Abstract
The article examines the volume of coarse woody detritus in fresh maple-linden-dibrova in Slobozhanskyi National Nature Park. The study was carried out in 115-year-old forest with a predominance of common oak (Quercus robur L.) of natural origin on a sample plot (0.24 ha) by identifying and measuring of standing and lying dead wood components. The volume of dead wood in the forest ecosystem is 32.4 m3·ha–1 and consists of fallen (84.3%) and standing (15.7%). The main part of the dead wood volume is formed by one tree species — common oak (91.3%). In general, woody detritus is characterized by I–IV stages of decomposition, at the same time detritus of III (52.5%) and II (41.7%) stages prevails, detritus of other decomposition stages has insignificant shares (not exceeding 5.0%). No detritus of the last (V) stage of decomposition was detected. The volume of standing dead wood was 5.1 m3·ha–1 and is formed by whole and broken dead trees. In terms of species composition, common oak predominates (80.4%), other species have much smaller shares: small-leaved linden (Tilia cordata Mill.) (13.7%) and Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) (5.9%). The volume of standing dead wood is dominated by detritus of decomposition stage II (4.8 m3·ha–1, 94.1%), compared with stage I (0.3 m3·ha–1, 5.9%). The volume of lying dead wood is 27.3 m3·ha–1 and is formed by whole fallen trees, fragments of fallen trees (trunks) and thick branches. In terms of species composition dead wood volume is dominated by common oak detritus (25.6 m3·ha–1, 93.7%), and the shares of other species are insignificant. Fallen dead wood is represented by four stages of decomposition (I–IV). In terms of volume, decomposition stage III has an absolute advantage (16.9 m3·ha–1, 61.9%), much less detritus of stage II (8.7 m3·ha–1, 31.9%). Relatively low volume of woody detritus and the absence of dead wood of decomposition stage V may be associated with forestry activities, including selective sanitary cutting and fallen woody debris removal, in the past in modern NNP areas.
Highlights
Dead wood, or woody detritus, is an important component of forest ecosystems and performs a number of environmental and ecological functions [1; 2]
Volume of standing dead wood is significantly dominated by detritus of decomposition stage II (4.8 m3·ha–1, 94.1%), compared with stage I (0.3 m3·ha–1, 5.9%)
The volume of coarse woody detritus in the fresh maple-linden dibrova in Slobozhanskyi National Nature Park is 32.4 m3·ha–1 which is formed by five tree species, consists of two fractions and is characterized by four decomposition stages
Summary
Woody detritus, is an important component of forest ecosystems and performs a number of environmental and ecological functions [1; 2]. Approximately 25% of forest biodiversity species are dependent on decomposing dead wood [7; 8]. Dead wood is an important indicator of biodiversity of forest ecosystems [4; 8]. Assessment of dead wood as a component of forest mortmass is an unsolved problem in the context of the study of biological productivity of forests [11; 12]. Of particular importance is the study of dead wood in natural ecosystems on protected areas, which were created for the protection, conservation and restoration of natural complexes. Slobozhanskyi NNP is included in the list of territories that are centers for the conservation of phytodiversity in Ukraine and in Europe (Important Plant Areas of Ukraine — Bir na Merli) [14]
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