Preliminary dead branch fall community colonists

My impression to start is that fallen branches have a predominance of lichen, jellies and other fungi on them when they fall and land on the ground. Growth on the branches includes millimeter sized fungi. Often the branch looks very overgrown to the point where the bark is simply not visible. Some key questions of interest that come to mind are: what macroinvertebrates live in these coverings on these dead branches; do they provide food foraging sites for birds; is there weight added to a dead branch by living colonizing growth especially if is holds water which would be the major weight element. So far I have found one springtail on a fallen branch but it looks similar to the predominant species I am currently photographing on fallen leaves, long fallen tree trunks and the living vegetation.
Issues to resolve are whether the fallen branch is from a 100% dead tree or from a living tree.
Comparisons to make can include living things colonizing a fallen tree on the ground left full in tact which I have several that i have followed that have been down for several years on my yard which is my sample territory.

Posted on November 15, 2022 05:00 AM by ingrid_kaatz