QUALITATIVE STRUCTURE OF DEADWOOD BY DECAY STAGES AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS WITH CLIMATE INDICATORS IN THE AUKŠTAITIJA AND ŽEMAITIJA INTEGRATED MONITORING STATIONS

Abstract

Deadwood is a key structural component of forest ecosystems, influencing carbon cycling and habitat availability, while its decomposition is driven by wood traits and climatic conditions. This study assessed the current qualitative structure of deadwood by decay stages (1–5) in the Aukštaitija and Žemaitija Integrated Monitoring Stations (KMS) and tested associations between decay stage and climate indicators. Annual meteorological data (temperature and precipitation; 1993–2025) were combined with deadwood inventory records collected during the 2025 field campaign (tree group, diameter, decay stage, and time since death). Deadwood structure was summarized across age classes, and climate links were evaluated using correlation and regression approaches. In both KMS, the clearest climate-change signal was a significant increase in mean annual air temperature, whereas annual precipitation showed high interannual variability without a consistent trend. Decay stage increased with time since death, but the distribution of stages differed among regions and tree groups. Climate variables were sometimes significantly related to decay stage; however, time since death remained the dominant explanatory factor in regression models. These results provide a regional baseline for interpreting deadwood decomposition in long-term monitoring sites and highlight contrasting temperature- versus precipitation-linked patterns between KMS.