Soil Microbial and Organic Carbon Legacies of Pre-Existing Plants Drive Pioneer Tree Growth during Subalpine Forest Succession

Abstract

Fast-growing pioneer tree species play a crucial role in triggering late successional development in forests. Experimental evidence of the soil legacy effects of pre-existing plants on pioneer tree performance is lacking. We explored the legacy effects of soils conditioned by early successional herbs (Poa poophagorum Bor and Potentilla fragarioides L.) and mid-successional shrubs (Rhododendron fortunei Lindl. and Enkianthus quinqueflorus Lour.) on late-successional ectomycorrhizal (ECM) pioneer tree (Betula platyphylla Sukaczev) seedling growth. The soils were analyzed for soil nutrient status and fungal and bacterial compositions using ITS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. B. platyphylla seedlings produced higher biomass in soils conditioned by shrubs. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and bacterial and fungal legacies most impacted pioneer tree seedling growth. Additionally, the partial least squares path model revealed that soil nutrients, especially SOC, indirectly affected seedling biomass by their direct effects on the bacterial and fungal communities. The changes in bacterial community composition had a stronger effect on seedling biomass than those of fungi because bacteria with shorter turnover times are generally considered to be more efficient than fungi in enhancing nutrient availability. Our study integrates soil microbial and nutrient legacies to explain the potential mechanisms of pioneer tree regeneration.