Seasonal variations in soil fungal communities and co-occurrence networks along an altitudinal gradient in the cold temperate zone of China: A case study on Oakley Mountain

• We sampled Mt. Oakley, studying how soil fungal community varies with elevation. • Soil fungi performed monotonic decreasing pattern along an altitudinal gradient. • Altitude was more important than season for shaping soil microbial communities. • Soil moisture, temperature, pH and DOC altered the soil fungal community. • Soil fungi exhibited more complex co-occurrence networks in September. Cold temperate forests carry out functions that are...