Shifts in fungal communities during decomposition of boreal forest litter

We characterized changes in fungal communities over 2 yr of litter decomposition in an Alaskan boreal forest, and then related them to ecological and phylogenetic traits of taxa. Senescent leaves of Populus tremuloides and Picea mariana were placed on the forest floor during leaf fall, and were collected 9, 10, 12, and 24 months later to assess the abundance of active fungal taxa. Fungal community composition varied over time and between litter types. The preferred decomposition stage and preferred litter type of individual taxa were each phylogenetically conserved. Taxa that target glutamate and tannin-protein complexes were more common at later decomposition stages. Finally, communities were overdispersed phylogenetically and in terms of substrate use, indicating that competition may have occurred. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and The British Mycological Society. All rights reserved.