Before they rot and fall, the outer layers of a large dead tree provide nutrition to other living creatures. The heartwood, on the other hand, may stand for as long as two or three years depending on the type of tree, and particularly tall ones often attract flying squirrels who build nests in their crowns. The root area, too, has a function, often serving as a den to mammals.
一棵枯掉的大樹，在未腐爛傾倒之前，肥美的邊材是生物啃食的養分，至於心材，依不同樹種，可以支撐至少兩、三年，攀天巨木更可以招來飛鼠在上層樹冠鑿洞為家，根部則是哺乳動物的棲所。