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Leaf functional traits of plants of alpine pastures at the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

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Abstract

Original data on leaf functional traits (leaf area and specific leaf area, SLA) in 80 vascular plant species in alpine plant communities of the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (Sichuan, China) are represented. Mean SLA was 192 ± 6 cm2/g, and mean leaf area was 2.38 ± 0.23 cm2. The highest mean SLA was observed in loose turf grasses and the lowest SLA was in the group of sedges and rushes; shrubs also had quite a low SLA. Among forbs, erosulate plants had higher SLA than rosette forming species. Our results mostly confirm leaf trait patterns for other regions.

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Correspondence to T. G. Elumeeva.

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Original Russian Text © T.G. Elumeeva, V.G. Onipchenko, Wu Yan, 2015, published in Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Biologiya, 2015, No. 1, pp. 46–52.

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Elumeeva, T.G., Onipchenko, V.G. & Wu, Y. Leaf functional traits of plants of alpine pastures at the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Moscow Univ. Biol.Sci. Bull. 70, 46–52 (2015). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0096392515010034

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S0096392515010034

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