$ \7 C) T( }& r {- d5 b1 T2 r r( b1 r8 c3 K$ ~: n& N7 W" t
n$ z r! J ^* R C( ~ @9 O; qForests accumulate and store large amounts of carbon (C), and a sub 3 H! {8 W5 T3 fstantial fraction of this stock is contained in deadwood. This transient pool is subject . `. [" z" q$ eto decomposition by deadwood-associated organisms, and in this process it contrib 1 B6 ]! x) c" a! {$ j0 [- Iutes to CO2 - @' k5 N6 h6 M: p' Memissions. Although fungi and bacteria are known to colonize dead4 h; \% v Y! u" V( n2 Y$ |+ K
wood, little is known about the microbial processes that mediate carbon and nitro9 s8 M9 x# ], p* U! L1 c+ ]
gen (N) cycling in deadwood. In this study, using a combination of metagenomics, ' U; i0 H) w: V( kmetatranscriptomics, and nutrient flflux measurements, we demonstrate that the decom 0 k# X3 v; a# O% S' Dposition of deadwood reflflects the complementary roles played by fungi and bacteria. 1 L1 f1 V6 ]. w5 |# O& TFungi were found to dominate the decomposition of deadwood and particularly its re& x+ y$ |0 y T7 t* l8 h
calcitrant fractions, while several bacterial taxa participate in N accumulation in dead * [3 q. _, W; f, C' lwood through N fifixation, being dependent on fungal activity with respect to deadwood9 U. B$ i* L6 x2 V
colonization and C supply. Conversely, bacterial N fifixation helps to decrease the con7 M: ]; G1 Z* H7 s, r2 T
straints of deadwood decomposition for fungi. Both the CO2 efflflux and N accumulation5 R/ d9 D! n5 e" `6 K
that are a result of a joint action of deadwood bacteria and fungi may be signifificant for+ X& T& O9 P/ g a
nutrient cycling at ecosystem levels. Especially in boreal forests with low N stocks, dead `0 x4 o; \* a
wood retention may help to improve the nutritional status and fertility of soils. " [6 q @1 y2 P; y1 ?5 {! b, e; d 1 w4 S/ V6 _2 y) X$ n" d& g: M2 h0 _+ O. f- d5 t+ D