Dead Wood in Forest Ecosystems

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Bauhus ◽  
Kristin Baber ◽  
Jörg Müller
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Dead Wood

scholarly journals Resources of dead wood in the municipal forests in Warsaw

2015 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 322-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konrad Skwarek ◽  
Szymon Bijak
Keyword(s):  
National Parks ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Standing Dead ◽  
High Degree

Abstract Dead wood plays an important role for the biodiversity of forest ecosystems and influences their proper development. This study assessed the amount of coarse woody debris in municipal forests in Warsaw (central Poland). Based on the forest site type, dominant tree species and age class, we stratified all complexes of the Warsaw urban forests in order to allocate 55 sample plots. For these plots, we determined the volume of dead wood including standing dead trees, coarse woody debris and broken branches as well as uprooted trees. We calculated the amount of dead wood in the distinguished site-species-age layers and for individual complexes. The volume of dead matter in municipal forests in Warsaw amounted to 38,761 m3, i.e. 13.7 m3/ha. The obtained results correspond to the current regulations concerning the amount of dead organic matter to be left in forests. Only in the Las Bielański complex (northern Warsaw) volume of dead wood is comparable to the level observed in Polish national parks or nature reserves, which is still far lower than the values found for natural forests. In general, municipal forests in Warsaw stand out positively in terms of dead wood quantity and a high degree of variation in the forms and dimensions of dead wood.

scholarly journals Inventory of dead wood in the Kněhyně-Čertův mlýn National Nature Reserve, the Moravian-Silesian Beskids

2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 171-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Jankovský ◽  
D. Lička ◽  
K. Ježek
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Mountain Forest ◽  
National Nature Reserve ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Decomposition Processes ◽  
Standing Dead ◽  
Recorded Data ◽  
Standing Dead Trees

In four permanent experimental plots, dead wood was inventory under conditions of mountain forest ecosystems of the Kněhyně-Čertův ml&yacute;n National Nature Reserve, the Moravian-Silesian Beskids. Down woody material, standing dead trees as well as living trees were recorded. Data obtained were used to determine partial and summarized volumes of dead wood and its proportion in a living stand. Each of the surveyed areas was described not only from the viewpoint of mensuration but also with respect to subsequently carried out studies of biodiversity of wood mycoflora, succession of decomposition processes, natural regeneration on the dead wood etc. Mean volume of dead wood and a share in the total standing volume reaches 132 m<sup>3</sup>/ha(40%), of this 86 m<sup>3</sup>/hais down woody material and 46 m<sup>3</sup>/havolume of standing dead trees. Mean total standing volume per ha amounted to 332 m<sup>3</sup>/ha in the region of the Kněhyně-Čertův ml&yacute;n NNR.

scholarly journals Carbon capacity of gray forest soils in the Chechen Republic

2022 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 02006
Author(s):  
Rustam Gakaev
Keyword(s):  
Water Retention ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Microbial Populations ◽  
Water Retention Capacity ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
The Impact

Common areas of research needed to measure soil carbon include: (1) the impact of forest management, (2) the impact of climate change, and (3) the impact of increased carbon dioxide. The organic matter of the soil has a great influence on the productivity of the site due to its effect on the physical (bulk density, water retention capacity), biological (microbial populations) and chemical (cation exchange capacity) properties of soils. Recently, there have also been claims of the benefits of dead wood for forest ecosystems. However, as with all nutrients, too much carbon in the soil can have negative consequences, especially with regard to nitrogen immobilization.

scholarly journals Dead wood fungi in North America: an insight into research and conservation potential

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan A. Moose ◽  
Dmitry Schigel ◽  
Lucas J. Kirby ◽  
Maria Shumskaya
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Educational Programmes ◽  
Managed Ecosystems ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

Saproxylic fungi act as keystone species in forest ecosystems because they colonise and decompose dead wood, facilitating colonisation by later species. Here, we review the importance of intact forest ecosystems to dead wood fungi, as well as trends in their diversity research and challenges in conservation. Saproxylic communities are sensitive to transition from virgin forests to managed ecosystems, since the latter often results in reduced tree diversity and the removal of their natural habitat dead wood. The impact of dead wood management can be quite significant since many saproxylic fungi are host-specific. The significance of citizen science and educational programmes for saproxylic mycology is discussed with the emphasis on the North American region. We intend to raise the awareness of the role that dead wood fungi play in forest health in order to support development of corresponding conservational programmes.

scholarly journals Larval morphology of Osmoderma cristinae Sparacio, 1994  (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Bellavista ◽  
Ignazio Sparacio
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Larval Morphology ◽  
Red Lists ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Saproxylic Species ◽  
Old Trees

