Why is hard, fresh wood generally indigestible, meaning woodlice thrive only where rot has begun?
Answer
Moisture must initiate the rot process first
Woodlice require decaying wood because the structural integrity of hard, fresh wood renders it indigestible to them. Their specialization lies in breaking down cellulose, a process that is greatly aided, or often initiated, by dampness and the action of fungi. Moisture softens the wood structure and promotes the initial breakdown of complex polymers, making the cellulose accessible to the woodlouse's digestive enzymes. In essence, they are attracted to the decomposition process already underway, not the sound structural material itself, which is why structural damage assumption is usually inaccurate.
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