Spatial heterogeneity of soil factors enhances intraspecific variation in plant functional traits in a desert ecosystem.

Introduction: Functional traits of desert plants exhibit remarkable responsiveness, adaptability and plasticity to environmental heterogeneity.

Methods: In this study, we measured six crucial plant functional traits (leaf carbon, leaf nitrogen, leaf phosphorus, leaf thickness, chlorophyll concentration, and plant height) and employed exemplar analysis to elucidate the effects of soil environmental heterogeneity on intraspecific traits variation in the high-moisture-salinity and low-moisture-salinity habitats of the Ebinur LakeWetland National Nature Reserve.

Results: The results showed that (1) The soil moisture and electrical conductivity heterogeneity showed significant differences between the two moisture-salinity habitats.