Differences in microbial communities from Quaternary volcanic soils at different stages of development: Evidence from Late Pleistocene and Holocene volcanoes

Volcanic eruptions are a universal cause of ecological and geological disturbance; however, the differences in microbial communities from Quaternary volcanic soils at different stages of development in Inner Mongolia are little known. Microbial communities were investigated in Quaternary volcanic soils from Late Pleistocene volcano and Holocene volcano with the objective of elucidating their differences. The composition and potential functionality of soil microbial communities was significantly diverse between Late Pleistocene volcanic soils and Holocene volcanic soils. Although the richness, diversity and evenness of microbial communities at older volcanic soils were significantly greater than at younger volcanic soils, younger volcanic soils possessed a more complex microbial community network than older volcanic soils. The soil bacterial community was more sensitive to Quaternary volcanic soils than the fungal community, exhibiting significant differences at the phylum level and possessing more biomarkers. Quaternary volcanic soils may have enriched some specific microorganisms, i.e., biomarkers and generalists, closely related to the metabolism of soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Quaternary volcanic soils first directly mediated soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, and then guided microbial multifunctionality. These results clarify the difference patterns of soil microbial communities in support of better ecological management of volcanic area in Inner Mongolia.