9 l1 d: [7 H0 R& eForests accumulate and store large amounts of carbon (C), and a sub3 q$ \' B/ `$ q' Y
stantial fraction of this stock is contained in deadwood. This transient pool is subject0 s- d8 L/ k% j
to decomposition by deadwood-associated organisms, and in this process it contrib % r w M" Y, X. B9 iutes to CO2 " w# X f0 D$ Z/ `7 `
emissions. Although fungi and bacteria are known to colonize dead4 N; T! }0 K l2 ~2 p6 R$ H
wood, little is known about the microbial processes that mediate carbon and nitro 9 @. {( \; I) b( I. `, r$ Cgen (N) cycling in deadwood. In this study, using a combination of metagenomics, " \" Y$ h. a: d4 k1 j' P- Gmetatranscriptomics, and nutrient flflux measurements, we demonstrate that the decom 6 T. w C: i8 F. N9 oposition of deadwood reflflects the complementary roles played by fungi and bacteria.5 @3 {2 r2 \; c' J- U' S: p8 T
Fungi were found to dominate the decomposition of deadwood and particularly its re6 d- y+ N `9 l/ _ v3 y/ J" Q- _3 ?& [
calcitrant fractions, while several bacterial taxa participate in N accumulation in dead4 i- K3 R- }0 E% s
wood through N fifixation, being dependent on fungal activity with respect to deadwood! F- x8 c. u6 S+ y
colonization and C supply. Conversely, bacterial N fifixation helps to decrease the con/ a# ~0 i! u/ f8 Y3 ^ n7 F
straints of deadwood decomposition for fungi. Both the CO2 efflflux and N accumulation& b9 ]8 C1 g9 y: G* B0 e
that are a result of a joint action of deadwood bacteria and fungi may be signifificant for7 a1 l5 ~* r+ {) e# t: k2 U) x: |9 N C
nutrient cycling at ecosystem levels. Especially in boreal forests with low N stocks, dead% U( g: l7 `& d- ~- [# e# }
wood retention may help to improve the nutritional status and fertility of soils. ( {, h7 C, i& C+ h, I, A2 {! p 3 W, E$ l1 M% x6 l/ h. O% V % `; k9 y$ K/ p& }4 `