%0 Research article
%T Effect of stem rot on wood basic density, carbon, and nitrogen content of living deciduous trees in hemiboreal forests
%A Liepiņš, Jānis
%A Jaunslaviete, Ieva
%A Liepiņš, Kaspars
%A Jansone, Līga
%A Matisons, Roberts
%A Lazdiņš, Andis
%A Jansons, Āris
%D 2023
%J Silva Fennica
%V 57
%N 3
%R doi:10.14214/sf.23040
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/23040
%X While numerous studies have focused on analyzing various aspects of the carbon (C) budget in forests, there appears to be a lack of comprehensive assessments specifically addressing the impact of stem rot on the C budget of broadleaf tree species, especially in old-growth forests where stem rot is prevalent. One of the main challenges in accurately quantifying C losses caused by stem rot is the lack of precise data on the basic density and C content of decayed wood, which are crucial for converting decayed wood volume into biomass and C stocks. Using linear mixed-effects models, we examine the variability of wood basic density, C content, and nitrogen (N) content. Discolored and decomposed wood was collected from the stems of 136 living deciduous trees common in hemiboreal forests in Latvia. Our research indicates a noticeable reduction in the wood basic density, coupled with an increase in the N content within the stem wood throughout the decomposition process in birch (<i>Betula</i> spp.), European aspen (<i>Populus tremula</i> L.), grey alder (<i>Alnus incana</i> (L.) Moench), and common alder (<i>Alnus glutinosa</i> (L.) Gaertn.). While aspen wood showed a decreasing trend in C content as decay progressed, a pairwise comparison test revealed no significant differences in C content between discolored and decomposed wood for the studied species, unlike the findings for basic density and N content. This study emphasizes the need to account for stem rot in old-growth forest carbon budgets, especially in broadleaf species, and calls for more research on stem rot-induced carbon losses.