Osmoderma cristinae Sparacio, 1994 is an endemic beetle of Sicily (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae). It is a saproxylic species and has a very important role in the forest ecosystems. It is included in multiple national and international “Red Lists" as Endangered species (Audisio et al. 2014, Cálix et al. 2018). At the larval stages O. cristinae participes in the degradation of “dead wood” in old trees, in their cavities, and in downed logs. In this work, the larval morphology of O. cristinae is described.

scholarly journals Dead Wood as an Element Enriching Biodiversity of Forest Ecosystems: A Case Study Based on Mites from the Suborder Uropodina (Acari: Parasitiformes)

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 476
Author(s):  
Jerzy Błoszyk ◽  
Tomasz Rutkowski ◽  
Agnieszka Napierała ◽  
Szymon Konwerski ◽  
Michał Zacharyasiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Primeval Forest ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
Białowieża Primeval Forest

The importance of dead wood in forest ecosystems for the existence of invertebrates has been widely discussed in the literature. The major aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that the presence of dead wood in forests considerably increases the species diversity of Uropodina (Acari: Parasitiformes) communities in a given area. The areas selected for the study are unique from a natural point of view. They are the Białowieża Primeval Forest, Cisy Staropolskie im. Leona Wyczółkowskiego Nature Reserve, and five oak-hornbeam nature reserves in western Poland. The study is based on materials collected since the 1960s of the last century. The highest number of species (37) both in soil and dead wood microhabitats was recorded in the Białowieża Primeval Forest and Cisy Staropolskie Nature Reserve, though the dead wood material from the second area contained the highest number of species (33). The results of the analysis show that the presence of dead wood increases species diversity of Uropodina communities in all locations under scrutiny. Moreover, dead wood increases the species diversity of Uropodina communities by attracting rare and stenotopic species, and therefore leaving dead trees in forests is extremely important for the habitat protection of these species.

scholarly journals Estimation of coarse woody debris stocks in forest ecosystems of Slobozhansky national nature park

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Furdychko ◽  
◽  
O. Chornobrov ◽  
I. Solomakha ◽  
I. Tymochko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Forest Inventory ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Standing Dead ◽  
Fallen Dead Wood ◽  
Total Stock

Dead wood is an important component of forest ecosystems. It performs a number of environmental functions. Coarse woody debris includes standing dead trees, fallen dead trees, fragments of fallen trees (trunks), branches (fragments of branches), and rough tree roots. It is a substrate and habitat for living organisms, including a number of species of mosses, lichens, fungi, invertebrates, as well as birds and mammals. Woody detritus plays an important role in the biological cycle of substances and energy, and carbon deposition, is a source of nutrients. Therefore, the study of quantitative and qualitative features of dead wood, in particular on protected areas, is a considerable nowadays problem. The aim of the work is to estimate identified by forest inventory stocks of dead wood in forest ecosystems of Slobozhansky NNP by categories, as well as to analyze the distribution of its volumes in stands of dominant tree species and forest types. The estimation of coarse woody debris stocks was performed based on forest inventory data of Slobozhansky National Nature Park conducted by Ukrainian State Project Forestry Production association “Ukrderzhlisproekt”. Data from 493 forest stands of nine tree species were analyzed. The stock of the following fractions of coarse woody debris was studied: standing dead wood, fallen (downed) dead wood. Data analysis was performed using MS Excel 2016 software. It was found that the total area of forest stands in which standing or downed dead wood was found during forest inventory was 2149.8 ha, or 47.5% of the total forest area of NNP. The total stock of coarse woody debris was 19478 m3, more than 95% of which is concentrated in the stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) (78.8%) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) (16.6%). Standing dead wood prevailed (62.1%) fallen dead wood (37.9%) in the structure of dead wood volume. The volume of dead wood was in the range of 5–50 m3∙ha–1, and on average in studied forest ecosystems in which it was found was 9.1 m3∙ha–1. In Scots pine forest stands coarse woody debris was found on an area of 1703.5 hectares with total stock of 15355 m3, consists of standing dead trees (9952 m3, 64.8%) and fallen dead wood (5403 m3, 35.2%). The volume of dead wood in forest stands was 5–50 m3∙ha–1, on average – 9.0 m3∙ha–1. In pedunculate oak stands coarse wood debris was found on an area of 384.7 hectares with a total stock of 3224 m3, consists of standing dead wood (1469 m3, 45.6%) and fallen dead wood (1755 m3, 54.4%). The volume of dead wood in forest stands was 5–20 m3∙ha–1, on average – 8.4 m3∙ha–1.

