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Abstract
Deadwood is an essential component of forest ecosystems. Saproxylic organisms, or organisms that depend on deadwood, influence the decomposition rates of woody debris and also contribute to important ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling. This study investigated the insect and fungal communities associated with decaying oak and pine trunks within a longleaf pine ecosystem. We reared and identified Coleoptera and Hemiptera from oak and pine trunks and surveyed these trunks for macrofungal fruiting bodies. NMDS revealed distinct differences between insect and fungal communities in oak versus pine trunks. Insect species composition was significantly influenced by tree genus, with weak but statistically insignificant effects from deadwood volume. Fungal communities were also strongly influenced by tree genus, with additional significant contributions from experimental block and deadwood volume. These findings underscore the importance of maintaining diverse woody debris types in forest ecosystems to support biodiversity.