Fig. 1.

Traits explaining wood decomposition across 34 fungal isolates under laboratory conditions. Decomposition was positively correlated with extension rate and combative ability, but negatively with hyphal density, moisture niche width, and the production of various enzymes (A and B). Bars represent Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients (ρ) between the geometric mean rate of decomposition (percentage mass loss over 122 d, measured at 10 °C, 16 °C, and 22 °C) and each trait, with dark shading indicating statistically significant correlations at α = 0.05. Extension rate (mm⋅day⁻¹) was a strong predictor of decomposition across all three temperatures (C), and acid phosphatase production (D) had the strongest relationship with decomposition of all enzymes (measured at 22 °C). Points in C and D represent individual fungal isolates (each occurring 3 times in [C]), and lines and shading indicate model predictions ± SEM (full model details in Materials and Methods).