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1	The association between western hemlock fine roots and woody versus non-woody forest floor substrates in coastal British Columbia Klinka, Karel January 2001 (has links) In the wetter climates associated with the coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest, coarse woody debris (CWD) accumulations in the form of snags, downed boles, and large branches can be large in natural forest ecosystems. Although maintaining organic matter for sustainable site productivity is not in dispute, the importance of CWD as a source of soil organic matter is questionable. Forest managers attempting to optimize timber production need to know how CWD affects short-term forest tree growth and productivity. This study addresses the question of the immediate value of CWD for growth of mature (90 year old) western hemlock (Hw). Because of practical difficulty with mature trees growing in different substrates, we utilized fine root distribution or proliferation, as an indicator of important substrates. Coarse woody debris West coast hemlock Western hemlock Forest floor Humification Humus forms Soil nutrients Site quality Root biomass Root density Root formation Substrates, Plant