Biome regulates the effects of long‐term grazing on soil microbial diversity

Introduction Livestock overgrazing represents one of the most destructive uses land in terrestrial ecosystems and threatens biodiversity. However, understanding effects livestock on below-ground soil microbial diversity is limited, despite microbes representing majority biodiversity determining ecosystem functioning. Materials Methods To investigate richness, a long-term grazing exclusion experiment was conducted at six sites including three meadow steppes typical northern China. Results Our results revealed that decreased bacterial fungal richness across temperate China, biome could regulate effects, especially for richness. Specifically, negative were highly significant while not contained higher plant precipitation. Partial least-squares path model showed affected complex ways, pathways different steppes. The direct their indirect via properties resulted decrease In steppes, beneficial attributes offset grazing. Consequently, community steppe resisted disturbance. Conclusion study illuminates biome-dependent microbiota indicates may be more resistant or resilient to human disturbance than steppe. These findings suggest grasslands might managed differently considering intrinsic characteristics help conservation. Moreover, future research should focus underlying mechanisms Besides grazing-induced traits changes, other potential strongly influence diversity.