Microbial community succession mediated by planting patterns in the Loess Plateau, China: Implications for ecological restoration.

Microbial community succession plays a key role in restoring fragile ecosystems and mitigating ecological degradation. However, the mechanisms by which vegetation restoration promotes ecological restoration and microbial community reconstruction in degraded soils remain unclear. This study utilized...

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Main Authors: Weiqian Li, Jinjun Cai, Gang Chen, Yitong Liu, Xia Wu, Yangyang Bai, Yan Wu, Tianning Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324786
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author Weiqian Li
Jinjun Cai
Gang Chen
Yitong Liu
Xia Wu
Yangyang Bai
Yan Wu
Tianning Wang
author_facet Weiqian Li
Jinjun Cai
Gang Chen
Yitong Liu
Xia Wu
Yangyang Bai
Yan Wu
Tianning Wang
author_sort Weiqian Li
collection DOAJ
description Microbial community succession plays a key role in restoring fragile ecosystems and mitigating ecological degradation. However, the mechanisms by which vegetation restoration promotes ecological restoration and microbial community reconstruction in degraded soils remain unclear. This study utilized metagenomic high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze microbial community dynamics in soil samples collected from eight different planting patterns in the ecologically degraded areas of the Chinese Loess Plateau. The results indicated significant effects of terrain location and restorative cropping patterns on soil microbial abundance and function. In particular, soil C and N nutrient abundance was highest in mixed forest soils, and the total number of microorganisms was highest and more diverse. Therefore, through vegetation restoration, mixed forests significantly enhanced regional ecological functions. Notably, creating mixed forests with both trees and shrubs resulted in optimal ecological functions, providing a valuable direction for vegetation construction and structural optimization in the region.
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institution OA Journals
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-a1f3d15e6cea40daa223c0b949bb13472025-08-20T02:33:44ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01205e032478610.1371/journal.pone.0324786Microbial community succession mediated by planting patterns in the Loess Plateau, China: Implications for ecological restoration.Weiqian LiJinjun CaiGang ChenYitong LiuXia WuYangyang BaiYan WuTianning WangMicrobial community succession plays a key role in restoring fragile ecosystems and mitigating ecological degradation. However, the mechanisms by which vegetation restoration promotes ecological restoration and microbial community reconstruction in degraded soils remain unclear. This study utilized metagenomic high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze microbial community dynamics in soil samples collected from eight different planting patterns in the ecologically degraded areas of the Chinese Loess Plateau. The results indicated significant effects of terrain location and restorative cropping patterns on soil microbial abundance and function. In particular, soil C and N nutrient abundance was highest in mixed forest soils, and the total number of microorganisms was highest and more diverse. Therefore, through vegetation restoration, mixed forests significantly enhanced regional ecological functions. Notably, creating mixed forests with both trees and shrubs resulted in optimal ecological functions, providing a valuable direction for vegetation construction and structural optimization in the region.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324786
spellingShingle Weiqian Li
Jinjun Cai
Gang Chen
Yitong Liu
Xia Wu
Yangyang Bai
Yan Wu
Tianning Wang
Microbial community succession mediated by planting patterns in the Loess Plateau, China: Implications for ecological restoration.
PLoS ONE
title Microbial community succession mediated by planting patterns in the Loess Plateau, China: Implications for ecological restoration.
title_full Microbial community succession mediated by planting patterns in the Loess Plateau, China: Implications for ecological restoration.
title_fullStr Microbial community succession mediated by planting patterns in the Loess Plateau, China: Implications for ecological restoration.
title_full_unstemmed Microbial community succession mediated by planting patterns in the Loess Plateau, China: Implications for ecological restoration.
title_short Microbial community succession mediated by planting patterns in the Loess Plateau, China: Implications for ecological restoration.
title_sort microbial community succession mediated by planting patterns in the loess plateau china implications for ecological restoration
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324786
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