Wildfires associated changes among annual and perennial plant microbiomes in the Amankaragai pine forest
Wildfires impact the microbial communities of soil and plants both directly through temperature shifts and indirectly by altering the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. Although forest fires have received significant scientific interest, most existing research has concentrated on boreal, subtropical, and Mediterranean forests. In contrast, the impact of wildfires on the soil and vegetation-associated microbiomes in Kazakhstan's sharply continental climate remains underexplored. This region is characterized by limited forest cover, prolonged droughts, extreme seasonal temperature fluctuations, and the increasing influence of climate change. Together, these factors increase the risk of natural fires. The study was conducted in the Amankaragai pine forest in the Kostanay region of Northern Kazakhstan, two years after wildfires. This is the first comprehensive analysis of the bulk soil, the rhizosphere, and the root microbiomes of Carex supina Willd. ex Wahlenb., Calamagrostis epigeios (L.) Roth, Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist, Chenopodium album L., and Lactuca serriola L., comparing control and burned areas. The results provide insights into how wildfires alter the taxonomic diversity of soil microbiomes, providing a critical basis for assessing the post-fire resilience of forest soils and for developing strategies to restore ecosystems in arid and climatically extreme environments.