Seasonal Variations in Soil Microbial Communities under Different Life-Form Habitats of Trees and Herbaceous Plants in Xingkai Lake Nature Reserve, China

Soil bacterial and fungal communities play critical roles in terrestrial ecosystem functioning across diverse temporal and spatial scales. However, comprehensive research on microbial seasonal adaptability across different vegetation habitats remains limited. This study selected surface soil samples from seven representative vegetation habitats in Northeast China, all located within national nature reserves, and classified the habitats according to plant life forms to analyze the response strategies of soil microorganisms. Results showed that soil microbial communities exhibited significant differences under different vegetation habitats, with the most notable variation in fungal diversity observed in tree habitats. Community composition of soil bacteria and fungi also exhibited significant seasonal changes, both tending to shift towards K-strategy traits. Plant life forms were better at predicting changes in soil microbial communities than seasonal variation, especially the changes in soil bacteria. Moreover, compared to soil properties, plant leaf and root nutrients are the main factors through which different seasons influence soil microbial communities. The findings emphasized the important role of different vegetation life forms in regulating soil microbial community composition and structure.