Climate Sensitivity of the Arid Scrublands on the Tibetan Plateau Mediated by Plant Nutrient Traits and Soil Nutrient Availability

Climate models predict the further intensification of global warming in future. Drylands, as one most fragile ecosystems, are vulnerable to changes temperature, precipitation, and drought extremes. However, it is still unclear how plant traits interact with soil properties regulate drylands’ responses seasonal interannual climate change. The vegetation sensitivity index (VSI) desert scrubs Qaidam Basin (NE Tibetan Plateau) was assessed by summarizing relative contributions temperature (SGST), precipitation (SGSP), (temperature dryness index, STVDI) dynamics normalized difference (NDVI) during growing months yearly from 2000 2015. Nutrient contents, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium topsoils leaves plants, were measured for seven types scrub communities at 22 sites summer 2016. Multiple linear structural equation used reveal leaf nutrient regimes affect scrubs’ variability. results showed that total nitrogen (STN) carbon content (LC), respectively, explained 25.9% 17.0% VSI variance across different communities. Structural modeling (SEM) revealed STN (STK) mediated scrub’s indirectly via SGST (with standardized path strength ?0.35 +0.32, respectively) while LC SGSP ?0.31 ?0.19, respectively). Neither nor leave contents alone could explain sites, except indirect influences STK STVDI (?0.18 0.16, Overall, this study disentangled importance availability mediating climatic Plateau. Integrating functional together recommended better understand mechanisms behind dryland under