Latitudinal Patterns of the Early Stages of Woody Debris Decay in the Forest Zone of West Siberia

A large data set (sample size >4000) of the decomposition rates of coarse woody debris was collected in field mass loss experiments along the macro-regional profile crossing the entire forest zone of the West Siberian plain (Russia). The profile passed through the entire latitudinal variety of boreal forest ecosystems from forest tundra in the North (67°) to forest steppe in the South (55°). The latitudinal pattern of the initial stage (3–11 yr) of woody debris decay is established, and the relative contribution of environmental factors and substrate quality to the decomposition rate is assessed. The data presented have no analogues in Russia or abroad either by volume or by the geographic coverage.