Decomposition of Fallen Trees: Effects of Initial Conditions and Heterotroph Colonization Rates

Decomposition of an experimental cohort of conifer boles in a temperate rain forest was studies during the first two years after cutting. The decomposing bole was viewed as a successional ecosystem with measurable inputs, outputs, internal cycling processes; and controlling factors. These results from the initial stage of bole decomposition provide new information on processes contributing to decomposition of fallen trees. Our study challenges the assumptions of chronosequence studies (the traditional approach to studying long-term successional processes) that initial conditions and heterotroph colonization patterns (especially lag times) do not influence decomposition rates.