Single-species and two-species interactions.

Total N in needles and mycelium (Total N), total fungal biomass C produced and needle C decomposed (mass loss + mycelial C) of old litter and new litter, inoculated with Gymnopus androsaceus, Mycena epipterygia or Helotiales (new litter only). Old and new litters were combined after inoculation with the same (single-species) or different (two-species) fungal species. All data is given per g of needles at the start of the experiment. ‘Old litter’ represents needles incubated for a total of 10 month and ‘New litter’ represents needles which were placed on top of the old litter after 5 months. Data are mean ± SEM (for numbers of replicates, see Fig. 2).