Swift M J, Healey I N, Hibberd J K, Sykes J M, Bampoe V, Nesbitt M E
Queen Mary College, University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS, London, UK.
Late of King's College, University of London, UK.
Oecologia. 1976 Jun;26(2):139-149. doi: 10.1007/BF00582892.
The pattern of decomposition of branch-wood greater than 2 cm diameter is described for a one hectare site at Meathop Wood, Cumbria, based on studies carried out as part of the IBP between 1967 and 1972. Three phases of decomposition are recognised. Following the death of branches in the canopy and their colonisation by fungi, decomposition proceeded at an average annual loss rate of about 8.4%. Wood at branch-fall had on average lost about 40% of its original dry weight. On the forest floor the average annual rate of weight lost to decomposition was 17.1%. This could be divided into two phases; fungi were predominant initially but shortly after branch-fall invasion by wood-boring animals occurred. The average annual branch-fall between 1967 and 1971 was 31.5 g·m. The standing crop of dead branch-wood on the forest floor was estimated in 1971 to be 203.3 g·m. Assuming steady state this implies an annual turnover of 15.5% of the standing crop which is in good agreement with the observed decomposition rate.Considerable differences in the rates of decay were observed between individual branches. No significant differences were found between branches of the four main "species" of tree investigated (Quercus robur pluspetraea, Fraxinus excelsior, Betula pendula pluspubescens, Corylus avellana).
基于1967年至1972年作为国际生物学计划（IBP）一部分所开展的研究，描述了坎布里亚郡米索普森林中一片一公顷区域内直径大于2厘米的树枝木材的分解模式。识别出三个分解阶段。树冠层的树枝死亡并被真菌定殖后，分解以约8.4%的年均损失率进行。树枝掉落时，木材平均已损失其原始干重的约40%。在森林地面，因分解导致的年均重量损失率为17.1%。这可分为两个阶段；最初真菌占主导，但树枝掉落后不久，蛀木动物开始入侵。1967年至1971年期间的年均树枝掉落量为31.5克·平方米。1971年估计森林地面上枯枝木材的现存生物量为203.3克·平方米。假设处于稳态，这意味着现存生物量的年周转率为15.5%，这与观察到的分解速率高度一致。观察到各个树枝之间的腐烂速率存在相当大的差异。在所调查的四种主要“树种”（英国栎和无梗花栎、欧洲白蜡树、垂枝桦和毛桦、榛树）的树枝之间未发现显著差异。
