A large variety of wood-decay fungi are active in all types of woody tissues from heartwood through to twigs and roots. All produce fruiting bodies on the outside of the decaying wood and above ground, which are exploited by this assemblage type.
Many species feed primarily on the fungal spores while others burrow into the fruit body itself. Some species specialise in the fruit bodies of particular fungal taxa, but the majority are generalists. The soft gill fungi in particular support a wide variety of invertebrates, while the tougher and woodier fruit bodies host a more specialist fauna.