Rhizosphere Bacterial in Restored Sites of the Hulunbuir Steppe
We are pleased to submit our manuscript, “Potential Drivers of Rhizosphere Bacterial Community Succession in Restored Sites of the Hulunbuir Steppe,” for consideration in Microbiome. This study investigates the key drivers of rhizosphere bacterial community succession following the introduction of woody plants into a rapidly desertifying steppe in Asia's largest grassland. Our research demonstrates how tree planting for restoration effectively shapes soil bacterial communities, leading to enhanced species richness and evenness. While the bacterial communities across the study sites reached a stable state relatively quickly, plant community succession remained unstable even 14 years after restoration began. We also highlight the critical role of vegetation cover in driving these bacterial community changes, particularly as interactions among bacterial species became stronger in areas restored for more than 10 years. Collectively, these findings underscore the pivotal role of incorporating woody species into degraded steppe ecosystems to promote successful restoration.