Abstract: The components and contents of main seed reserves are very important to seed germination and subsequent seedling establishment. The different seed germination and seedling growth strategies might be shaped by the difference in contents of seed reserves due to their different functional effects. In this study, the main reserve contents in seeds of 227 species on the northeastern TsinghaiTibet Plateau was analyzed, which could provide a theoretical basis for adaptability of alpine plants. The contents of crude fats were determined by Soxhlet extraction with petroleum (60-90 ℃) as solvent for 8 hours; the contents of soluble sugar and starch were determined by anthrone colorimetric method; protein contents were obtained by Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250. The results showed that regardless of intraspecific and interspecific variation, the contents of crude fats and soluble sugar were higher and the protein content was lower at high altitude, and the starch content had no obvious change with increasing altitude. Due to the decreased temperature with increasing altitude, relatively higher percentages of fats and soluble sugars in seeds at higher altitude might provide enough energy for seed germination and initial growth of seedlings. Therefore, this pattern might be an adaptive selection to alpine environment.

Key words: temporal and spatial heterogeneity., BIOME-BGC model, sensitivity, parameter optimization