The process of succession can be a major driving force in sculpting ecological communities over time. Decomposers play a crucial role in forest succession, recycling nutrients from fallen logs back into the ecosystem. In this study, we examined the community of plants, fungi, and invertebrates living in fallen log microhabitats across decomposition stages in a mixed conifer forest. We predicted there would be a shift in species composition among decomposer communities in Douglas fir logs across

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... varying degrees of decay. There was greater species richness of fungi, mosses and invertebrates across decompositional stages, which suggests a pattern of community-wide succession. Decomposers are critical regulators of forest succession, and the diversity exhibited within these cryptic communities may be essential for maintaining forest ecosystem health.