Wood-colonizing fungal community response to forest restoration thinnings in a Pinus tabuliformis plantation in northern China

•Forest thinning changed fungal community composition in wood on and in the soil.•OTU richness was greater on the soil surface as compared to the mineral soil.•On the soil surface, OTU richness declined as thinning intensity increased.•Fungal species richness in the mineral soil exhibited no clear thinning impact.•Overall, aspen stakes had lower OTU richness.