Treesearch
Advancing our understanding of woody debris in tropical forests
| Authors: | Christian P. Giardina |
| Year: | 2019 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Pacific Southwest Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-019-00381-x |
| Source: | Ecosystems. 22(6): 1173-1175 |
Download (PDF 110 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/58563.pdf
Abstract
Fine and coarse woody debris (WD), or woody necromass, serves a multitude of functions in forests including: essential habitat for countless vertebrate, arthropod and microbial species; substrate for regenerating plants, for example as nurse logs; a dominant carbon source for heterotrophs; and both a sink and source for essential nutrients (Harmon et al. 1986; Palace et al. 2012). Further, as WD decomposes, resulting fragments and microbial byproducts of the decay process provide a major source of organic matter for soils (Magnússon et al. 2016). Finally, WD can account for up to 20% of carbon storage in forests (Harmon et al. 1986; Palace et al. 2012), with an important role in biosphere -atmosphere CO2 exchange.