Deciphering factors driving soil microbial life‐history strategies in restored grasslands

In macroecology, the concept of r- and K-strategy has been widely applied, yet, there have limited studies on microbial life-history strategies in temperate grasslands using multiple sequencing approaches. Total phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, high-throughput meta-genomic sequencing, GeoChip technologies were used to examine changes traits a chronosequence restored (1, 5, 10, 15, 25, 30 years since restoration). Grassland restoration increased relative abundances Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes but reduced Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi. PLFA analysis revealed that grassland fungi:bacteria Gram-positive:Gram-negative bacteria ratios. Combined with data, we found shifted microorganisms from oligotrophic (K-) copiotrophic (r-) groups, consistent rRNA operon copy number community. Structural equation modeling showed soil properties positively (p < 0.05) while plant negatively affected traits. We built framework highlight importance driving during restoration. Finally, by incorporating other microbiological this study support idea is trait reflects resource availability microorganisms.