Composition, Predicted Functions, and Co-occurrence Networks of Bacteria and Fungi in Hummock Wetlands of Northeastern Inner Mongolia, China

Wetland microhabitats, varying in water table position, pH, and biochemical properties, have been understudied in terms of their influence on soil microbial community structure. This study employed amplicon-based gene sequencing to investigate the responses of both fungal and bacterial communities to habitat changes in northeastern Inner Mongolia, China. The results showed that while α-diversity indices (Shannon and Chao1) did not significantly differ between hummocks and hollows, β-diversity analyses revealed distinct microbial community structures in these habitats. Bacterial communities were primarily influenced by soil pH, EC, and AP, whereas fungal communities were affected by pH, AKP, MBC, MBN, and AP. Bacterial interactions were predominant in hollows, whereas fungal interactions were predominant in hummocks. Hummocks significantly enhanced amino acid metabolism function, whereas hollows significantly increased the abundance of endophyte-litter saprotroph-soil saprotroph-undefined saprotroph. This study underscores the importance of habitats in regulating microbial networks and functions, thereby enhancing our understanding of the influence of microhabitats, such as hummocks, on wetland ecosystem structure and function.