Low- to Moderate-Level Forest Disturbance Effects on Plant Functional Traits and Associated Soil Microbial Diversity in Western Himalaya

This study quantifies the effect of low- to moderate-intensity anthropogenic activities and natural affecting less than 40% canopy cover on major plant functional traits associated soil microbial diversity in western Himalayan temperate forests. Plots 0.1 ha were placed forests along disturbance gradient categorized based lopping intensity, deadwood counts, grazing, litter removal. classified into three classes, i.e., low intensity (LDI) moderate intensities (MDI1 MDI2) cover. The was conducted related growth survival strategies a species complex forest ecosystem. Furthermore, DNA extracted metagenome samples performed using Illumina MiSeq platform from classes diversity. Tree basal area found be most significantly affected by intensity. Total density greater for LDI site. Specific leaf (SLA) crown (CC) moderately disturbed sites, whereas maximum height (HT) seed mass (SM) least disturbance. Soil negatively with index. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) nitrogen (MBN) higher sites. Disturbance level elicited variation community composition. Proteobacteria abundant phylum Phenylobacterium , DA101 Candidatus solibacter mainly at genus level. A decreasing due absence human residences site led dominance (27%) which reduced 18% MDI1 Shannon alpha bacterial ( H ′) greatest MDI2 In varying levels management, treefall gaps logging might have similar those count (due disturbances) concludes that is important promoting richness (SR), but having conservative ecological would more prone continued Therefore, moderate-level such can used as model gaps, plays powerful role buffering ecosystem processes.