Microclimate (temperature and relative humidity) and biotic factors (decomposer colonization and tree species diversity) drive wood decomposition. However, their inter-correlations make it necessary to decouple direct and indirect effects. Furthermore, most studies used wood substrates from one wood species to find dominant factors. Thus, a more general assessment on whether wood species identity changes the effects and relative importance of factors for wood decomposition is needed. We conducted fine (d=2±1cm) wood decomposition experiments in 40 plots of Site A in Xingangshan. Samples were retrieved at two decay stages (after 1-year and after 2-year) measured for wood mass-loss rates. Microclimate was monitored during the first year. Decomposer colonization was measured as termite foraging intensity and fungal hyphae coverage.

Data on tree species diversity, microclimate, decomposer colonization and wood mass-loss rate. See Wu et al (2020): "The relative importance of microclimate and biotic factors on fine wood decay is altered by wood species identity" for full description of wood species selection and measurements of related variables.

Main Experiment Site A

2015-2017