Characterization of Soil Bacterial Communities in Different Vegetation Types on the Lava Plateau of Jingpo Lake

To explore the interactions within the vegetation-soil-microorganism continuum on the Jingpo Lake lava platform, five vegetation types-grassland (GL), shrubland (SL), deciduous broad-leaved forest (DB), coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest (CB), and coniferous forest (CF)-were examined. Significant differences in the soil physical and chemical properties were identified among these types (p < 0.05). The soil bacterial community structures also varied significantly (p < 0.05), with Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria as the dominant phyla, exhibiting notable genus-level differences (p < 0.05). The soil organic matter (SOM), available nitrogen (AN), total nitrogen (TN), and soil water content (SWC) were significantly correlated with the bacterial community structure (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), acting as key determinants of the microbial community structure and function. PICRUSt2 functional predictions revealed significant variations in the metabolic functions of the soil bacterial communities across vegetation types, indicating distinct functional specializations. In conclusion, the Jingpo Lake lava plateau harbors abundant bacterial resources. When devising vegetation adaptation strategies, it is essential to take into account variations in the rhizosphere soil bacteria across different vegetation types. Furthermore, prioritizing the implementation of forest vegetation is crucial in the adaptive management of the lava plateau. This approach holds significant implications for studying the bacterial diversity in the lava plateau and exploring the cultivation and application of functional bacteria in extreme environments.