The contribution of insects to global forest deadwood decomposition

The amount of carbon stored in deadwood is equivalent to about 8 per cent of the global forest carbon stocks. The decomposition of deadwood is largely governed by climate with decomposer groups—such as microorganisms and insects—contributing to variations in the decomposition rates. Globally, the net efect of insects may account for 29 per cent of the carbon fux from deadwood, which suggests a functional importance of insects in the decomposition of deadwood and the carbon cycle.