Seasonal drivers of plant–soil–microbial community structure and functions in Western Himalayan grasslands, Pakistan

IF 2.8

Grassland Research Pub Date : 2026-07-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-01 DOI:10.1002/glr2.70034

Huma Ali, Muhammad Rafiq, Allan Degen, Ben Sparrow, Zhanhuan Shang

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Abstract

Background

Himalayan grasslands are biodiversity hotspots vital for soil stabilization, carbon cycling and herbivore sustenance, and yet, studies on seasonal plant–soil–microbe dynamics remain limited in the Western Himalayas.

Methods

We examined seasonal variations in vegetation, soil properties and microbial diversity in subalpine (SAL, Pir Chinasi) and alpine (AL, Ratti Gali) grasslands.

Results

Vegetation communities shifted seasonally, with summer being dominated by Sibbaldia cuneata Hornem. ex Kuntze in SAL and Bistorta affinis (D. Don) Greene in AL, while winter shifted to Poa alpina Pall. ex Roem. & Schult. in SAL. Biodiversity indices were greater (p < 0.05) in summer for SAL, while only richness differed seasonally in AL. Soil moisture correlated with soil organic carbon in winter (r = 0.642, p < 0.01) and in summer (r = 0.756, p < 0.001). Microbial alpha diversity peaked in summer, with communities dominated by Actinomycetota and Pseudomonadota. Microbial composition correlated with different soil properties seasonally with pH and micronutrients in summer and total potassium and phosphorus in winter. Beta diversity differed between grasslands (p = 0.001), while functional profiles remained stable seasonally, indicating metabolic resilience.

Conclusions

Seasonal shifts and grassland type drive the structure of Himalayan ecosystems. Although plant and microbial communities were seasonally dynamic, their core metabolic functions were stable, indicating functional resilience essential for stability of the vulnerable high-altitude ecosystems.

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巴基斯坦喜马拉雅西部草原植物-土壤-微生物群落结构与功能的季节性驱动因素

喜马拉雅草原是生物多样性的热点地区，对土壤稳定、碳循环和草食动物维持至关重要，但对喜马拉雅西部植物-土壤-微生物季节性动态的研究仍然有限。方法研究亚高山草原（SAL, Pir Chinasi）和高山草原（AL, Ratti Gali）植被、土壤性质和微生物多样性的季节变化。结果植被群落有季节变化，夏季以西布尔达（Sibbaldia cuneata Hornem）为主。前Kuntze在SAL和Bistorta affinis (D. Don) Greene在AL，而冬季转移到Poa alpina Pall。Roem交货。, Schult。在萨尔。土壤湿度与土壤有机碳的相关性表现为冬季（r = 0.642, p < 0.01）和夏季（r = 0.756, p < 0.001）。微生物α多样性在夏季达到高峰，群落以放线菌和假单胞菌为主。微生物组成与不同土壤性质呈季节性相关，夏季与pH和微量元素呈季节性相关，冬季与全钾、全磷呈季节性相关。β多样性在不同草原之间存在差异（p = 0.001），而功能谱保持稳定，表明代谢弹性。结论季节变化和草地类型驱动喜马拉雅地区生态系统结构。虽然植物和微生物群落是季节性动态的，但其核心代谢功能是稳定的，表明功能恢复能力对高原脆弱生态系统的稳定至关重要。

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来源期刊

Grassland Research

CiteScore

0.70

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0.00%

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