Microbial community assembly in relation to microclimate and intraspecific trait variation: A case study from the subtropical forests of Mount Wuyi

Research at Mount Wuyi's subtropical forests reveals distinct microbial community assembly patterns during downed log decomposition, influenced by both intraspecific trait variation (ITV) and microclimate. The study found that ITV and microclimate explained similar proportions of variation in fungal-bacterial interactions, with notable differences between the evergreen broadleaved forest at 1200 m elevation (Castanopsis eyrei) and the temperate coniferous forest at 1600 m elevation (Pinus taiwanensis). While temperature, moisture, and wood density shaped microbial dynamics in PT-1600, cellulose content, nitrogen content, and C/N ratio were key factors in CE-1200. This work provides new insights into the interplay between ITV, microclimate, and microbial metabolic pathways during log decomposition, advancing our understanding of forest carbon cycling.

Guan, Z.-j., Wu, D.-h., Zhang, R.-m., Liu, X.-y., Yu, H.-b., & You, W.-b. (2026). Microbial community assembly in relation to microclimate and intraspecific trait variation: A case study from the subtropical forests of Mount Wuyi. Journal of Plant Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rtag201