Residence Time of Coarse Woody Debris on the

Residence Time of Coarse Woody Debris on the Forest Floor in Southeastern Indiana Forests M. Ross Alexander and Darrin L. Rubino Biology Department, Hanover College, Hanover, IN

What is CWD? • Downed branches and boles – greater than 10 cm diameter – longer than 1 m in length • Divided into classes based on degree of rot (punkiness) • Why?

Decay Classes • Common classes defined by Pyle and Brown (1998) • 5 classes – Class I Freshly fallen logs – Class II Bark still present, solid

– Class III Bark typically absent, wood: Spongy, flaky – Class IV • No longer solid • Crushes when struck (no flaking) – Class V • Predominantly powder wood • Typically flattened shape

Goals • Determine death dates of logs within decay classes • Determine how long different species reside on forest floor • Are there a differences in the decay rates of different hardwood species?

Methods • Several forests in Southeastern Indiana were sampled. • Purposefully chose samples that had either bark or wane. • Wane = outermost growth ring • “Cookie” samples were taken using a chain saw

Surface Preparation • Sanding – Finer grits of sandpaper – 50, 80, 120, 180, 220, 320, 400, 600 – Table sanders – Palm (orbital) sanders – Hand sanding

1

Dating • Place arbitrary years on sanded sample • Skeleton plots

Dating • Measure sample • Allows for “Crossdating”

Crossdating Process 1971 – 2003 1980 1990

1971 – 2003 1980 1990 ? –?

1971 – 2003 1980 ? –? 1990

1971 – 2003 1980 1953 – 1979 1960 1970 1990

Results • 88 samples from 8 species (LITU, FRAX, SAAL, FAGR, ROPS, Red and White Oak, PRSE, ) were analyzed • ANOVA analysis was performed where appropriate Class n • Analysis was not performed I 29 on PRSE, SAAL, or the Oaks II 13 III 39 IV 7

Number of Samples Number of samples 4, 5 4 3, 5 3 2, 5 2 1, 5 1 0, 5 0 Oaks I 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 II Decay Class III LITU I Decay Class III

Number of Samples 20 FAGR 15 10 5 0 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 I II III Decay Class IV ROPS I II Decay Class III

9 FRAX Number of Samples 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 I II Decay Class III

F = 19. 07 P < 0. 001 n = 40 Beech 16 Mean Years dead 14 c c III IV 12 10 b 8 6 4 2 a 0 I II Decay Class

Decay Class III 30 Mean Years Dead 25 F = 5. 70 P = 0. 03 n = 35 b 20 ab 15 10 a a 5 0 FAGR FRAX Species LITU ROPS

Conclusions • Decay rates are different from species to species • More sampling is needed to increase depth • Future work: Chemical analysis to determine nutrient release among different species.

Acknowledgements • • Biology Dept. at Hanover College Patricia Walne Student Research Fund Cassie Lothery Abby Simpson