The Effect of a Copper Smelter Emissions on the Stock and Decomposition of Coarse Woody Debris in Spruce and Fir Woodlands

Abstract

We have studied the share of coarse woody debris (CWD) reserves at different decay classes in the spruce and fir woodland within the impact area of aerial pollution from the Middle Ural Copper Smelter (Revda, Sverdlovsk oblast). Control and impact areas slightly differ in total reserves and number of trunks of CWD (sum of standing and fallen dead wood). However, the number of CWD tends to grow in proximity to the plant. The mechanisms involved in CWD-reserve formation differ between impact and control sites. A larger number of relatively thin trunks prevail in CWD reserves of impact sites when compared to the lower number of thick trunks at control sites. The CWD share of 30% in the total number of dead and living trees did not differ across pollution loads. However, the share of CWD reserves in total stock is 1.9 times higher near the plant than at the control site. The share of logs at the initial stages of decomposition (first and second decay classes) is 3.2 times higher in terms of CWD number and 4.2 times higher in terms of CWD reserves than at the control sites. This points to the strong inhibition of CWD decomposition. The pattern of decay classes of all sizes of fallen trees significantly differs in volume across pollution zones.