Development and characterization of a thermophilic, lignin degrading microbiota

•Thermophilic microbial communities were cultivated on a high-lignin feedstock.•Compositions of bacterial and fungal communities and enzyme activities were measured.•Relative abundances of lignin decomposition and tolerance genes were predicted.•The dominant bacterium identified with enrichment was from the genus Rubrobacter.•The dominant fungus identified with enrichment was from the genus Talaromyces.•Enriched and dominant bacteria contained lignin decomposition and tolerance genes.