Rotten but not forgotten

By CONNIE MERTZ

Dead and decaying trees may appear lifeless and of little use in the forest ecosystem, but they are vital to a healthy forest, according to Rance Harmon, Penn State’s extension forest resources specialist. There are at least 35 species of birds and 20 species of mammals that use tree cavities either for nesting or protection from weather or predators, and many of these cavities are located in decaying trees or snags. Cavities result when the wood starts becoming soft through deterioration, making them easier to excavate, especially for woodpeckers.

And when the wood starts to decay, insects such as ants and beetles, carve out tunnels, and this in turn, creates food for birds, particularly the pileated woodpecker. Standing snags also provide perching for birds of prey, kingfishers, and other species that adapt readily to snags along waterways. Dead trees that have fallen still provide the ecosystem with essential ingredients such as locations for salamanders to lay eggs, and in fact, according to Harmon, 23 species of amphibians and reptiles take refuge in decaying wood in the northeastern sector of the United States, and this includes box turtles and snakes.

Fallen trees, as they continue decaying, provide a grocery-store smorgasbord of delectable foods for many wildlife species, from skunks to bears. And sometimes called a “nursery log,” the rotting wood becomes fertile soil from which the forest will regenerate.

Dead trees truly do give long after they have lived, and they deserve as much attention in the forest ecosystem as do living trees.