Deadwoodologists

I find that nearly all the papers I've seen reporting on the methodology for
measuring CWD decay rates use a "mass loss" approach, i.e. record wood density
and dry weight changes over time and work out decay rates accordingly. I've
scarcely found any references to use of CO2 measurements (i.e. decomposer
respiration rates), but since this is a technique that soil scientists use I
wondered whether it had much potential for working out CWD decay rates? Are
there any techniques that can be used in the field rather than the lab? I'm
only aware of one paper that has attempted this for CWD (Schowalter, T.D.,
Caldwell, B.A., Carpenter, S.E., Griffiths, R.P., Harmon, M.E., Ingham, E.R.,
Kelsey, R.G., Lattin, J.D., & Moldenke, A.R. (1992). Decomposition of fallen
trees: effects of initial conditions and heterotroph colonization rates. In
Tropical Ecosystems: Ecology and Management (eds K.P. Singh & J.S. Singh), pp.
373-383. Wiley Eastern, New Delhi.)

If anyone has any comments on this, or can point me to relevant literature, I'd
be most grateful. We're looking for ways to figure out decay rates in Tasmanian
Eucalyptus obliqua CWD. We'll probably try the mass loss approach too but felt
there might be some merit in exploring other avenues.

Thanks for any help

Simon Grove




`'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,

Dr Simon J Grove, Conservation Biologist,
Biology and Conservation Branch,
Division of Forest Research and Development
Forestry Tasmania, GPO Box 207, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.
Tel. 61 3 6233 8141. Fax 61 3 6233 8292.
Email: simon.grove@....
Web addresses: http://www.forestrytas.com.au/
http://www.warra.com



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