To reveal the response patterns and adaptation strategies of grassland plants in China to rainfall changes， in this study we adopted a meta-analysis to systematically analyze the effects of rainfall changes on leaf functional traits and gas exchange parameters of plants in different grasslands （meadows， typical， and desert steppes） and different functional groups. Overall， the results showed that compared with the control， under rainfall decreased conditions， the leaf area （LA， -24.80%）， specific leaf area （SLA， -6.78%）， net photosynthetic rate （P_n， -31.38%）， transpiration rate （T_r， -27.60%）， and stomatal conductance （G_s， -20.95%） were decreased significantly （P<0.05）， while the water use efficiency （WUE， 3.71%） was significantly increased. Under conditions of rainfall increase， the LA （8.07%）， P_n （24.60%）， T_r （23.94%）， G_s （26.73%） and WUE （5.75%） were increased significantly （P<0.05）， and C_i （-2.04%） was decreased significantly compared to that of the control. The results of subgroup analysis showed that desert steppe or arid areas were respectively sensitive to rainfall increase， while meadow steppe or humid areas were respectively sensitive to rainfall decrease. Under rainfall enhancement conditions， grasses or dominant species tend to adopt acquisitive strategies， while under rainfall reduction conditions， they turn to conservative strategies. This study clarifies the differentiated responses of grassland plants in northern China to rainfall changes， providing a scientific basis for predicting the stability and functional evolution of grassland ecosystems under climate change.

Rainfall decrease  /  Rainfall increase  /  Functional traits  /  Gas exchange parameters  /  Meta analysis