Plant–soil–microbial interactions mediate vegetation succession in retreating glacial forefields

Global warming is accelerating glacial retreat and leaving open areas for vegetation succession on young developing soils. Soil microbial communities interact with plants affecting vegetation succession, but the specific microbial groups controlling these interactions are unclear. We tested whether plant–soil–microbial interactions explain plant primary succession in the Gongga Mountain glacial retreat chronosequence. The direction and intensity of plant–soil–microbial interactions were quantified by comparing the biomass of one early-, two mid- and two late-succession plant species under sterilized vs. live, and inter- vs. intra-specific competition. The performance of most plant species was negatively affected by soil biota from early habitats (5–10 yr), but positively by soil biota from mid- (30–40) and late-succession (80–100) habitats. Two species of Salicaceae from middle habitats, which are strong competitors, developed well on the soils of all successional stages and limited the establishment of later serial plant species. The strongest microbial drivers of plant–microbial interactions changed from i) saprophytic fungal specialists during the early stage, to ii) generalists bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the middle stage, and finally to iii) ectomycorrhizal fungal specialists in the late stage. Microbial turnover intensified plant–soil–microbial interactions and accelerated primary succession in the young soils of the glacial retreat area.