Ecological Bulletins, Ecology of Woody Debris in Boreal Forests

Bengt Gunnar Jonsson, Nicholas Kruys

Wiley, Dec 21, 2001 - Science - 283 pages

Today dead trees are not only viewed upon as waste and as potential sources of pest species. Instead they have gained an increased attention as key factors for biodiversity in many ecosystems. This change in focus and concern has sparked intense research activities directed to explore the ecological role of dead trees in forest ecosystems. Focus is directed into three main areas: 1) to understand the
patterns of woody debris availability in relation to forest stand dynamics and effects of forestry, 2) the role of woody debris in nutrient and particularly carbon dynamics in forest ecosystems, and 3) the pattern and biology of the utilization of woody debris for a large number of wood-dependent species. This volume summarises the present knowledge and presents a set of case studies on the role of dead wood in boreal forests. The focus is on Fennoscandian boreal forests.

However, the results presented have a wide applicability and thus the volume may serve as a general introduction to the importance of woody debris in forest ecosystems.

About the author

Bengt Gunnar Jonsson is a professor of Plant Ecology at Mid Sweden University. His research focuses on forest history and dynamics and its role in maintaining forest biodiversity. He has played an active role in several national conservation projects initiated by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Forest Agency.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Ecological Bulletins, Ecology of Woody Debris in Boreal Forests; Ecological Bulletins, ISSN 0346-6868
• Editors: Bengt Gunnar Jonsson, Nicholas Kruys
• Edition: 49, illustrated
• Publisher: Wiley, 2001
• ISBN: 8716164326, 9788716164322
• Length: 283 pages
• Subjects: Science / Life Sciences / Ecology; Science / Life Sciences / Zoology / General