Analysis of sampling methods for coarse woody debris

Abstract

Coarse woody debris (CWD) is an important structural component of forest ecosystems and plays a key role in ecosystem functioning. It includes whole fallen trees and branches, pieces of fragmented wood, stumps, and standing dead trees (snags). A number of sampling approaches have been used to quantify CWD but there has been little systematic analysis of alternative approaches in terms of sampling efficiency. This study analysed sampling methods for CWD in three Australian forest types: eucalypt-dominated woodlands in south central Queensland, eucalypt open forest (dry sclerophyll forest) in south coastal New South Wales and eucalypt tall open forest in southern Tasmania. All downed wood (gre..