Tree functional strategies and soil microbial communities regulate forest ecosystem services

Wang, Jianqing ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8035-2756, Manning, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7940-2023, Peñuelas, Josep, Brearley, Francis Q ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5053-5693, Shi, Xiuzhen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8055-6484, Leng, Peng, Lucas‐Borja, Manuel Esteban ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6270-8408, Banerjee, Samiran ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1402-0171, Delgado‐Baquerizo, Manuel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6499-576X and Huang, Zhiqun ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8929-4863 (2025) Tree functional strategies and soil microbial communities regulate forest ecosystem services. Journal of Applied Ecology, 62 (6). pp. 1544-1554. ISSN 1365-2664

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Abstract

Forests provide key ecosystem services. However, the role of tree functional strategies and soil microbial communities in supporting multiple ecosystem services remains unclear. To bridge this gap, we conducted a field experiment involving monocultures of 28 tree species with diverse functional traits and their associated soil microbial communities. We assessed multiple indicators of ecosystem services to gain insights into their interrelationships. Our study revealed strong connections between tree functional traits, soil microbial communities and ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, water retention and ecosystem productivity. Broadleaved trees had a negative impact on nutrient cycling rates but positively influenced ecosystem productivity compared to coniferous trees. Deciduous trees positively associated with ecosystem water availability compared to evergreen trees. Tree species with resource‐acquisitive strategies were associated with faster nutrient cycling rates. Furthermore, trees forming ectomycorrhizal associations increased nutrient cycling and multifunctionality (i.e. multiple ecological functions and services) compared to trees with arbuscular mycorrhizal associations. More importantly, leaf nitrogen content indirectly influenced multifunctionality by affecting the ratio of fungi‐bacteria and soil microbial composition. Synthesis and applications. This research highlights the role of tree functional strategies and soil microbial community composition in influencing the ecosystem services of subtropical forests, and provides important information on which functional groups may be planted to promote particular bundles of ecosystem services.