Leaf and biomass traits of Mongolian forest-steppe shrubs linking to their ecological properties

The structural and functional parameters and productive characteristics of ten species of Mongolian forest steppe shrubs were studied. The shrubs had 5- to 10-fold difference in size and aboveground biomass and 1.5- to 2-fold difference in leaf parameters. The emphasis was placed on two groups of structural and functional parameters related to the ecological characteristics of the shrubs. The first group, i.e., shrub height and diameter, leaf area ratio, leaf thickness and volumetric density, and water ratio, characterizes the competitive ability of the species. The second group, i.e., leaf area, transpiration rate, and water use efficiency, is related to tolerance to arid stress.