ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES in rocky mountain coniferous ...

Temperature extremes and moisture deficits have been reported as decay limiting
by Hubert (1920), Spaulding and Hansborough (1944), and Childs and Clark (1953).
Lohman (1 962, 1965) indicated that unfavorable temperature-moisture regimes in
lodgepol e pine (pinus contorta Doug1. ) slash were the principal 1 imi ting factors to
the onset and continuation of decay. Higher temperatures in the wood's upper 5 cm
favored, by selection, Phlsbia phlebioides (Jack and Deard.) Donk and Gloeophyllum
seapiarium, (Wul f. ex Fr, 1 Karst. , whereas Haematosterium sanguinolentum (A1 b. and
Schw. ex Fr.) Poui!. and Coniophoxa puteana (Shum. ex Fr. ) Karst., with low tempera-
ture optima, were recovered at depths in wood greater than 5 cm. Lohman (1962,
1965) attributed the presence of low-temperature fungi in upper parts of slash to
the occurrence of wet and moist periods. Aho (1974) reported that few heat-tolerant
fungi are normally found in the middle and lower portions of slash piles.
Data (fig. 3) collected by Hungerford (1980) also demonstrate that residue
surface temperatures approach 1 evels that would 1 imi t biological activity, particu-
larly spore germination and initial colonization. In contrast, internal temperatures
were lower and well within the range of temperatures required for decay activity.
Temperatures at the surface of the underside of selected residues also were conducive
to fungal activity. Furthermore, the amelioration of higher soil temperatures at or
near the surface by soil-wood was also noticed.
A- Surface
Ib, Soil wood
5 10 15 20 24
Hours
Figure 3. -- ~eZationship of temperatures of suspended residues and
decayed wood partially buried in the soiZ,