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DBH
- an acronym for diameter at breast height. Foresters measure diameter at breast height or 4.5 feet from the ground.

Deciduous - shedding leaves annually or at a particular stage of growth.

Deciduous Forest - a type of forest containing trees that shed their leaves annually.

Decline - the part of a trees life when it becomes less healthy and does not recover.

Decompose - a process whereby dead plants and animals are broken into nutrients and minerals by decomposing organisms, heat, water, and wind.

Decomposer - an organism that gets its food energy from dead parts of other organisms; an important part of the energy cycle and food webs.

Defoliate - the removal of leaves off a tree.

Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) - the diameter of a tree 4.5 feet above ground level.

Diameter Tape -a type of measuring tape specially graduated so that diameter can be read when the tape is wrapped around a tree (circumference) without extra calculations.

Dicotyledon - one of the two classes of angiosperms; a plant whose embryo has two seed leaves.

Disease - an abnormal condition in a plant that affects the health, longevity, or economic value.

Disturbance - an event, either natural or by human-induced, that causes a change in the growth or existing condition of a forest.

Dominant - trees with crowns extending higher than other trees in the same stand. They receive full sunlight from above and partly from the sides.

Driftless Area - the area of Wisconsin never covered by glaciers. Located in southwest area of the state, also includes parts of MN, IA, and IL.

Duff Layer -layer of the forest containing partially decomposed organic material. Found beneath the litter layer on the forest floor.