We may feel grieved by the dying of our favorite trees but there is solace in understanding how dead trees provide the substrate and nutrients needed by a long list of organisms. Waves of life forms carry out the process of decomposition…fungus, bacteria and microorganisms flourish, woodpeckers create openings for cavity nesters, and many creatures use the downed wood as habitat. Woodrats create dens which also serves as home for countless other small creatures and young plants utilize the newly available recycled nutrients and sunlight to thrive and grow.
