Mycorrhizal relationships

Why deadwood is dead good...

Deadwood in all its many forms - standingdead trees and stumps, fallen trunks, branches and twigs - is one of nature’smost important habitats and has a hugely positive impact on biodiversity.

Around 13% of the UK's 70,000 species aresaproxylic (i.e. depend on deadwood) including fungi, lichens, mosses, birds,bats, mammals and thousands of invertebrates. It contributes to soil formation,nutrient recycling and even plays a vital role in freshwater ecosystems.

The three stages of wood decay andnutrient recycling can take hundreds of years.

First, a short colonisation phase sees aninvasion of saproxylic organisms that further opens up the wood to othercolonisers.

Next there is a long decomposition phaseduring which plant and animal species start eating the exposed organic matterand each other.

Finally there is an extended humificationstage whereby scavenging organisms such as millipedes and springtailsincorporate wood residues into the ground.

Jersey is lacking old trees and ourwoodlands have very low levels of deadwood, as do most of the forests ofEurope. For this reason, fallen trees should be left as they are, safetypermitting.