Data from: Lodato et al. (2021) Functional importance and diversity of fungi during standing grass litter decomposition

Although microbial participation in litter decomposition is widely known
within terrestrial soils, the role and significance of microorganisms
during the aerial standing litter phase of decomposition remains poorly
investigated. We examined the fungi inhabiting standing leaf litter of
Schizachyrium scoparium and Schizachyrium tenerum in a Longleaf Pine
savanna ecosystem and estimated their contribution to litter
decomposition. We identified fungal phylotypes associated with leaf litter
and quantified leaf C mass loss, fungal biomass production, and microbial
respiration during decomposition. These data were used to construct
budgets estimating C flow into and through fungi. Significant losses in S.
scoparium (55%) and S. tenerum (67%) leaf C mass were observed during
standing decomposition along with concomitant increases in fungal biomass,
which reached a maximum of 36 and 33 mgC/g detrital C, respectively.
Cumulative fungal production during decomposition totaled 99±6 mgC/g
initial detrital C in S. scoparium and 73±5 mgC/g initial detrital C in S.
tenerum, indicating that 18 and 11% of the litter C was converted into
fungal biomass, respectively. Corresponding estimates of cumulative fungal
respiration totaled 106±7 and 174±11 mgC/g initial detrital C in S.
scoparium and S. tenerum, respectively. Next generation sequencing
identified several fungal phylotypes, with the majority of sequences
belonging to the Ascomycota (Dothideomycetes) and Basidiomycota
(Agaricomycetes). Fungal phylotypes were similar between litter species
and changed over time, showing a successional pattern. These findings
extend our understanding of fungal processes to standing litter in
terrestrial ecosystems, and highlight the quantitative importance of fungi
in C cycling processes.