The Analysis of Causes for Higher Soil Fungal Diversity in Shrubs Compared to Trees in Alpine Forests

This study aims to investigate the causes of higher soil fungal diversity in shrubs compared to trees in alpine forests. Although numerous studies have shown a positive correlation between fungal diversity and temperature, shrub soil in alpine forests exhibits greater fungal diversity despite low temperatures. By analyzing soil samples from different vegetation types in alpine forests and utilizing paired-end sequencing of community DNA fragments with Illumina technology, the results demonstrate that soil fungal diversity and abundance under shrubs are significantly higher than those under trees (P < 0.05). This suggests that alpine shrubs exert a stronger promoting effect on soil fungal community diversity. Further analysis indicates that this difference may be closely related to the distinctive characteristics of shrub litter and root exudates. This study provides a new perspective on the interactions between vegetation and soil microorganisms in alpine ecosystems and offers valuable insights for ecological restoration and soil management practices.