ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Extreme Degradation of Alpine Meadows
Reducing Ecosystem Multifunctionality
and the Complexity of Fungal Networks
in Qinghai Plateau, China
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1
Qinghai University, Xining 810016 Qinghai, China
2
Key Laboratory of Alpine Grassland Ecosystem in the Three-River-Source, Ministry of Education,
Xining 810016 Qinghai, China
3
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Adaptive Management on Alpine Grassland, Xining 810016 Qinghai, China
Submission date: 2024-11-10
Acceptance date: 2025-03-05
Online publication date: 2025-05-07
Corresponding author
Yanlong Wang
Qinghai University, Xining 810016 Qinghai, China
Shixiong Li
Qinghai University, Xining 810016 Qinghai, China
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ABSTRACT
As primary regulators of ecosystem multifunctionality, soil microorganisms are impacted by various
stressors, including climate change and overgrazing. Presently, an increasing area of alpine meadows on
the Qinghai Plateau is experiencing degradation. However, it is not yet clear how the multifunctionality
of the meadow ecosystem, the microbial community, and their interactions respond to degradation.
We examined the vegetation, soil, microbial, and enzyme activity indicators in the non-degradation
and extreme degradation of alpine meadows on the Qinghai Plateau. Meanwhile, we assessed
the complexity of fungal networks and the ecosystem’s multifunctionality. Results showed that compared
to non-degraded meadows, the majority of the properties in the soil decreased significantly, especially
in available potassium (10.7%-57.8%), microbial biomass carbon (67%-73.6%), and sucrase
(53.2%-77.5%). Meanwhile, ecosystem multifunctionality decreased significantly, and the complexity
of the fungal network became simpler. The linear fitting further demonstrated that the degradation
of the alpine meadow reduced the complexity of the soil fungal network, leading to a significant decline
in ecosystem multifunctionality (r = 0.552 – 0.759, p<0.001). In summary, the simplification of the fungal
community due to degradation could impair the multifunctionality of the ecosystem. Consequently,
when managing degraded alpine meadows, it will be important to focus on the network characteristics
of soil microorganisms. We suggest restoring the complexity of soil microbial communities, which may
be the foundation and prerequisite for restoring grassland ecosystem functions.