| Summary: Until recently, removing all sick or dying trees from the field seemed to be the best approach in production-based forests. However, today the vitality and integrity of the forest ecosystem are seen as an indicator of biological diversity. The amount and type of dead wood fulfill important functions in the formation of a food pyramid and thus ensuring biological diversity. The number of studies on dead wood is limited in our country. It is seen that the studies conducted mostly focus on the amount of dead wood, the change according to different parameters is not examined and the dead wood classes are not sufficiently emphasized. In thi thesis, the amount and type of dead in pure Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris Link) stands within the boundaries of Kelkit Forest Planning Unit have been determined. Within the scope of this study, a total of 100 sample plots were taken, considering different parameters affecting the amount and variety of dead wood. All dead trees in the sample plots were classified and measured, their decay classes were determined and their variation according to some stand and spatial parameters was investigated. As a result, the average volume of standing dead is 1,3 m3/ha (%54), stumps is 0,2 m3/ha (%8), and the lying dead trees is 0,9 m3/ha (%38). In the conducted study, it was examined whether there was a significant statistical relationship between the amount of dead wood and the measured parameters. For this purpose, Pearson correlation test was performed. As a result of the test, it was understood that there was a relationship between the dead wood volume and canopy, slope and height.
Key Words: Dead wood, Decay class, Stand parameters, Site parameters, Forest management, Scots pine |
