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Background and objectives: Forests are one of the most significant sources of species diversity in the biosphere, playing a crucial role in protecting endangered species. With a total of 115 indigenous plant species, Hyrcanian forests are considered one of the most valuable ecosystems in Iran and the world. Deadwood is one of the significant structural characteristics of these natural forests. Deadwood, as habitat trees, plays an essential role in maintaining biodiversity. Saproxylic species are invertebrates that depend on rotting wood, deadwood (standing or fallen), fungi, and other living organisms during part of their life cycle. Therefore, this study investigates and analyzes the need to replace the proposed word خشک دارزی instead of "saproxylic." Methodology: The method in this study involved a review of previous studies and the authors' research related to the comprehensive plan of saproxylic species diversity in northern Iran. Based on this, the study investigates and evaluates the most important reasons for using the Persian word خشک دارزی instead of "saproxylic" in seven different cases. These include a specialized review of the word "saproxylic," examining the distinction between obligatory and optional users of deadwood, estimating species related to deadwood, analyzing the variables affecting the abundance of saproxylic individuals, the relationship between the loss of biodiversity of Saproxylic species and the absence of deadwood, forest plantations and saproxylic individuals, and comparing the word "خشک دارزی with other similar words. Results: The specialized examination of the word "saproxylic" showed that this term forms the basis of biodiversity assessment in deadwood and describes insects living in decaying wood. Saproxylic organisms (hereafter: خشک دارزی ) directly and indirectly use deadwood as a source of energy or habitat. Twenty to twenty-five percent of the insects living in the forest are species related to deadwood. The results of examining the variables affecting the abundance of Saproxylic individuals showed that deadwood volume, the degree of deadwood decay, and the volume of living trees had significant effects on the frequency of Saproxylic individuals. Various studies also showed the relationship between the loss of biodiversity of Saproxylic individuals and the absence of deadwood, with traps (window and pit) always installed where deadwood is present. On the other hand, although plantations for wood production are one of the most important sources of wood on a wide scale, there is no sign of deadwood and, consequently, no presence of saproxylic individuals in these areas compared to natural forests. While the meaning of deadwood is a dried tree, in nature, deadwood is not always a completely dead tree. In many cases, only part of the trunk or crown of the tree is dead, while other parts are healthy. This term is known to all experts in forest ecology as referring to any part of a completely dead tree, aligning with the term deadwood. Conclusion: Therefore, the word "خشک دارزی instead of "Saproxylic" can effectively describe this category of species in the Persian language. Finally, the necessity of replacing non-Persian words with suitable Persian words and equating these words in scientific research writings, while preserving their expressive meaning in Persian, can be a positive step towards specialized vocabulary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, in near-to-nature forestry, biodiversity conservation, with emphasis on forests conservation, as a valuable genetic resource, has received much attention. Deadwood, as a habitat, plays a key role in diversity and abundance of saproxylic fungi in forest ecosystems. The uncontrolled exploitation, and the management programs applied in forests, have significantly reduced the deadwood volumes and diversity, jeopardizing diversity and abundance of saproxylic fungi. In this study, 29 saproxylic fungal species belonging to 15 families from the phylum Basidiomycota were collected from Asalem forest, Guilan province, northern Iran. The recovered species were identified based upon their morphological characters, using available identification keys. The results showed that the family Polyporaceae (31%) and the species Trametes versicolor (18.4%) have the highest abundance between other families and identified species, respectively. The importance of saproxylic fungi, introduction of deadwood, as a habitat and a key factor in biodiversity of saproxylic fungi in forest ecosystems, have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deadwood is commonly known as an essential structural and functional element in forest communities. Thus it is important to understand its role and natural dynamics to improve the forest management strategies in both managed and unmanaged forests. This study analyzed both qualitative and quantitative characteristics of deadwoods asindicatorsof stand developmental stages in the unmanaged forests of Kheiroud in Mazandaran province, northern Iran. Three sample plots were established in the initial, optimal and decay stages, in which attributes such as diameter at breast height, height of all standing and dead trees as well as the decomposition stage of dead trees were recorded. Results showed differencesin the amount of deadwood per ha as well as in volume, type andsizeofthe coarse woody debris (CWD) in all the three stages. The frequency of snags was higher than logs in initial and decay stages, whereasthe proportion of logs was greater than snags in the optimal stage. Moreover, maximum and minimum volume ofthe CWD was observed in the initial and optimal stages. Amongst the species, beech returned the highest number and volume of deadwood in all three stages. In addition, the entire deadwood showed diameter

Due to their significance for carbon sequestration and ecosystem management, information on decay dynamic of deadwood and its total decay time are of great importance to ecologists and forest managers. This study was conducted in Kheirud forest of Nowshahr to study the decay process of beech and hornbeam deadwood. Therefore, 72 beech and hornbeam dead trees were randomly selected. For each sample tree, information on species, diameter, decay classes and slope gradient were recorded. The cubic cut samples with 5 cm length, width and height in two perpendicular aspects were taken from each decaying stump. 30 and 16 years of decaying time were shown to be needed for 95% dry mass of dead beech and hornbeam logs, respectively. In addition, the required periods for passing through all stages of decay for beech and hornbeam dead trees were 27 and 21 years, respectively. A strong relation (R2=0.8) between density and decay stage of dead trees was indicated. Therefore, the density of dead wood was concluded to significantly decline with increased decay stage in both species.

Deadwood is widely recog­nized as an extremely important structural and functional component of forest communities. Therefore, understanding its role and dynamics are important to improve forest management strategies in both managed and unmanaged forests. The aim of this study was to analyze the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of dead trees in the mid-succession stage in intact mixed oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forests of Kheyrood,, Mazandaran province. Three one-ha sample plots were laid out in compartment 310 of Gorazbon district, in which a number of quantitative (diameter at breast height≥7.5cm and height) and qualitative (species, type of deadwood (log or snag) and decay class) characteristics were recorded. Our results indicated the mean volume of deadwood of 37.8 m3 ha-1. In addition, common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) possessed the highest frequency (64%) of the deadwood among the species. The frequency and volume proportions of logs were 74.7% and 69.3%, respectively, and the maximum amount of deadwood was observed in the large timber size (50-75 cm). As conclusion, forest management planning should pass an adequate attention to succession stage and the amount of deadwood to guarantee the health, long lasting productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystem.

The process of natural regeneration including establishment of seedling under dead and mother trees ensure sustainable productivity in the forests. Qualifying the impact of dead trees on the density of establishment seedling in closed and open canopy in a mixed beech forest was studied. According to the field inspection, compartments 112 and 214 in Kheiroudkenar forests were chosen for sampling. Dead trees were considered as the center of sampling plot with different radius. Also in a 20-30 meter distance from dead trees, sound mother trees of same species were chosen. At the center of each plot, seedlings were counted in a circular sample plots with diffident radius. The results show that number of beech seedlings is higher than that of hornbeam and there is significant difference between establishments of seedling between dead and sound trees in an open canopy. Seedling density in open stand is higher than that under mother trees. Frequency of seedling around the dead trees was maximum. The higher decay class, the higher is the establishment of seedling. Also the number of seedlings is higher in small sample plots (100m2) which are closer to the dead trees. The results showed that the maintenance of dead trees is important and effective in establishment of natural regeneration in mixed beech forest.