A Comparative Study on the Relationship Between Soil Organic Carbon and Soil Microbial Communities Under Alpine Tree and Shrub Vegetation

This study investigates the relationship between soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil microbial communities under various vegetation types within alpine ecosystems. Soils from three tree and three shrub communities in the Maixiu National Forest Park, Qinghai, China, were analyzed for SOC content and microbial community composition. Tree soils exhibited higher SOC content, particularly in the surface layers, which is associated with deeper root systems and greater belowground biomass. In contrast, shrub soils had lower SOC content, indicating faster carbon cycling. Fungal communities, particularly Ascomycetes, were positively correlated with SOC, while bacterial communities, including Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, were linked to rapid organic matter turnover. These findings highlight the role of vegetation type in regulating microbial communities and carbon dynamics in alpine soils.