To view and download the official document:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/3073

[Note from the webmaster.  Some things that need to be further defined, beyond this document, are "dead", symplastless tree, heartrot concept, heal verses closure, xylem, sapwood, nutrient, essential elements, feeder root. e.g., when nutrient is used does it mean an essential element or a carbon based compound?]

See these and other words at the Techno Tree Biology Dictionary at www.treedictionary.com. 
JAK

Maser, Chris; Tarrant, Robert F.; Trappe, James M.; Franklin, Jerry F., tech. eds. 1988.  From the forest to the sea: a story of fallen trees. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-229. 153 p.

Large, fallen trees in various stages of decay contribute much-needed diversity of ecological processes to terrestrial, aquatic, estuarine, coastal beach, and open ocean habitats in the Pacific Northwest.  Intensive utilization and management can deprive these habitats of large, fallen trees.  This publication presents sound information for managers making resource management decisions on the impact of this loss on habitat diversity and on ecological processes that have an impact on long-term ecosystem productivity.

Keywords: Decomposition, fallen trees, habitat diversity, ecosystem function, land, water, sea.