Response Of Leaf Traits At Species And Functional Group Levels To Simulated Nitrogen Deposition And Precipitation Additions In A Stipa Baicalensis Meadow Steppe

Global change has a profound impact on terrestrial ecosystems. Steppe plant, as the majority of ecosystem primary productivity, responses to global change, determines the future status of steppe ecosystem structure and function and influences ecosystem service. With strong plasticity, plant functional traits can change with environmental changes, so plant functional traits can indicate global changes.In the present study, we conduct a nitrogen and precipitation additions experiment in a meadow steppe in northeast China. Leaf traits at species and functional group levels, relationships between leaf traits of functional group and community features, relationships between leaf traits of functional group and physical, chemical properties of soil are studied. The main conclusions are obtained as follows:(1)At species level, the plasticity of Heteropappus altaicus is the highest, followed by Leymus chinensis and Stipa baicalensis. At functional group level, grass is the most sensitive to nitrogen addition, and forb is the most sensitive to increased precipitation.(2) In different nitrogen and precipitation additions,the relationships among leaf traits of functional groups are similar.(3) Among the three community variables, the correlation relationships between coverage and main plants leaf traits of functional groups is strongest, followed by density and aboveground biomass.(4)There are strong correlation relationships between soil nitrogen and leaf traits of functional groups. However, the relationships between other soil variables and leaf traits of functional groups are relatively weak.(5)In analysis, in meadow steppe, Heteropappus altaicus and grasses functional group can indicate the nitrogen and precipitation additions.