Deciphering a tangled web: microbial decomposition of mycelial necromass and its implications for ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling

Forest ecosystems are crucial in mitigating climate change by acting as carbon sinks and providing renewable biomass.

However, the decomposition processes of microbial residues, which contribute significantly to soil organic carbon and nitrogen, remain largely unknown. This research examines the decomposition of mycelial residues and their implications for carbon and nutrient cycling.

The project´s objectives include determining the impact of microbial communities on carbon and nutrient persistence from fungal residues in soil, depending on the chemical properties of the mycelial necromass.

A combination of stable isotope tracing, soil organic matter fractionation, microbial functional group manipulation, and bacterial and fungal functional profiling will be used across four interrelated work packages.

This study´s significance lies in accurately determining the roles of microbial decomposers in fungal residue degradation and its effects on forest carbon and nutrient cycling.

An interdisciplinary team of scientists will collaborate on the project, including experts in microbial ecology, physiology, soil science, stable isotope tracing, infrared spectroscopy, soil process modeling, and forest ecology.

The findings will enhance our understanding of the microbial component´s role in forest biogeochemical cycles, particularly in the decomposition of organic matter and the persistence of microbial-derived carbon and nitrogen in soil.