+ ^( C: j4 W" }0 aForests accumulate and store large amounts of carbon (C), and a sub" g2 L V% K2 @8 r3 O% X. B1 x1 F$ q
stantial fraction of this stock is contained in deadwood. This transient pool is subject' Y. s$ R6 G! I; n
to decomposition by deadwood-associated organisms, and in this process it contrib- \( L% O4 B* j' I
utes to CO2 7 Z* o- Y& }9 w( ] q8 Temissions. Although fungi and bacteria are known to colonize dead8 i4 X; a7 M: Y" q$ H
wood, little is known about the microbial processes that mediate carbon and nitro 4 E6 L7 V* I, H" l% {2 lgen (N) cycling in deadwood. In this study, using a combination of metagenomics, & A1 ~0 u0 p4 _9 m$ Q* L6 _8 L8 f( {metatranscriptomics, and nutrient flflux measurements, we demonstrate that the decom) E$ g2 H7 K9 ?' Z7 R" u% j
position of deadwood reflflects the complementary roles played by fungi and bacteria.& T+ E3 Y; C2 Q3 k5 c/ B' P; S3 z5 `
Fungi were found to dominate the decomposition of deadwood and particularly its re- n, u! W1 ^" ?: j3 t: g1 f" X( U- u
calcitrant fractions, while several bacterial taxa participate in N accumulation in dead, `; U: j/ O, k0 G/ R
wood through N fifixation, being dependent on fungal activity with respect to deadwood % e. x# L; W4 i2 Z( b2 icolonization and C supply. Conversely, bacterial N fifixation helps to decrease the con- O0 }! m- {9 h; u
straints of deadwood decomposition for fungi. Both the CO2 efflflux and N accumulation+ r" |* d6 ]3 \5 ~3 J9 o; ~
that are a result of a joint action of deadwood bacteria and fungi may be signifificant for : D' V1 k/ A9 D& Nnutrient cycling at ecosystem levels. Especially in boreal forests with low N stocks, dead 7 [5 L& |4 \+ P6 A4 ~$ Ywood retention may help to improve the nutritional status and fertility of soils./ X3 r5 G$ y9 A9 e- q' Z
* u2 b; e8 w( d, @3 p; ]& s7 ?: z% K