Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

Estimation of coarse woody debris stocks in forest ecosystems of Slobozhansky National Nature Park

О. Furdychko, O. Chornobrov, I. Solomakha, I. Tymochko, О. Bezrodnova
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Abstract

Dead wood is an important component of forest ecosystems. It performs a number of environmental functions. Coarse woody debris includes standing dead trees, fallen dead trees, fragments of fallen trees (trunks), branches (fragments of branches), stumps and rough tree roots. It is a substrate and habitat for living organisms, including a number of species of mosses, lichens, fungi, invertebrates, as well as birds and mammals. Woody detritus plays an important role in the biological cycle of substances and energy, and carbon deposition, is a source of nutrients. Therefore, the study of quantitative and qualitative features of dead wood, in particular on protected areas, is a considerable nowadays problem. The aim of the work is to estimate identified by forest inventory stocks of dead wood in forest ecosystems of Slobozhansky NNP by components, as well as to analyze the distribution of its volumes in stands of dominant tree species and forest types. The estimation of coarse woody debris stocks was performed based on forest inventory data of Slobozhansky National Nature Park conducted by Ukrainian State Project Forestry Production association “Ukrderzhlisproekt”. Data from 493 forest stands of nine tree species were analyzed. The stock of the following components of coarse woody debris was studied: standing dead wood, fallen (downed) dead wood. Data analysis was performed using MS Excel 2016 software. It was found that the total area of forest stands in which standing or downed dead wood was found during forest inventory was 2149.8 ha, or 47.5 % of the total forest area of NNP. The total stock of coarse woody debris was 19478 m3 , more than 95% of which is concentrated in the stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) (78.8 %) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) (16.6 %). Standing dead wood prevailed (62.1 %) fallen dead wood (37.9 %) in the structure of dead wood volume. The volume of dead wood was in the range of 5–50 m3 ∙ha–1 , and on average in studied forest ecosystems in which it was found was 9.1 m3 ∙ha–1 . Only 63.3 ha (2.9 %) of the studied forests have a volume of coarse woody debris of 20 m3 ∙ha–1 and more, and in 955.4 ha (44.4 %) of stands it does not exceed 5 m3 ∙ha–1 . Dead wood was found in forests growing in 11 forest types, but most of it was concentrated in fresh oak-pine subir (9855 m3 , 50.5 %), less – in fresh linden-oak-pine sugrud (5678 m3 , 29.2 %) and fresh maple-linden dibrova (2836 m3 , 14.6 %). About half (50.4 %) of coarse woody debris stock is concentrated in medium stocking degree forest stands. More than half (56.8%) of the dead wood stock is in I bonitet class stands. Obtained results indicate that in general, the dead wood volumes in forest ecosystems of Slobozhansky NNP estimated based on State Forest Inventory data, are quite low compared to the forest ecosystems of other protected areas, where one of the priorities are the natural complexes protection and biodiversity conservation, which may be associated with the intensity of forestry activities in the past on the territory of the national nature park before its creation

Keywords

coarse woody debris, ecosystem, Slobozhansky NNP, dead wood, forest stand, standing dead wood, fallen dead wood, mortmass, habitat, biodiversity

Suggested citation
Furdychko, О., Chornobrov, O., Solomakha, I., Tymochko, I., & Bezrodnova, О. (2021). Estimation of coarse woody debris stocks in forest ecosystems of Slobozhansky National Nature Park. Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 17(1),26-42. https://doi.org/10.31548/dopovidi2021.01.003
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