Increased vegetation disturbance intensity reduces soil nutrients while enhancing microbial network interactions.

Introduction and methods: Vegetation disturbance intensity serves as a critical determinant of changes in soil nutrients and microbial communities. Karst ecosystems are highly fragile, and vegetation degradation has contributed to severe desertification in these regions. However, the specific effects of vegetation disturbance intensity on soil nutrient availability, microbial diversity, and community composition remain poorly understood in karst areas. To address this knowledge gap, this study investigates how varying levels of vegetation disturbance influence soil properties, as well as the diversity, composition, and interactions of bacterial, fungal, and protist communities in a karst ecosystem. The study included four vegetation disturbance intensities: natural vegetation restoration (control) and slight, moderate, and extreme disturbance. Results: The findings reveal that higher disturbance intensity significantly alters soil nutrient levels, which in turn affects microbial diversity, abundance, community composition, and interspecies interactions. Specifically, increasing vegetation disturbance intensity led to significant declines in soil available nutrients, including nitrate nitrogen (NO₃ Discussion: These findings suggest that short-term vegetation recovery following prolonged moderate and extreme disturbances promotes microbial adaptation to nutrient- and moisture-limited conditions through increased microbial interactions, compensating for losses in abundance and diversity. This study provides valuable insights for ecosystem management and soil restoration in degraded karst landscapes.