" V3 n/ F: J# @( `/ B3 h- P8 c * K% |/ ^* V" h+ C* |4 E5 U' ^, a 4 O( t) L, u) y* J+ F; @& U* f( n! G, s
Forests accumulate and store large amounts of carbon (C), and a sub " W! @$ K- b4 J' Wstantial fraction of this stock is contained in deadwood. This transient pool is subject - t) a$ ~6 ]1 Z, f9 B' i pto decomposition by deadwood-associated organisms, and in this process it contrib x8 ~9 S, C5 C. M2 O a' p; Butes to CO2 3 v, q$ v, E' ^9 k) `# M/ d" z% v1 ]
emissions. Although fungi and bacteria are known to colonize dead+ X6 }' y- i( k3 g9 X- H
wood, little is known about the microbial processes that mediate carbon and nitro* V% z, S! k6 r' a3 I
gen (N) cycling in deadwood. In this study, using a combination of metagenomics, 2 c- Z9 E% }- kmetatranscriptomics, and nutrient flflux measurements, we demonstrate that the decom7 W; T) b1 z# Z: n' g* w
position of deadwood reflflects the complementary roles played by fungi and bacteria.5 L* Q/ ^7 m5 E" ^
Fungi were found to dominate the decomposition of deadwood and particularly its re- L+ d& a: O" O4 G% Q# Z
calcitrant fractions, while several bacterial taxa participate in N accumulation in dead- m4 _$ F: X" m: G- ?
wood through N fifixation, being dependent on fungal activity with respect to deadwood 4 t6 @& K. i: w z! k; Ycolonization and C supply. Conversely, bacterial N fifixation helps to decrease the con $ A7 c4 ?5 z9 f4 S/ |- H# Z9 k$ lstraints of deadwood decomposition for fungi. Both the CO2 efflflux and N accumulation * s& _1 O% E' n. q2 e! \0 q0 bthat are a result of a joint action of deadwood bacteria and fungi may be signifificant for 3 [( _8 h& H$ r) }- r0 z# Ynutrient cycling at ecosystem levels. Especially in boreal forests with low N stocks, dead4 u! o0 g) C4 n$ H! c ^
wood retention may help to improve the nutritional status and fertility of soils.# q* m$ s+ E7 @: T! V
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