Dr. Joanne Stolen:
"We bemoan all the dead lodgepole pines killed by the fungus introduced by the beetle in our area, but where there is death there is also life and sustenance. Dead trees provide vital habitat for more than 1,000 species of wildlife. Dead wood contributes to biological richness as substrate, cavity sites, foraging sites, shelter and cover. Last week I wrote about a lichen species (Usnea) that prefers to grow on dead trees. This lichen provides food for deer and nesting materials for birds.
There are terms used by wildlife biologists for dead wood. A “snag” is the name for dead trees that are left upright to decompose naturally. When a snag (or part of a snag) falls on the ground it becomes a “log.”
Who uses dead wood? Birds are the most obvious creatures, as they use limbs, branches and logs for perching, foraging and nesting materials. Birds, such as ruffed grouse, will use logs for drumming and courtship displays.
In many forests, 30 to 45 percent of the bird species are cavity nesters. In North America alone, 55 avian species nest in cavities. Birds that use cavities in trees are divided into several categories. Cavity-nesting birds are classified as “primary excavators” — those which can excavate hard wood; “weak excavators” — those species which can excavate soft, dead wood; or “secondary cavity-users” — those which can utilize existing cavities. Another 80 animal species depend upon previously excavated or natural tree holes for their nests..." (Read more? Click title)
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