Structural characteristics of dead Wood in a natural untouched of Fagus orientalis Lipsky mixed stand forest (Case Study: Shastklateh Forest, Gorgan, Iran)

The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze quantitative and qualitative amount of dead wood in a natural untouched Fagus oreientalis forest of permanent research plot of Shast klateh by 16 ha. For this purpose all the standing and fallen dead woods، based on species and the degree of decay، with a diameter higher than 7. 5 cm، were measured. The results of this study showed that the mean diameter at breast height، soil، the number and volume of standing live trees per acre in that certain Forest stand were 39. 5 cm، 33. 2 m، 287 m and 472 of the base respectively. While the mean diameter، number and volume per acre of total dead wood were 49. 5 cm، 27. 7 dead woods and 45. 4m3. ha، respectively. Hornbeam with 58. 2% was of the maximum N/ha dead wood (standing and fallen)، while beech with 61. 2 was of the highest volume having dead wood. The results also showed that less than 30 cm diameter class with 16. 9N. ha allocated highest contribution and diameter class (70-55 cm) with a 2. 75 allocated minimum number of dead wood. In the case of volume per hectare dead wood، diameter classes greater than 75 and less than 30cm، with 32. 5 and 1. 8 have comprised maximum and minimum V. ha، respectively. 61. 5% of the total N/ha of dead woods included fallen dead wood and 28. 5% was standing dead wood. Fallen dead wood with 35. 7m3. ha (about 78. 7%) of the total amount of dead wood allocated to itself. The overall results of the study showed that dead wood allocated about 9 percent of the number and volume per hectare of live and standing stand.