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Forests accumulate and store large amounts of carbon (C), and a sub6 R2 p- x: K& Q- f5 x! n
stantial fraction of this stock is contained in deadwood. This transient pool is subject 7 l( {0 ~" ]) uto decomposition by deadwood-associated organisms, and in this process it contrib " f2 h1 |9 u' I s# U. \6 i9 i' yutes to CO2 7 \7 K, Y. h l4 A- Cemissions. Although fungi and bacteria are known to colonize dead: ^. G6 x' ?6 R) S9 x( W
wood, little is known about the microbial processes that mediate carbon and nitro& K1 `* ~: {* Y9 U) p- Z
gen (N) cycling in deadwood. In this study, using a combination of metagenomics,, l e5 \) z( b2 J! ?7 G
metatranscriptomics, and nutrient flflux measurements, we demonstrate that the decom( c: ?# u: P6 j9 u' j7 b) S
position of deadwood reflflects the complementary roles played by fungi and bacteria.4 C: H' r2 h8 M( B1 H
Fungi were found to dominate the decomposition of deadwood and particularly its re$ O3 x% I- z& B+ ~: N f8 B W' b
calcitrant fractions, while several bacterial taxa participate in N accumulation in dead 0 H# z# t( G. l/ q0 w8 iwood through N fifixation, being dependent on fungal activity with respect to deadwood ) T% d' |" I3 X' ~6 E" Jcolonization and C supply. Conversely, bacterial N fifixation helps to decrease the con 2 e( o- d# Y- p& i3 q4 Hstraints of deadwood decomposition for fungi. Both the CO2 efflflux and N accumulation1 w# q5 a2 @- t- a4 O: d) g
that are a result of a joint action of deadwood bacteria and fungi may be signifificant for0 ^$ t. m+ k( n4 ~
nutrient cycling at ecosystem levels. Especially in boreal forests with low N stocks, dead7 W- ^8 o+ u$ ^8 ~% k; L6 I
wood retention may help to improve the nutritional status and fertility of soils. : a7 _, }' c/ S: w6 @- v; K0 ?0 R2 a. F
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