# Contrasting Roles of Intraspecific Trait Variability and Species Turnover in Shaping Functional Composition During Vegetation Restoration on the Loess Plateau

## TL;DR

The study explores how plant traits and species changes affect ecosystem recovery on the Loess Plateau, highlighting the importance of trait variability.

## Contribution

The study quantifies the contrasting roles of intraspecific trait variability and species turnover in shaping functional composition during vegetation restoration.

## Key findings

- Intraspecific trait variability (ITV) accounted for 38% and 43% of community functional composition in natural and Robinia pseudoacacia plantations.
- Robinia pseudoacacia plantations showed greater ITV (33%–53%) compared to natural vegetation.
- Environmental factors had stronger explanatory power for natural vegetation community composition.

## Abstract

Understanding how ecological communities respond to environmental variation is one of the fundamental goals in ecology. Both intraspecific trait variability (ITV) and species turnover contribute to shaping community functional composition, yet their relative importance in mediating community responses remains insufficiently resolved. We investigated the roles of ITV and species turnover in influencing community functional composition under natural and
Robinia pseudoacacia
plantation restoration on the Loess Plateau. We examined functional traits associated with photosynthetic performance, water‐use strategies, and nutrient acquisition to elucidate the adaptive mechanisms of plants. Overall, ITV accounted for 38% and 43% of the community functional composition of natural vegetation and
R. pseudoacacia
plantation on average, respectively. ITV accounted for a substantial proportion of the variation in community functional composition. Notably, positive covariation between the contributions of species turnover and ITV was observed for leaf traits in response to environmental variation.
Robinia pseudoacacia
plantation exhibited greater ITV (33%–53%) compared to natural vegetation, whereas environmental factors exerted stronger explanatory power on the community composition of natural vegetation. These results underscore the adaptive significance of key functional traits in driving intraspecific adaptations and provide insights into strategies for ecological restoration on the Loess Plateau. Moreover, our study emphasizes the critical role of ITV in predicting community responses to environmental variability, offering implications for trait‐based ecological research and the sustainable management of restored ecosystems.

Understanding how ecological communities respond to environmental variation is a fundamental goal in ecology. Both intraspecific trait variability (ITV) and species turnover contribute to shaping community functional composition, yet their relative importance in mediating community responses remains insufficiently resolved. Our study emphasizes the critical role of ITV in predicting community responses to environmental variability, offering implications for trait‐based ecological research and the sustainable management of restored ecosystems.