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Figure: The photo shows a row of deadwood logs in a shady summer forest.
  • What is the meaning of deadwood in ecosystem processes?
  • What is the influence of the surrounding habitat?
  • How is the settlement of species and the decomposition of deadwood?
  • How does decomposition affect the carbon cycle and microorganisms on the soil surface?
Picture: The photo shows an exposed area of tree stumps and deadwood logs lying on the ground in a forest in summer.
Deadwood logs in the Hainich

2008 the following tree species were put into each forest VIP in the three regions of the Biodiversity Exploratories in three replicates (in total 1,140 deadwood logs):
Beech, oak, maple (sycamore maple, mountain maple and field maple in mixture), lime tree, cottonwood tree, hornbeam, ash, birch and cherry (one log per VIP), as well as pine, larch, Douglas fir, and spruce.

Each deadwood log has a center diameter of 30cm and a length of 4m.
At the beginning of the experiment, a soil sample was taken next to each log, dried and stored, and a log slice was cut and stored.

Picture: The photo shows an area with pieces of deadwood logs on the ground in a summer forest.
Deadwood logs, new experiments 2020

Project name
Responsible person, Institution Content
Arthropods I (since 2009),

Arthropods II (2009-2014)

Weisser, Seibold (Technische Universität München)
Steffan-Dewenter (University of Würzburg)
Population density and diversity saproxylic arthropods, infestation by Trypodendron and Xyleborus, monitoring saproxylic insects
BELongDead (2009) Schulze (Emeritus, Max Planck Institute of biogeochemistry)
Weisser (Technische Universität München)
Initial measurements at the beginning of the project (e.g., diameter, trunk cover)
BLD-FFD-HZG (2014-2017) Hofrichter, Kellner (International Institute Zittau)
Krüger, Hoppe (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental research)
Bässler (Nationalpark Bayrischer Wald)
Diversity of funghi and bacteria in deadwood and expression of genes relevant for wood-degrading
BEL-FFD-HZG II (since 2017) Hofrichter, Kellner (TU Dresden, International Institute Zittau)
Buscot (Helmholtz Centre For Environmental Research Halle)
Bässler (Bavarian Forest National Park)
Hoppe (Julius-Kühn-Institute)
Influence of surrounding ecosystem to wood decomposition, procedure of substrate succession, Influence of microorganisms to wood decomposition and ecosystem processes
BELongDead – Stoffflüsse (2009 – 2014) Matzner (University of Bayreuth) Measurement of stem flow and release of DOC and DON
FRASS Maraun (University of Göttingen) Reproductive behavior of oribatid mite species on bark along a land use gradient
FunWood (2009 – 2011) Bauhus, Kahl (University of Freiburg)
Buscot, Krüger (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental research)
Hofrichter (International Gratuate School Zittau)
Otto (University of Leipzig)
Effects of the intensity of forest management on the diversity of wood-decaying fungi and deadwood decomposition, fungus monitoring
FunWood II (2011 – 2014) Bauhus, Kahl (University of Freiburg)
Krüger, Hoppe (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental research)
Otto (University of Leipzig) Hofrichter, Kellner (International Gratuate School Zittau)
Effects of the intensity of forest management on the diversity of wood-decaying fungi and deadwood decomposition, fungus monitoring
FunWood III (2014-2017) Bauhus, Kahl (University of Freiburg) Effects of management intensity of forests, tree species and fungal diversity to deadwood and their ecosystem processes
FunWood IV (since 2017) Jehmlich (Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig)
Noll (Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts)
Functional diversity in decomposer communities, influence of fluctuating temperatures on decomposer communities, influence of forest management intensity and tree species to decomposer communities and decomposition rates
WoodSoil (since 2017) Borken (University Bayreuth)
Persoh (University Bochum)
Nutrient translocation towards fungi communities in soil, functional diversity of saprotrophic fungi, microbial biomass and activity

Doc
Forstbewirtschaftung beeinflusst totholzabhängige Käfer durch Baumartenzusammensetzung und Beschirmungsgrad
Edelmann P., Ambarlı D., Gossner M. M., Schall P., Ammer C., Wende B., Schulze E.-D., Weisser W. W., Seibold S. (2022): Forest management affects saproxylic beetles through tree species composition and canopy cover. Forest Ecology and Management 524, 120532. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120532
More information:  doi.org
Doc
Purahong W., Wubet T., Krüger D., Buscot F. (2018): Molecular evidence strongly supports deadwood-inhabiting fungi exhibiting unexpected tree species preferences in temperate forests. The ISME Journal 12, 289–295. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2017.177
More information:  doi.org
Doc
Kahl T., Arnstadt T., Baber K., Bässler K., Bauhus J., Borken W., Buscot F., Floren A., Heibl C., Hessenmöller D., Hofrichter M., Hoppe B., Kellner H., Krüger D., Linsenmair K. E., Matzner E., Otto P., Purahong W., Seilwinder C., Schulze E.-D., Wende B., Weisser W. W., Gossner M. M. (2017): Wood decay rates of 13 temperate tree species in relation to wood properties, enzyme activities and organismic diversities. Forest Ecology and Management 391, 86-95. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2017.02.012
More information:  doi.org
Doc
Pilzbiomasse und extrazelluläre Enzymaktivität im Totholz von 13 Baumarten in der frühen Zersetzungsphase
Noll L., Leonhardt S., Arnstadt T., Hoppe B., Poll C., Matzner E., Hofrichter M., Kellner H. (2015): Fungal biomass and extracellular enzyme activities in coarse woody debris of 13 tree species in the early phase of decomposition. Forest Ecology and Management 378, 181-192. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.07.035
More information:  doi.org
Doc
Kohlenstoff- und Stickstoffdynamik in Totholz: Bedeutung der Flüsse mit der gelösten Phase und der pilzlichen N-Translokation aus dem Boden
Noll L. (2015): Kohlenstoff- und Stickstoffdynamik in Totholz: Bedeutung der Flüsse mit der gelösten Phase und der pilzlichen N-Translokation aus dem Boden. Master thesis, University Bayreuth
Doc
Bantle A. K. (2015): Tree species effects on the release of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen from decomposing logs. Dissertation, University Bayreuth
More information:  epub.uni-bayreuth.de
Doc
Totholz als Quelle für gelöste organische Substanzen
Bantle A., Borken W., Ellerbrock R. H., Schulze E. D., Weisser W. W., Matzner E. (2014): Quantity and quality of dissolved organic carbon released from coarse woody debris of different tree species in the early phase of decomposition. Forest Ecology and Management 329, 287–294. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2014.06.035
More information:  doi.org
Doc
Totholz als Quelle für gelösten Stickstoff
Bantle A., Borken W., Matzner E. (2014): Dissolved nitrogen release from coarse woody debris of different tree species in the early phase of decomposition. Forest Ecology and Management 334, 277–283. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2014.09.015
More information:  doi.org

Scientific assistants

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Weisser
Project manager
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Weisser
Technische Universität München (TUM)
Claudia Seilwinder
Employee
Claudia Seilwinder
Technische Universität München (TUM)
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