The coordination of hydraulic and leaf photosynthesis properties is a critical feature underlying the spread and distribution of Dasiphora fruticosa in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau alpine meadows

Abstract Background and Aims Global climate change and human-induced factors have resulted in shrub encroachment in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau alpine meadows. Coordination among traits plays key role in plant adaptation to the environment. However, the mechanism by which the hydraulic and photosynthetic traits of shrubs are coordinated to adapt to different habitats on the Tibetan Plateau remain unclear. Methods Here, we assembled 23 root, stem and leaf traits, including hydraulic and photosynthetic traits, of a widely distributed shrub species, Dasiphora fruticosa, and tracked these against the degree of shrub encroachment (cover) on shady and sunny slope. Results We found that on shady slopes, D. fruticosa has enhanced hydraulic (KL, KS) and photosynthetic traits(Aa, Am, gs), while on sunny slopes it exhibits greater resistance capability (i.e high WD, more negative π⁰). By optimizing its hydraulic and photosynthetic traits, D. fruticosa enable to flourish in two different environments. Furthermore, as influenced by STN, STP, root system of D. fruticosa in shady and sunny environments also adopted two different resource use strategies, such that the above-ground parts have a reverse pattern of resource acquisition compared to the below-ground parts. The relationships between stem and leaf hydraulics (i.e KL, π⁰, KS) and economic traits (i.e LMA, RAD, SRL) drives the coupling of below- and above-ground resource of D. fruticosa in two environments. Conclusion Our study clearly shows the importance of hydraulics and leaf photosynthesis traits in governing shrub encroachment and provides useful values for predicting shrub encroachment as a response to climate change.