Phenotypic plasticity drives alpine plant community reconstruction under photovoltaic environments on the Qinghai–Tibet plateau

The rapid expansion of photovoltaic (PV) power plants into grassland ecosystems necessitates a deeper understanding of their ecological impacts, particularly on the sensitive alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This study investigates the effects of PV panels on plant community structure, functional traits, and niche characteristics by comparing sites beneath PV panels with natural control plots (CK). Our results demonstrate that phenotypic plasticity is a critical driver of community reassembly under PV panels. The PV-induced alteration of the microenvironment (reduced light availability, temperature buffering, and altered soil moisture and pH) triggered a pronounced shift in species dominance. Crucially, this community-level shift was underpinned by species-specific differences in adaptive capacity. Specifically, we identified two distinct response patterns among species: (1) highly plastic species exhibited adjustments in key functional traits, resulting in expanded niche breadth and increased niche overlap, which facilitated their establishment or persistence as dominants; conversely, (2) species with low plasticity experienced niche contraction and a decline in competitive status. By elucidating the intrinsic mechanisms of alpine meadow community reassembly under PV disturbance from the perspective of phenotypic plasticity, this study provides new insights into species coexistence in PV-modified environments, offering practical guidance for ecological management and vegetation restoration in high-altitude regions.