Fungi are key drivers of soil formation and biogeochemical cycling in high-latitude Arctic ecosystems, with potentially crucial roles in future carbon storage. We identified 366 fungal species from metagenomic reads spanning 7 phyla and 24 classes, collectively accounting for 8.5% (ranging from 2.7% to 55.5%) of the total relative microbial abundance.
The most abundant fungal families were Scortechiniaceae and Hyaloscyphaceae, with the latter being well-documented decomposers of highly aromatic litter, such as conifer needles. Ecological Role These fungal communities play critical roles in organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil structure formation in the Arctic ecosystem.