Table 1. Information regarding the study sites (1–9) including data on location, vegetation type, climatic index, soil type and plant functional types (PFTs) in temperate grasslands along a large-scale aridity gradient in northeast China.
| Sites | No. | Location | ELE (m) | Vegetation type | MAP (mm) | MAT (°C) | SPEI-3 | SPEI | Soil type | PFTs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wulantuga | 1 | 44°35′N; 124°19′E | 209 | Meadow | 476 | 5.8 | 1.13 | −0.26 (NA) | Dark meadow | Tr, Sh, Pg, Ag, Pf |
| Yaojingzi | 2 | 44°36′N; 123°31′E | 139 | Meadow | 440 | 5.6 | 1.05 | −0.41 (NA) | Dark meadow | Tr, Sh,Pg, Ag, Pf |
| Huatugula | 3 | 43°54′N; 122°04′E | 191 | Meadow | 399 | 6.0 | 0.98 | −0.62 (LA) | Dark meadow | Tr, Sh, Pg, Ag, Pf |
| Shaogen | 4 | 43°38′N; 120°49′E | 304 | Meadow | 383 | 6.3 | 0.9 | −0.74 (LA) | Chernozem | Tr, Sh,Pg, Ag, Pf |
| Lindong | 5 | 43°53′N; 119°22′E | 625 | Steppe | 375 | 5.2 | 0.83 | −0.85 (LA) | Chernozem | Tr, Sh, Pg, Ag, Pf |
| Linxi | 6 | 43°34′N; 118°00′E | 924 | Steppe | 374 | 4.8 | 0.7 | −1.03 (MA) | Chernozem | Tr, Sh, Pg, Ag, Pf |
| Aqiwula | 7 | 43°38′N; 116°42′E | 1219 | Steppe | 320 | 2.7 | 0.61 | −1.32 (MA) | Chestnut | Tr, Sh, Pg, Ag, Pf |
| Dabuxiletu | 8 | 43°56′N; 115°46′E | 1143 | Desert steppe | 278 | 2.1 | 0.58 | −1.54 (SA) | Chestnut | Sh, Pg, Ag |
| Baogedawula | 9 | 43°56′N; 114°34′E | 1092 | Desert steppe | 240 | 1.2 | 0.55 | −1.68 (SA) | Chestnut | Sh, Pg, Ag |
ELE, elevation; MAP, mean annual precipitation; MAT, mean annual temperature; SPEI-3, mean standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index in June, July and August; SPEI, mean annual standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index; NA, no aridity; LA, light aridity; MA, moderate aridity; SA, severe aridity; Tr, temperate cold-deciduous broad-leaved tree; Sh, temperate cold-deciduous low or high shrub; Pg, perennial grass; Ag, annual grass; Pf, perennial forb.