soil microbiome
The study site wasin Kangding City, Sichuan Province, China, at the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Two sampling sites were investigated along an altitudinal gradient, including LA and HA. CC specimens, along with pellicle, and surrounding soils were collected from the CC habitats. Pellicle soil (soil particles naturally attached to the surface of larvae including the mycelial cortices of O. sinensis), a composite of soil particles and mycelium, enveloped the CC specimens, which were excavated from the surrounding soil. Surrounding soil, defined as the upper 3 cm layer adjacent to CC growth, was collected using sterile techniques, including the removal of topsoil with a sterile shovel and excavation to solid CC soil. Surrounding soil samples were sieved through a 2 mm mesh to remove stones, litter, and roots.