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Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) has significantly increased knowledge of microbial communities and their distribution. However, it is still not common to apply NGS technology to microbial conservation. We sought to use NGS technologies to evaluate conservation strategies for wood‐inhabiting fungi. Evaluating a deadwood experiment 3 years after it was established, we specifically examined which tree species combinations promoted the highest richness of wood‐inhabiting fungi. Deadwood enrichment was an effective strategy and logs of 6 tree species, either those with the highest wood‐inhabiting fungal α and γ diversity or those with the highest β diversity, maintained >1,000 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) spread over a wide range of taxonomic groups. In comparison, a conservation strategy based only on the results of sporocarp surveys yielded 591 OTUs. This result highlights the need to use NGS approaches to inform microbial conservation strategies. We also determined that 5 tree species with the highest saproxylic beetle γ diversity simultaneously conserved wood‐inhabiting fungi. Apart from deadwood volume, we suggest data on deadwood quality and species also be included as indicators, especially for wood‐inhabiting fungal diversity, and incorporated quickly in forest assessment and monitoring systems in Central Europe. Article impact statement: Enrichment of the species diversity of deadwood is an effective strategy for wood‐inhabiting fungal conservation in temperate forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Nitrogen deposition can strongly affect biodiversity, but its specific effects on terrestrial microbial communities and their roles for ecosystem functions and processes are still unclear. Here, we investigated the impacts of N deposition on wood‐inhabiting fungi (WIF) and their related ecological functions and processes in a highly N‐limited deadwood habitat. Based on high‐throughput sequencing, enzymatic activity assay and measurements of wood decomposition rates, we show that N addition has no significant effect on the overall WIF community composition or on related ecosystem functions and processes in this habitat. Nevertheless, we detected several switches in presence/absence (gain/loss) of wood‐inhabiting fungal OTUs due to the effect of N addition. The responses of WIF differed from previous studies carried out with fungi living in soil and leaf‐litter, which represent less N‐limited fungal habitats. Our results suggest that adaptation at different levels of organization and functional redundancy may explain this buffered response and the resistant microbial‐mediated ecosystem function and processes against N deposition in highly N‐limited habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]