Fungal response towards bark beetle infections in Norway spruce individuals

In recent years, climate change let to mass infestations of bark beetles with tremendous economic and ecological consequences. Fungi as independent kingdom and as key players in nutrient cycles fulfill important roles in forest ecosystems.The main aim of this study was in understanding the impact of bark beetle infection on fungal diversity and communities in soil, litter and wood of Norway spruce trees (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst., Pinaceae) at two infestation stages.In January, 2020, early and late infested trees were sampled within one forest plot belonging to the Biodioversity Exploratories in Hainich-Duen in Central Germany. Using Illumina MiSeq, the fungal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) was sequenced.