Deadwood Releasing 10.9 Gigatons of Carbon Every Year

Decaying wood releases around 10.9 gigatons of carbon worldwide every year, according to a new study by an international team of scientists.

Says it's the first time researchers have been able to quantify the contribution of deadwood to the global carbon cycle.

"We knew insects such as termites and wood-boring Longicorn beetles can accelerate deadwood decomposition," study co-author Dr. Marisa Stone from Griffith University said.

"But until now, we didn't know how much they contribute to deadwood carbon release globally."

"Insects accounted for 29% of deadwood carbon release each year. However, their role was disproportionately greater within the tropics and had little effect in regions of low temperatures."

Tropical forests contribute 93 percent of all carbon released by deadwood, due to their high wood mass and rapid rates of decomposition.

"This study has demonstrated that both climate change and the loss of insects have the potential to alter the decomposition of wood, and therefore, carbon and nutrient cycles worldwide."

https://scitechdaily.com/deadwood-releasing-10-9-gigatons-of-carbon-every-year-more-than-all-fossil-fuel-emissions-combined/