Livestock-induced changes in soil properties and microbial dominance determine soil microbial diversity in a conifer forest

Abstract

The conifer forest in southwest China is the key habitat for the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and vital for ecosystem services, but is being degraded by livestock grazing. Grazing influences soil environment and biota through top-down control of aboveground-belowground systems. Despite its significance, the effects of livestock grazing on soil environment and microbial communities in forest ecosystems, particularly in biodiversity hotspots, remain underexplored compared to aboveground system. Using fence experiments and structural equation models, our study identified three key mechanisms through which livestock grazing affects soil environments and microbial dynamics in a primary coniferous forest in southwest China. Livestock grazing boosted soil bacterial diversity, and altered soil properties (reducing soil organic matter and increasing pH), which indirectly suppressed bacterial diversity and diminished the prevalence of the dominant fungal group, Basidiomycota. The decreased dominance of Basidiomycota fostered greater diversity, with increased representation of subordinate groups like Ascomycota and Actinobacteria, which suggested a significant "dominance effect" within soil microbial communities. The rapid response of soil environments and microbial diversity to short-term fencing experiments suggests that rotational grazing management could be beneficial for soil ecosystem restoration. We recommend incorporating soil and microbial indicators, such as Basidiomycota's relative abundance, into conservation monitoring to track soil recovery. Short-term monitoring of these indicators allows for timely assessment of grazing management, enabling quick strategic adjustments to prevent irreversible long-term degradation. Continued monitoring of microbial shifts in relation to functions like forest growth and litter decomposition is essential for understanding the ecological consequences of livestock disturbance.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

bacteria / competition / coniferous forest / dominant effect / fungi / grazing management

Highlight

	● Livestock grazing in giant panda habitat altered soil chemistry, reducing carbon and available phosphorus while increasing pH.
	● Grazing increased soil bacterial richness while altering fungal community structure, shifting from Basidiomycota dominance to Basidiomycota-Ascomycota co-dominance.
	● Livestock-induced changes in soil properties and microbial dominance collectively reshape soil microbial community composition.
	● Short-term grazing exclusion suggests potential for rotational grazing to restore below-ground ecosystem functions.
	● Incorporating monitoring of soil factors and key microbial taxa into forest restoration protocols was recommended.

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