Decomposition of standing dead trees in the southern Appalachian Mountains

Summary Decomposition of standing dead trees that were killed by fire was examined for 10 species in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The decrease in wood density as fire age increased was used to estimate decomposition rates. Quercus prinus had the fastest decay rate (11% yr^-1) while Pinus virginiana had the slowest decay rate (3.6% yr^-1) for standing dead wood. Decay rates were intermediate between those reported in western USA and tropics for wood.