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Global Wood Cycle
Hover over the numbers in the diagram to learn more.
4. Large wood accumulates sand and initiates dunes.
3. Large wood creates lees in flow, gravel accumulates, fish use these low current areas to save energy.
1. Trees enter watercourses.
2. Log jams create side channels and wetlands.
5. Brackish estuary allows some shipworm, pholads, and pill bugs (latter two in warm waters) colonization.
6. Large wood provides shellfish and seaweed settlement substrate, and habitat for fish.
7. Sunken wood collects around river mouths.
8. Large wood provides shellfish and seaweed substrate, foraging grounds for fish.
9. Large wood rafts provide floating habitat (for e.g. birds and fish).
10. Large wood creates accumulate zones of shells, bones, peat, other wood.
11. Large wood moves stones locked in rootwads to sea, initiating wood/stone reefs.
12. Floating large wood provides shelter and foraging grounds for fish, attachment point for shellfish.
13. Large wood tends to collect in gullies and canyons, providing nutrients and substrate.
14. Forests are cleared for agriculture.
15. Large wood enters watercourse from upstream.
16. Dam operations trap and remove wood.
17. Urban development replaced forest.
18. Wood on beaches is removed.
19. Bottom trawlers remove sunken wood, shellfish reefs, other substrate, and fish.
10. Large wood creates accumulate zones of shells, bones, peat, other wood.
10. Large wood creates accumulate zones of shells, bones, peat, other wood.
Diagram by Blue Yonder Creative
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