Table 5 Characteristics of woody debris at different decay classes in the forest ecosystem.
Item | Primary | Intermediate | Advanced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | II | III | IV | V | |
Leaf | Present | Disappear | Disappear | Disappear | Disappear |
Bark | Intact, tight | Intact on the whole, tight | Partly present, loose | Trace present, loose | Disappear |
Branch | Twigs less than 3cm present, Branches keep intact | Twigs less than 3cm partly present, Branches keep intact | Absent of twigs, Branches present, but mostly broken | Absent of twigs, Branches partly present | Disappear |
Wood consistency and color | Solid, original color | Solid, original color | Semi-solid, faded | Party solid, breakable | Soft, powdery |
Moss or fungi | Disappear | Cover less than 25% of surface area | Cover 25%~50% of surface area | Cover more than 50% of surface area | Cover more than 50% of surface area |
Root invading | Disappear | Disappear | Disappear | In sapwood | In heartwood |
