Jl. Marra et Rl. Edmonds, COARSE WOODY DEBRIS AND SOIL RESPIRATION IN A CLEAR-CUT ON THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA, WASHINGTON, USA, Canadian journal of forest research, 26(8), 1996, pp. 1337-1345
Coarse woody debris (CWD) and soil respiration rates were measured usi
ng soda lime traps on a clearcut site in the Hoh River Valley on the w
est side of the Olympic Peninsula, Washington. The influence of specie
s of CWD (western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) and Dougla
s-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) France)), decay class, and log di
ameter on respiration rates was determined. CWD and soil respiration w
ere measured every 4 weeks from October 1991 to November 1992 along wi
th CWD and soil temperature and moisture contents. Western hemlock log
s respired at a significantly higher rate (4.05 g CO(2)m(-2). day(-1))
than Douglas-fir logs (2.94 g CO(2)m(-2). day(-1)). There were no sig
nificant differences between respiration rates for decay classes 1-2,
3, and 5 logs (4.47, 3.69, and 4.28 g CO(2)m(-2). day(-1), respectivel
y), and there was no strong relationship between CWD respiration rate
and log diameter. The highest average respiration rate was from the so
il in the clearcut (5.22 g CO2 . m(-2). day(-1)). Averaged for the yea
r, log and soil respiration rates in the clearcut site were similar to
those in an adjacent old-growth forested site. However, seasonal fluc
tuations were greater on the clearcut site. Higher summer respiration
rates and lower winter rates observed on the clearcut relative to the
old-growth site appeared to be driven more by temperature than by mois
ture. Clear-cutting also resulted in higher summer CWD and soil temper
atures and lower winter temperatures compared with the old-growth site
.