Table 2 Effects of warming on leaf functional traits (mean ± SE) in the four key species, Damao Banner, Nei Mongol, China (n = 9)

C. squarrosa

AM

85.78 ± 2.39 a

23.90 ± 0.66 b

2.83 ± 0.12 b

2.10 ± 0.21 a

0.75 ± 0.09 a

0.50 ± 0.02 b

0.56 ± 0.02 b

MW

70.09 ± 5.28 b

28.37 ± 0.94 a

4.23 ± 0.33 a

2.14 ± 0.65 a

0.52 ± 0.15 ab

0.54 ± 0.02 ab

0.62 ± 0.02 ab

SW

70.36 ± 7.70 b

26.83 ± 1.14 a

4.18 ± 0.47 a

1.29 ± 0.40 a

0.38 ± 0.14 b

0.57 ± 0.03 a

0.65 ± 0.04 a

T. terrestris

AM

119.05 ± 7.03 a

45.74 ± 1.34 a

3.94 ± 0.18 b

10.15 ± 1.63 ab

2.70 ± 0.43 a

0.63 ± 0.02 a

0.79 ± 0.01 a

MW

100.18 ± 4.71 b

46.46 ± 1.72 a

4.70 ± 0.22 a

11.04 ± 1.73 a

2.45 ± 0.43 ab

0.65 ± 0.02 a

0.76 ± 0.02 a

SW

107.58 ± 11.47ab

51.84 ± 2.96 a

4.85 ± 0.24 ab

2.12 ± 0.62 b

0.43 ± 0.11 b

0.58 ± 0.08 a

0.74 ± 0.01 a

S. tianschanica

AM

69.38 ± 1.53 a

24.94 ± 0.73 a

3.60 ± 0.09 a

3.13 ± 0.35 a

0.87 ± 0.10 a

0.47 ± 0.02 a

0.67 ± 0.01 a

MW

64.09 ± 2.79 a

23.63 ± 1.04 a

3.73 ± 0.13 a

2.60 ± 0.55 ab

0.78 ± 0.15 ab

0.51 ± 0.02 a

0.71 ± 0.02 a

SW

66.93 ± 1.39 a

22.86 ± 0.81 a

3.43 ± 0.15 a

1.51 ± 0.54 b

0.41 ± 0.12 b

0.51 ± 0.03 a

0.68 ± 0.04 a

N. pectinate

AM

65.88 ± 3.69 a

29.28 ± 0.97 a

4.59 ± 0.25 a

2.42 ± 0.48 a

0.57 ± 0.13 a

0.58 ± 0.02 a

0.74 ± 0.02 a

MW

54.44 ± 7.39 a

29.75 ± 2.41 a

5.73 ± 0.70 a

2.17 ± 1.12 a

0.44 ± 0.25 a

0.59 ± 0.03 a

0.72 ± 0.02 a

SW

62.91 ± 8.61 a

29.99 ± 2.57 a

5.02 ± 0.94 a

2.86 ± 1.36 a

0.49 ± 0.22 a

0.65 ± 0.03 a

0.74 ± 0.03 a