Loss of mass and chemical change in decaying boles of a subalpine balsam fir forest
Decay of balsam fir (Abies balsamea) boles was examined in an upper subalpine forest of the White Mountains, New Hampshire, USA. Fifty percent of the initial mass was lost in 23 years; 90% was lost in 77 years. High decay rates were attributed to the small diameters of the boles, ample moisture, and a nitrogen-rich environment. Average dead wood mass in this forest was 4.9 kg/meter squared, representing 25% of the sum of dead wood, live plant biomass, and forest floor organic matter. Changes in density and moisture and in the concentrations and content of various chemical components of the boles were traced over the decay sequence. Changes in the content of cellulose, lignin, carbon and sodium followed loss of mass during decay. Contents of calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus decreased faster than loss of mass in the early stages of decay. Much of this initial loss was ascribed to sloughing of nutrient-rich bark which in these small boles comprised 13% of dry mass. Later in decay, the loss rates of calcium, magnesium and potassium were about the same or slightly less than the loss rate of mass. After a steep initial drop, phosphorus content of the boles remained approximately constant between years 12 and 33. Thereafter the loss rate paralleled loss of mass. Nitrogen content was approximately constant in the first 33 years which it declined in parallel with loss of mass. (Refs. 47).
- Research Organization:
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth Coll., Hanover, NH; Dept. of Biology, West Virginia Univ. Morgantown, WV
- OSTI ID:
- 5140227
- Journal Information:
- Ecology; (United States), Journal Name: Ecology; (United States) Vol. 61:6; ISSN ECOLA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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553000 -- Agriculture & Food Technology
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BIOMASS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DENSITY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION I
FORESTS
LIGNIN
MOISTURE
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SACCHARIDES
TREES
USA