A dataset of leaf traits on the Tibetan Plateau (2018-2021)

The dataset compiled 11 leaf traits in 468 species (mainly herbs and shrubs) at 336 sampling sites on the surface and the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, including leaf thickness, leaf dry weight, leaf fresh weight, leaf dry-matter content, leaf water content, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf mass per area, leaf carbon, leaf nitrogen and leaf phosphorus content. The geographical coordinates, bioclimatic indicators, interference intensity and vegetation types of each sampling site were also recorded. These data were directly obtained by the research team from 2018 to 2021 through field plot investigation, leaf collection and trait measurement. These data could provide solid data support for effectively quantifying the modern ecological features of alpine ecosystems, further evaluating the response of alpine ecosystem to climate change and human disturbances and improving the next-generation vegetation model. It could be a great contribution to the regional and global plant trait databases.