Forest Gaps Modulate the Composition and Co-Occurrence Network of Soil Bacterial Community in Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr Plantation

Forest gaps create a favorable microenvironment for the growth of soil microbial community. This study aimed to explore effects gap-related microenvironmental heterogeneity on bacterial communities in Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr forest gaps. Therefore, redundancy analysis (RDA) and structure equations modeling (SEM) affecting elements were further used test significance gaps’ effect community composition co-occurrence complexity. The formation increased canopy opening (CO) significantly moisture content (SW), temperature (ST) accumulation acid phosphatase (PHO) sucrase (INV) soil, G250 (forest gap size: >250 m2) was most conductive light total nutrient. G50, G70, G100 50–70 m2, 70–100 100–125 natural regeneration L. plantation. properties under significant factor that influenced composition, followed by size gap, with standard path coefficients (Std. PCs) 0.45 −0.37, respectively. (CO), relative intensity (RLA) leaf area index (LAI) considered be important environmental factors PCs: 0.97, 0.99, −0.93, respectively). density influencing complexity network, nutrients 0.87 −0.76,