$ |( g* u, S; gForests accumulate and store large amounts of carbon (C), and a sub ( ?: I6 d1 W. N' l- ^stantial fraction of this stock is contained in deadwood. This transient pool is subject! K( h+ b" H: b7 p6 o! J. j
to decomposition by deadwood-associated organisms, and in this process it contrib$ T& N8 [' t5 q) o2 P8 N
utes to CO2 7 i) M3 `" e8 @; l' [
emissions. Although fungi and bacteria are known to colonize dead* h" h9 F" f/ U9 \! _
wood, little is known about the microbial processes that mediate carbon and nitro . q2 o9 }5 d5 E1 w% o7 y% pgen (N) cycling in deadwood. In this study, using a combination of metagenomics,! h: L+ I5 s2 j
metatranscriptomics, and nutrient flflux measurements, we demonstrate that the decom 4 L f8 x" a4 G0 x3 g) _, O. D9 [: Mposition of deadwood reflflects the complementary roles played by fungi and bacteria.+ M+ Z. d( l: g/ y8 ]* C1 Q
Fungi were found to dominate the decomposition of deadwood and particularly its re ( P% W2 |) M: A" P9 _# I9 K. W! ~9 v4 ocalcitrant fractions, while several bacterial taxa participate in N accumulation in dead7 E9 b7 _, a2 S% _# ^, d" [
wood through N fifixation, being dependent on fungal activity with respect to deadwood! o% U1 @- b% j" U8 M6 E
colonization and C supply. Conversely, bacterial N fifixation helps to decrease the con# }" }! Z' C6 q
straints of deadwood decomposition for fungi. Both the CO2 efflflux and N accumulation 9 Q7 ` K5 `& Z( _6 @4 n. Wthat are a result of a joint action of deadwood bacteria and fungi may be signifificant for ( G2 }9 _1 O8 d7 h+ Lnutrient cycling at ecosystem levels. Especially in boreal forests with low N stocks, dead8 Y$ E- @$ l1 Q% ~% N9 q" v/ j; k
wood retention may help to improve the nutritional status and fertility of soils. % B* p- h) @/ \9 s% y% l% k3 t# Y# o0 @, X# i; K# g7 n