Plant’s gypsum affinity shapes responses to specific edaphic constraints without limiting responses to other general constraints

Harsh edaphic environments harbor species with different soil affinities. Plant’s responses to specific constraints may be compromised against prevalent stresses shared other semi-arid environments. We expect that high affinity show traits overcome harsh properties, while low respond environmental arid quantified the of 12 plant co-occurring in gypsum outcrops and measured related (rooting water uptake depth, foliar accumulation Ca, S Mg), common (water use efficiency, macronutrients content). Plants differed their strategies face limitations. A phylogenetic informed PCA segregated based on Ca greater depths, associated Species’ explained this segregation, but or nutrient efficiency did not contribute substantially axis. specializations soils do limit ability deal non-specific constraints.