Wood decomposition, higher fungi, and their role in nutrient redistribution

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1377-1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne Boddy ◽  
Sarah C. Watkinson
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Relative Concentration ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Wood Decomposition ◽  
Large Reservoir ◽  
Available Nutrients ◽  
Nutrient Ratio ◽  
Reproductive Structures

Dead wood litter input to mature forest ecosystems represents 30–40% of the total biomass, containing about 1–4 and 0.1–0.8 kg/(ha∙year), of N and P, respectively. However, since wood decomposes relatively slowly, it represents a much larger proportion of the standing crop of plant litter on the forest floor, forming a large reservoir of mineral nutrients, which are unavailable for primary producers until they are released by decomposer organisms, primarily basidiomycetes and to a lesser extent ascomycetes. Readily available nutrients are utilized rapidly leaving other nutrients locked up in the recalcitrant lignocellulose complex. As decomposition proceeds the relative concentration of N and P in wood increases (i.e., carbon/nutrient ratio decreases), as C is lost as CO2, but these nutrients are rapidly sequestered in mycelial biomass. Formerly it was thought that nutrients were released when the carbon/nutrient ratio of the wood approximated that of mycelium. However, fungi are inherently greedy using excess nutrients for production of reproductive structures and foraging mycelium. The latter, which is often aggregated to form rhizomorphs or cords, grows out of wood in search of new resources, often forming extensive long-lived networks that exhibit remarkable patterns of reallocation of fungal biomass and nutrients. Within these systems, nutrients are conserved and are often relocated for many metres and may aid in establishment of mycelia in new resources. Nutrients are probably largely released when mycelia are grazed upon by invertebrates, nonbiotically damaged, interact with other fungi and bacteria, or die. Key words: ecology, lignocellulose, basidiomycetes, rhizomorph, translocation.

scholarly journals Spatial structure and factors determining tree mortality in Beninese forest formations

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 3060-3077
Author(s):  
Gilbert Atindogbe ◽  
Gabin Finangnon Laly ◽  
Hospice Afouda Akpo ◽  
Arios Adjinannoukon ◽  
Noël Houédougbé Fonton
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Structure ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Positive Interaction ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Dead Trees

Dead wood plays an important role in the functioning of forest ecosystems through nutrient cycles, soil fertility balance and temporary carbon storage. This research evaluates the dead wood potential, spatial structure of dead trees and factors influencing tree mortality in natural woodlands in Benin. Data were collected in eleven square plots of 10,000 m2, established in six classified forests and hunting areas of the W and Pendjari national parks. The spatial structure was investigated using Ripley's K function, and a multiple regression with variable selection allowed the identification of the biotic and abiotic factors that have an effect on dead wood density in the study areas. The density of dead wood was 32 stems/hectare, while mean quadratic diameter and basal area were 17.2 cm and 0.88 m2.ha-1, respectively. There was random and regular spatial distribution of dead trees without a positive interaction between dead and living trees, thereby pointing to fire as the main factor of tree mortality. Other factors influencing tree mortality included attacks by saproxylic animal species and other wood pests, and senescence. This study suggests that an integration of dead trees in management plans may be essential for the proper functioning of Benin's forest ecosystems. Le bois mort joue un rôle important dans le fonctionnement de l’écosystème forestier de par sa position dans les cycles de matière, le maintien de la fertilité des sols, le stockage temporaire du carbone, et par son rôle dans la structuration physique des sols. Cette recherche évalue sur la base de onze placettes carrées de 10.000 m2, installées dans six (06) forêts classées et des zones cynégétiques des parcs nationaux W et Pendjari, le potentiel en bois morts, la structure spatiale des arbres morts et les facteurs influençant la mort des arbres dans les formations naturelles du Bénin. La structure spatiale est étudiée au moyen de la fonction K de Ripley et une régression multiple avec sélection de variables a permis d’identifier les facteurs biotiques et abiotiques qui ont un effet sur la densité en bois morts dans lesdites formations. Les paramètres dendrométriques des arbres morts dans les formations naturelles étudiées sont caractérisés par avec une densité à l’hectare de 32 tiges, un diamètre quadratique moyen de 17,2 cm et une surface terrière de 0,88 m2.ha-1. La structure spatiale affiche une distribution spatiale aléatoire et régulière des arbres morts sans aucune interaction positive entre arbres morts et vivants suggérant le feu comme principal facteur de mortalité des arbres. Les autres facteurs influençant le recrutement en bois morts sont les attaques des espèces animales saproxyliques ou autres ravageurs des bois et la sénescence. L’intégration des arbres morts dans les plans aménagements est alors indispensable pour assurer un très bon fonctionnement des écosystèmes forestiers du Bénin.

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