Response of plant leaf traits to microhabitat change in a subalpine meadow on the eastern edge of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

Abstract

The response of plant leaf traits in five different slope aspects to microhabitat changes was studied on subalpine meadow in Gannan. The number of plant species was 25, 36, 42, 47 and 49 in the sunny slope, half-sunny slope, west slope, half-negative slope and shady slope, respectively. Soil water content, soil nutrients, soil temperature, illumination and soil pH were significantly different among the different slope aspects. Soil water content had the maximum value in the half-shady slope, and daylight illumination, daily soil temperature and soil pH had the maximum value in the sunny slope. Specific leaf area, leaf dry matter, leaf water content, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and water use efficiency were significantly different among the different slope aspects, indicating plant photosynthesis strategy was different in the different microhabitats. Kobresia humilis and Taraxacum mongolicum were dominant species in the sunny slope. Kobresia humilis, Taraxacum mongolicum, Gueldenstaedtia verna and Polygonum macrophyllum were dominant species in the half-sunny slope and west slope. Potentilla fruticosa, Polygonum macrophyllum and Stellera chamaejasme were dominant species in the half-shady slope and shady slope. Habitat quality led to low biomass in the sunny slope and high biomass in the half-shady slope. Biodiversity and abundance were relatively low in the sunny slope and half-shady slope. Biomass was medium, and biodiversity and abundance were the highest in the west slope.