Standing dead wood stocks in forest stands of Middle Dnieper region (Forest-Steppe of Ukraine)

Abstract

Standing dead wood is an important component of forest ecosystems of temperate zone. The aim of the article is to study the forestry and ecological features of the distribution of standing dead wood stocks in forest stands of Middle Dnieper region (Forest-steppe of Ukraine). The study was carried out based on State forest inventory data of the part of territory of state forest enterprise with a total area of 24558.6 ha in northern part of Cherkasy region. According to forest inventory data standing dead wood was found on area of 3439.4 ha or 14.0% of the total forest area. The average standing dead wood volume was the highest in forests of nature conservation, scientific, historical and cultural purposes (13.0 m3∙ha–1), somewhat lower — in forests with commercial purpose (11.0 m3∙ha–1), in protective, and recreational and health-improving forests (9.8 m3∙ha–1). Standing dead wood was found in the forest stands of 15 tree species with a total stock of 34660 m3. In those forests the average volume of by tree species ranging from 5.0 m3∙ha–1 up to 20.0 m3∙ha–1, in general for all tree species — 10.1 m3∙ha–1. In the stands of the prevailing tree species — Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and Common oak (Quercus robur L.) the average volume of standing dead wood was 10.4, 9.0 m3∙ha–1 and 7.5 m3∙ha–1, respectively. In the stands of the first two specified tree species, a tendency to increase the average volume of standing dead wood with an increase in the age of the stand was revealed. Standing dead wood was found in 17 out of 32 forest types that are represented in the forest fund of the studied object, with an average volume of 5.7 m3∙ha–1 (fresh eroded hornbeam dibrova) to 22.4 m3∙ha–1 (damp black alder hrud). In general, standing dead wood stocks are low, which may be caused by forestry activities (cutting). The data we obtained are important for research into the peculiarities of the formation of woody detritus stocks in the forests of Middle Dnieper region of Ukraine and nature protection functions of dead wood.