Earth system models, experiments, and data address the biosphere in increasingly complex ways to represent terrestrial carbon and nutrient cycling through vegetation distributions, plant mortality, wildfire, and microbial decomposition. However, animals also have large-scale impacts on biogeochemical cycling. For example, termites, ants, beetles, rodents and hares drive wood turnover in their respective ecosystems with large-scale carbon cycle consequences. We solicit observational and experimental studies of wood and litter turnover agents, particularly with regional to large-scale consequences (e.g. woody plant herbivory, mortality and decomposition and interactions with species distributions, wood traits, and wildfire). We also welcome modeling studies, including those that bridge scales (e.g., from populations to regional impacts). Through insights from field studies and model simulations, we aim to improve our understanding of how insects and other animals impact woody plant turnover in the Earth system and how to efficiently incorporate these effects into Earth system models.