Succession of Litter-Decomposing Microbial Communities Differs Between Canopy and Forest Floor in Subtropical Forests

We conducted a 24-month litterbag experiment using leaf litter of Castanopsis (Castanopsis carlesii) and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) in both canopy and forest floor of subtropical forests. We employed phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis to quantify microbial biomass, community composition, and diversity during decomposition, and assessed litter chemical traits, enzyme activities, and environmental variables to identify key drivers.