It’s the End of the Wood as We Know It: Insects in Veteris (Highly Decomposed) Wood

Abstract

The final decay stage of wood, termed veteris wood, is a dynamic habitat that harbors high biodiversity and numerous species of conservation concern and is vital for keystone and economically important species. Veteris wood is characterized by chemical and structural degradation, including absence of bark, oval bole shape, and invasion by roots, and includes red rot, mudguts, and sufficiently decayed wood in living trees and veteran trees. Veteris wood may represent up to 50% of the volume of woody debris in forests and can persist from decades to centuries. Economically important and keystone species such as the black bear [Ursus americanus (Pallas)] and pileated woodpecker [Dryocopus pileatus (L.)] are directly impacted by veteris wood. Nearly every order of insect contains members dependent on veteris wood, including species of conservation concern such as Lucanus cervus (L) (Lucanidae) and Osmoderma eremita (Scopoli) (Scarabaeidae). Due to the extreme time needed for formation, veteris wood may be of particular conservation concern. Veteris wood is ideal for research because invertebrates within it can be collected immediately after sampling. Imaging techniques such as Lidar, photogrammetry, and sound tomography allow for modeling the interior and exterior aspects of woody debris, including veteran trees, and, if coupled with faunal surveys, would make veteris wood and veteran trees some of the best understood keystone habitats.

Living trees are all alike, every decaying tree decays in its own way.

—with apologies to Tolstoy