Abstract: To clarify the effects of plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) disturbance on functional traits and functional diversity of plants in alpine meadows, we utilized the spatial pattern index of zokor mounds to quantify disturbance intensity. A section of plateau zokor habitat on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was segmented into four disturbance levels of light, moderate, severe, and extremely severe disturbance, with plots devoid of zokor mounds being served as a control. We measured plant species richness, functional traits of common plants, and soil physicochemical characteristics in all the plots. One-way ANOVA was applied to assess the variations in functional traits and functional diversity across the disturbance gradient. Additionally, full subset regression and redundancy analysis were employed to determine the influence of environmental factors on plant functional traits and functional diversity. The results showed that: (1) compared to the control, under the disturbance of plateau zokor, the community weighted mean of relative chlorophyll content and leaf carbon content significantly increased (P<0.05), while plant height, specific leaf area, and leaf nitrogen content in the disturbed areas significantly decreased (P<0.05); (2) Under the disturbance of plateau zokor, plant functional richness significantly increased (P<0.05), whereas functional divergence and the RaoQ index significantly decreased (P<0.05); (3) The differences in functional traits and functional diversity were marginal across the various levels of zokor disturbance intensity. (4) Results of redundancy analysis and full subset regression analysis showed that soil moisture and temperature were the main factors affecting the functional diversity of alpine meadow plants, with soil environmental factors explaining 41.6% and 27.3% of the variance in functional traits and functional diversity, respectively. Our results suggested that plateau zokor disturbance changed soil environmental factors (temperature and moisture), which in turn affected plant functional traits and functional diversity.

Key words: Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, alpine meadow, plateau zokor, plant functional trait, functional diversity