Effects of thinning and native ground covers on soil microbial community diversity in Picea asperata plantations within giant panda habitats

Thinning plays a crucial role in enhancing the giant panda habitat quality through reducing plant density in artificial coniferous forests, thereby improving the under story environment and facilitating the necessary ecological conditions for bamboo growth. Nevertheless, thinning also unavoidably disrupts or even devastates the initial soil environment and native ground covers. Considering the elevated altitude and low temperature, restoring the original ecological balance becomes challenging after such disturbances. Thus, a comprehensive study on the interplay among thinning, native vegetation, and soil microorganisms is imperative.

疏伐通过降低人工针叶林的植物密度，对提升大熊猫栖息地质量起到关键作用，进而改善林下层环境，为竹子生长营造必要的生态条件。然而，疏伐同样不可避免地会扰乱甚至破坏原生土壤环境与本土地表覆盖物。鉴于该区域海拔较高、气温较低，在遭受此类干扰后恢复原生生态平衡颇具挑战。因此，针对疏伐、本土植被与土壤微生物之间的相互作用开展全面研究实属必要。