaemum anthephoroides , were described in relation to the environmental gradients. Environmental gradients were found in water availability, evaporative demand and soil‐water salinity. Water availability, evaluated by thickness of capillary water layer, increased from 10 cm at 20 m to 48 cm at 85 m from the shoreline, reflecting the percentage of fine sand. Evaporative demand, which was evaluated by the evaporation rate from a wet black filter paper, decreased with increasing distance from the shoreline. Soil‐water salinity was lowest (15 mmol/L) at 85 m from the shoreline and highest (90 mmol/L) at 30m. On the coast, C. soldanella , a salt‐tolerant perennial, was distributed mainly in the environmentally harsh area 40–60 m from the shoreline. Ischaemum anthephoroides and C. kobomugi , less salt‐tolerant perennials, occurred mainly 70–80 m from the shoreline, where environmental conditions were more hospitable.