Morphological traits, as core components of functional traits, are fundamental in determining environmental adaptability. However, under climate warming, the adaptive morphological changes and associated ecological risks of locust populations migrating to higher altitudes remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated Calliptamus italicus, the dominant locust species in the desert steppes of the Ili River Basin, to explore the response patterns of its morphological functional traits along an altitudinal gradient and their relationships with environmental factors. Morphological measurements revealed that forewing area, width, and length, as well as hindwing width, exhibited highly significant positive correlations with altitude (p < 0.01); in contrast, body length, head width, head height, pronotum length, pronotum width, hind femur length, and hind tibia length displayed significant negative correlations with altitude (p < 0.05). All morphological indicators presented highly significant sexual dimorphism (p < 0.001). Ratio analysis showed that the pronotum width-to-head width ratio (M/C), pronotum height-to-head width ratio (H/C), and forewing length-to-hind tibia length ratio (E/F) were significantly positively correlated with the altitudinal gradient (p < 0.05), with all ratios exhibiting significant sexual differences (p < 0.05). Random Forest analysis showed that PC1 (75.5% of variation) reflected traits for feeding, jumping, and reproduction, whereas PC2 (5.6%) represented flight-related traits, with significant sexual dimorphism. This study demonstrates that trait variation in C. italicus along an altitudinal gradient is closely linked to environmental factors. Our findings provide critical data for predicting habitat adaptation responses in locust populations, thereby enhancing the precision and efficacy of locust plague management and contributing to the conservation and restoration of desert steppe ecosystems.

Introduction: Leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry serves as a critical indicator of plant nutrient utilization strategies, underpinning grassland management and maintaining ecosystem stability in desert steppes. However, the spatiotemporal variations and multi factor driving mechanisms of leaf stoichiometry in arid desert steppes remain insufficiently explored, leaving regional adaptive mechanisms poorly understood. Methods: Here, we investigated the leaf C, N, and P stoichiometric traits of desert steppe vegetation in the Ili River Basin across May, July, and September and evaluated their spatiotemporal patterns along with their responses to hydrothermal, edaphic, and topographic factors. Results: The results showed that the mean concentrations of leaf C, N, and P were 420.93 ± 81.59 g•kg ^-1 , 19.40 ± 5.94 g•kg ^-1 , and 1.73 ± 0.77 g•kg ^-1 , with average C/N, C/P, and N/P mass ratios of 24.92 ± 8.66, 292.13 ± 127.69, and 13.60 ± 7.44, respectively. Seasonally, leaf C continuously declined throughout the growing season, leaf N peaked in May before decreasing, and leaf P presented a unimodal trend. Spatially, leaf C was concentrated in the central and western regions; leaf N was higher in the west and lower in the east, while leaf P displayed the reverse spatial gradient. Mechanistically, leaf P response to temperature and light conditions supported the Temperature Plant Physiology Hypothesis (TPPH). Meanwhile, topography shaped regional nutrient patterns, supporting the Biogeochemical Hypothesis (BGH). Soil pH was identified as the primary driver regulating stoichiometric ratios by modulating nutrient bioavailability. Furthermore, plant competition and soil nutrient buffering jointly stabilized stoichiometric homeostasis. Discussion: This study deepens our understanding of leaf stoichiometry in the desert steppe and serves as a reference for nutrient regulation and ecological conservation in fragile arid grasslands.

Soil stoichiometric characteristics, as sensitive indicators of soil nutrient supply capacity and ecosystem stability, have emerged as a frontier research focus in biogeochemical cycling and ecological studies. However, the spatial variations of soil stoichiometric characteristics and driving factors in desert steppes remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) contents and their ratios (C:N, C:P and N:P) in desert steppes in the Ili River basin, China. Results showed that: (1) in the Ili River basin, the SOC, TN, and TP contents were 30.27, 0.77, and 0.79 g·kg⁻¹, respectively, while the soil stoichiometry ratios of C:N, C:P, and N:P were 47.33, 35.48, and 1.13, respectively. All indicators demonstrated moderate variability, while soil C:P showed strong variability. (2) Significant seasonal variations were observed in SOC, TN, TP and stoichiometric ratios (p < 0.05), and soil stoichiometric characteristics were positively correlated with elevation. (3) According to Bayesian linear regression models and partial least squares-partial maximum likelihood (PLS-PM) models, climate was the principal driver of soil C, N, and their stoichiometric ratios, with mean annual temperature (MAT) and minimum temperature (Tmin) being the most influential determinants. These findings provide preliminary insights into the spatiotemporal variation patterns of soil chemical characteristics in desert steppe ecosystems of the Ili River basin. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of nutrient cycling processes within desert steppe ecosystems and offers a degree of scientific support.

Monthly dynamics of ground-dwelling beetles remain poorly resolved in agro-pastoral ecotones. From June to September 2025, beetles were sampled monthly with pitfall traps in 81 permanent 1 m × 1 m quadrats across nine plots representing temperate steppe, temperate desert steppe, and lowland meadow in the Tacheng Basin, Xinjiang, China. Specimens were identified to family, and analyses used family-level data. Assemblage composition varied significantly among months, whereas neither the overall habitat effect nor the habitat × month interaction was significant. Habitat × month interactions were significant for total beetle activity-density and for Tenebrionidae, Scarabaeidae, and Carabidae activity-density. Tenebrionidae dominated catches in July and August, whereas Scarabaeidae contributed the largest proportions in June and September. Significant within-month habitat contrasts in diversity metrics were detected only for Margalef richness in June. Neither distance class nor the distance class × month interaction was significantly associated with activity-density, diversity metrics, or assemblage composition. After conditioning on plot identity and month, measured vegetation and soil variables did not significantly explain residual assemblage variation. These findings highlight pronounced monthly turnover and the value of repeated sampling across months during the June–September period.

Introduction: Plant diversity and functional traits form the core foundation of grassland ecosystem stability. However, rapid climate change poses a severe threat to biodiversity, making it imperative to clarify how these two factors mediate community responses to environmental changes across spatiotemporal scales. Methods: By integrating field surveys with laboratory analyses, we have investigated the spatiotemporal patterns of plant diversity and key functional traits within desert grasslands of the Ili River Basin. Results: We found that: (1) Plant diversity in May and July was significantly higher than in September, with distinct seasonal dynamics observed across different plant community types; (2) During the main growing season, plant functional traits exhibited a marked increasing trend along the elevation gradient; (3) Both plant functional traits and diversity displayed a patchy mosaic distribution pattern, accompanied by significant spatial heterogeneity. High diversity values were predominantly located around Nilek and Huocheng counties, while low-value areas were distributed in Xinyuan and Gongliu counties. High-value areas for plant functional traits were concentrated in Nilek county, with low-value areas found in Xinyuan, Gongliu, and Huocheng counties. (4) Redundancy Analysis (RDA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicate that soil moisture content and soil nitrogen are the primary drivers of diversity variation, while soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and precipitation regulate functional trait variation. Discussion: These findings demonstrate how plants adapt to environmental heterogeneity through coordinated changes in diversity and functional traits, offering a scientific basis for conserving and managing desert steppe ecosystems.