Quantifying wood decomposition by insects and fungi using computed tomography scanning and machine learning.

ABSTRACT: Wood decomposition is a central process contributing to global carbon and nutrient cycling. Quantifying the role of the major biotic agents of wood decomposition, i.e. insects and fungi, is thus important for a better understanding of this process. Methods to quantify wood decomposition, such as dry mass loss, suffer from several shortcomings, such as destructive sampling or subsampling. We developed and tested a new approach based on computed tomography (CT) scanning and semi-automatic image analysis of logs from a field experiment with manipulated beetle communities. We quantified the volume of beetle tunnels in wood and bark and the relative wood volume showing signs of fungal decay and compared both measures to classic approaches. The volume of beetle tunnels was correlated with dry ma

SUBMITTER: Seibold S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9515192 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature