The States of Decay of Woody Litter Determined by Relative Density

Abstract

Relative density (RD, g cm-3), based on dry weight samples, is used as an estimate of the extent of decay of woody litter. RD is critically evaluated. It is concluded that RD may be reproduced in a reasonably accurate way and the precision of RD may not show pronounced dependency of the degree of decay. Comparisons of RD may only be done in relation to the diameter of woody litter. A significant correlation between weight loss and RD exists, being linear if weight loss only includes losses due to leaching and decomposition. An analysis of the decay states of the various dead wood compartments shows that the mean weight loss of the attached dead wood and the soil surface dead wood compartment are 18% and 43%, respectively. A considerable weight loss prior to wood litter fall is observed and wood fall data given earlier are corrected. It is suggested that a knowledge of the decay states by RD makes it possible to predict the presence and diversity of organisms inhabiting the dead wood habitat.