Stage-Specific Differences in Fungal Community Structure and Functional Potential During Litter Decomposition in a...

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Microbiology
• Soil Science

Background:

• Litter-inhabiting fungi are crucial for organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling in ecosystems.
• Understanding fungal community dynamics in unique habitats like volcanic landforms is vital for ecological restoration.
• Lava plateau ecosystems present unique challenges and opportunities for studying soil fungal ecology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the dynamics of litter-inhabiting fungal communities across different forest types and decomposition stages on a volcanic lava plateau.
• To identify the key environmental drivers influencing fungal community assembly and function.
• To provide insights into plant-litter-microorganism interactions for ecological restoration strategies.

Main Methods:

• High-throughput ITS sequencing was used to analyze fungal community composition and diversity.
• Physicochemical analyses were performed on litter samples to assess environmental properties.
• Redundancy analysis (RDA) and LEfSe were employed to identify key drivers and biomarkers.

Main Results:

• Fungal communities differed significantly across forest stand types and decomposition stages.
• Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were dominant, with specific genera identified as core components.
• Litter moisture content and carbon content were identified as primary drivers of fungal community shifts, influencing assembly processes.

Conclusions:

• Fungal community assembly shifts from moisture-driven colonization to carbon quality screening during litter decomposition on volcanic plateaus.
• Litter physicochemical properties significantly shape fungal communities, impacting ecosystem functions.
• These findings offer a microecological basis for understanding soil ecosystem processes and guiding restoration efforts in volcanic environments.