strongly influenced soil microbial community and environmental effect along an altitudinal gradient in central Qilian Mountains in western China.

The Qilian Mountains (QLMs) form an important ecological security barrier in western China and a priority area for biodiversity conservation. is a widespread species in the mid-high altitudes of the QLMs and has continuously migrated to higher altitudes in recent years. Understanding the effects of on microbial community characteristics is important for exploring future changes in soil biogeochemical processes in the QLMs. This study found that has profound effects on the community structure and ecological functions of soil microorganisms. The stability and complexity of the root zone microbial co-occurrence network were significantly higher than those of bare soils. There was a distinct altitudinal gradient in the effect of on soil microbial community characteristics. At an elevation of 3204 m, promoted the accumulation of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus and increased sucrase activity and soil C/N while significantly improving the community richness index of fungi ( < .05) compared with that of bacteria and the relative abundance of . The alpha diversity of fungi in the root zone soil of was also significantly increased at 3550 m altitude. Furthermore, the community similarity distance matrix of fungi showed an evident separation at 3204 m. However, at an altitude of 3750 m, mainly affected the bacterial community. increased the bacterial community richness. This is in agreement with the findings based on the functional prediction that favors the growth and enrichment of denitrifying communities at 3550 and 3750 m. The results provide a scientific basis for predicting the evolutionary trends of the effects of on soil microbial communities and functions and have important implications for ecological governance in the QLMs.