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Forests accumulate and store large amounts of carbon (C), and a sub % ]1 n$ p; J# d, t$ [stantial fraction of this stock is contained in deadwood. This transient pool is subject ( r' O) x- Q# c. lto decomposition by deadwood-associated organisms, and in this process it contrib ) e" { c; b/ y1 ~8 _: y& Outes to CO2 & Q9 U( F) c% j! F# _emissions. Although fungi and bacteria are known to colonize dead, M0 N k: ]9 w2 U0 h
wood, little is known about the microbial processes that mediate carbon and nitro / c+ D( \, l4 ~3 N, }" N1 c5 d3 [$ `gen (N) cycling in deadwood. In this study, using a combination of metagenomics,9 a$ k- i4 ?, n! _ I; u- U
metatranscriptomics, and nutrient flflux measurements, we demonstrate that the decom+ ] I- s+ `& {. ?; B$ [
position of deadwood reflflects the complementary roles played by fungi and bacteria. 2 _. g! k9 \$ U; F3 x+ VFungi were found to dominate the decomposition of deadwood and particularly its re+ [2 g( t* Z$ B
calcitrant fractions, while several bacterial taxa participate in N accumulation in dead 0 G8 z! v5 e/ }wood through N fifixation, being dependent on fungal activity with respect to deadwood - B0 {# h" h1 G' p( v' jcolonization and C supply. Conversely, bacterial N fifixation helps to decrease the con 3 R7 b; g% V Y; } C) \straints of deadwood decomposition for fungi. Both the CO2 efflflux and N accumulation # V5 C7 c4 i: w. Z c8 [that are a result of a joint action of deadwood bacteria and fungi may be signifificant for 0 E/ t, W" x0 V9 @nutrient cycling at ecosystem levels. Especially in boreal forests with low N stocks, dead , Z1 p, s& d8 v/ t9 Z! j7 Jwood retention may help to improve the nutritional status and fertility of soils.: N7 S6 V9 e2 i8 l5 L* i9 l: Y& e
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