Fallen dead wood levels in the nearnatural beech forest at La Tillaie reserve, Fontainebleau, France

Abstract

Summary La Tillaie reserve is a key natural reference point for NW European forests. In summer 2000, a survey was undertaken here to estimate the levels of fallen dead wood in two permanent plots, dominated by old-growth beech‐ash (Melico‐Fagetum) or beech‐oak (Quercus‐Fagetum). This followed up a similar survey from 1982. Fallen dead wood remained abundant, despite rapid decay of beech. Over the two dates and plots, the volume averaged 160 m 3 ha ‐1 . Most material fell during windstorms in 1967, 1990 and 1999. These impacted differently on the two plots, so the volume in the Quercus‐Fagetum plot remained within 142‐145 m3 ha‐1, whereas in the Melico‐Fagetum plot it increased from 92 to 256 m3 ha‐1. These levels appear to represent a maximum in a cycle, whereby in natural beech forests in the region, dead wood tends to pulse to high levels about every 200‐300 years following the rapid break-up of old-growth stands.