Abstract: Nine leaf functional traits of four shrub species (Rhododendron dauricum, Ledum palustre, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Spiraea salicifolia) in Daxing’an Mountains were measured to explore the relationships between leaf functional traits and environmental factors and reveal ecological adaptation strategies of shrubs. Leaf functional traits were significantly different among species (P<0.05). L. palustre and V. vitis-idaea had larger leaf thickness (0.279, 0.305 mm, respectively), smaller specific leaf area (220.95, 211.90 cm²·g^-1, respectively), and higher leaf dry matter content (0.463, 0.384 g·g^-1, respectively) than the other two species, which indicated that they have relatively high resource use rate and strong adaptability to the environment. In contrast, R. dauricum and S. salicifolia maintained their ability to synthesize organic matter by reducing leaf thickness and increasing specific leaf area. Specific leaf area of the four species was significantly negatively correlated with leaf thickness and leaf tissue density. In addition, the specific leaf area of R. dauricum, L. palustre and S. salicifolia was significantly negatively correlated with leaf dry matter content. Leaf functional traits of R. dauricum, L. palustre, V. vitis-idaea were mainly affected by topographic factors, whereas those of S. salicifolia were mainly affected by soil factors. Elevation was the key factor affecting leaf functional traits of R. dauricum and V. vitis-idaea (with an explanation rate of 26.5%), soil water content was the key factor affecting that of L. palustre (with an explanation rate of 14.3%), and soil bulk density and soil total N were the key factors affecting that of S. salicifolia (with an explanation rate of 15.6%). Although the interspecific differences are significant in leaf functional traits of the typical shrubs in Daxing’an Mountains, they can well adapt to the environment by forming a suite of traits and interacting with environmental factors.

Key words: shrub, plant functional trait, environmental factor, redundancy analysis