Abstract:Microhabitat variety shows significant effects on plant morphological performances. To understand adaptation strategy of alpine species to resources heterogeneity, response of biomass allocation and morphological characteristics to nutrient and light heterogeneity were studied for three component species (Saussurea macrota, Salvia przewalskii and Senecio scandens) in alpine meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Results showed that light and nutrient availability both had significant effects on biomass allocation and morphological characteristics. And, there were some interaction effects between them. For all seedling morphological performances in this study, there was a significant difference among species. There were lower biomass and root allocation, and higher individual height, specific leaf area, leaf allocation and stem allocation in lower light availability. Biomass, height, specific leaf area, leaf allocation all decreased in lower nutrient availability, but root allocation increased significantly. Results revealed that light availability play a more important role in acting on seedling biomass allocation and morphological plasticity than nutrient availability in alpine meadow. Finally, sciophilous species Saussurea macrota and light-loving species Salvia przewalskii presented larger plasticity indexes in biomass allocation and morphological characteristics than neutral-habitat species Senecio scandens.