Carbon concentration of standing and downed woody detritus: Effects of tree taxa, decay class, position, and tissue type

► Angiosperms had a significantly lower carbon concentration than gymnosperms. ► Carbon concentration of gymnosperms increased by ∼10% as decomposition proceeded. ► Angiosperms showed no change in carbon concentration as decomposition proceeded. ► Standing dead wood had higher carbon concentration than downed dead wood. ► Errors of up to 14% could be introduced by assuming a 50% concentration.