RESEARCH PAPER
Stock
of downed fine woody debris in managed forests and nature reserves of the Niepołomice Forest
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1
Instytut
Botaniki im. W. Szafera Polskiej Akademii Nauk, ul. Lubicz 46, 31-512 Kraków, Polska
2
Zakład Ekologii Roślin i Ochrony Środowiska, Wydział Biologii, Uniwersytet im.
Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Polska
Online publication date: 2020-07-09
Publication date: 2020-07-09
Fragm. Flor. et Geobot. Pol. 2020; XXVII(1): 141-153
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ABSTRACT
This study was aimed at determining the amount of downed fine woody debris (FWD)
in managed stands and nature reserves of the Niepołomice Forest, comparing it with the amount
of downed coarse woody debris (CWD), and identifying the factors affecting FWD. The measurements
were carried out in 99 study plots established in mixed (pine-dominated) and deciduous
forests. The volume of FWD in managed stands ranged from 0.9 to 16.9 m3 ha−1. The median value
for FWD (5.0 m3 ha−1) was twice that for CWD volume. The share of FWD in the total volume
of downed woody material ranged from 7.7% to 100% (median 64.4%). In the reserves, CWD
dominated; its volume was between 13.2 and 175.4 m3 ha−1 and its share was ~80%. The type of
forest significantly affected FWD; its volume was higher in deciduous forests. Among other stand
parameters, the number of tree species correlated most with FWD volume (rS = 0.41, p < 0.0001).
The study showed that FWD constitutes a significant part of the deadwood pool in managed stands
and, as such, can be important in shaping the diversity of deadwood-dependent organisms.