FOR ONLINE PUBLICATION ONLY

Table S1. List of all the references in the meta-analysis

Fu G, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Shi P, Li Y, Zhou Y, Yang P, Shen Z (2013a) Experimental warming does not enhance gross primary production and above-ground biomass in the alpine meadow of Tibet. J Appl Remote Sens 7: 073505-073505.

Fu G, Zhang YJ, Zhang XZ, Shi PL, Zhou YT, Li YL, Shen ZX (2013b) Response of ecosystem respiration to experimental warming and clipping in Tibetan alpine meadow at three elevations. Biogeosciences Discuss. 10: 13015-13047.

Han C, Liu Q, Yang Y (2009) Short-term effects of experimental warming and enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation on photosynthesis and antioxidant defense of Picea asperata seedlings. Plant Growth Regul 58: 153-162.

Li GY, Liu YZ, Frelich LE, Sun SC (2011a) Experimental warming induces degradation of a Tibetan alpine meadow through trophic interactions. Journal of Applied Ecology 48: 659-667.

Li N, Wang GX, Gao YH, Wang JF (2011b) Warming effects on plant growth, soil nutrients, microbial biomass and soil enzymes activities of two alpine meadows in Tibetan Plateau Pol J Ecol 59: 25-35.

Li N, Wang GX, Yang Y, Gao YH, Liu GS (2011c) Plant production, and carbon and nitrogen source pools, are strongly intensified by experimental warming in alpine ecosystems in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Soil Biol Biochem 43: 942-953.

Li N, Wang GX, Yang Y, Gao YH, Liu LA, Liu GS (2011d) Short-term effects of temperature enhancement on community structure and biomass of alpine meadow in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (in Chinese with English abstract). Acta Ecol Sin 31: 895-905.

Lin XW, Zhang ZH, Wang SP, Hu YG, Xu GP, Luo CY, Chang XF, Duan JC, Lin QY, Xu B, Wang YF, Zhao XQ, Xie ZB (2011) Response of ecosystem respiration to warming and grazing during the growing seasons in the alpine meadow on the Tibetan plateau. Agr Forest Meteorol 151: 792-802.

Liu W, Wang CT, Zhao JZ, Xu QM, Zhou L (2010) Responses of quantity characteristics of plant community to simulating warming inalpine Kobresia Humilis meadow ecosystem (in Chinese with English abstract). Acta Bot Boreali-Occidential Sin 30: 995-1003.

Liu YZ, Mu JP, Niklas KJ, Li GY, Sun SC (2012) Global warming reduces plant reproductive output for temperate multi-inflorescence species on the Tibetan plateau. New Phytol 195: 427-436.

Shen HH, Klein JA, Zhao XQ, Tang YH (2009) Leaf photosynthesis and simulated carbon budget of Gentiana straminea from a decade-long warming experiment. J Plant Ecol UK 2: 207-216.

Shen HH, Wang SP, Tang YH (2013) Grazing alters warming effects on leaf photosynthesis and respiration in Gentiana straminea, an alpine forb species. J. Plant Ecol 6: 418-427.

Shi FS, Che HF, Wu N (2008a) Effect of experimental warming on carbon and nitrogen content of sub-alpine meadow in Northwestern Sichuan (in Chinese with English abstract). Bull Bot Res 28: 730-736.

Shi FS, Wu N, Wu B (2008b) Effect of temperature enhancement on community structure and biomass of subalpine meadow in Northwestern Sichuan (in Chinese with English Abstract). Acta Ecol Sin 28: 5286-5293.

Shi FS, Wu N, Wu Y (2010a) Responses of plant growth and substance allocation of three dominant plant species to experimental warming in an alpine grassland, Northwestern Sichuan, China (in Chinese with English abstract). Chin J Plant Ecol 34: 488-497.

Shi FS, Wu N, Wu Y, Wang Q (2009) Effect of simulated temperature enhancement on growth and photosynthesis of Deschampsia caespitosa and Thlaspi arvense in northwestern Sichuan, China (in Chinese with English abstract). Chin J Appl Environ Biol 15: 750-755.

Shi FS, Wu Y, Wu N, Luo P (2010b) Different growth and physiological responses to experimental warming of two dominant plant species Elymus nutans and Potentilla anserina in an alpine meadow of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Photosynthetica 48: 437-445.

Xu MH, Xue X (2013) A research on summer vegetation characteristics and short-time responses to experimental warming of alpine meadow in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (in Chinese with English abstract) Acta Ecol Sin 33: 2071-2083.

Xu ZF, Hu TX, Wang KY, Zhang YB, Xian JR (2009) Short-term responses of phenology, shoot growth and leaf traits of four alpine shrubs in a timberline ecotone to simulated global warming, Eastern Tibetan Plateau, China. Plant Spec Biol 24: 27-34.

Xu ZF, Hu TX, Zhang L, Zhang YB, Xian JR, Wang KY (2010) Short-term gas exchange responses of Betula utilis to simulated global warming in a timberline ecotone, eastern Tibetan Plateau, China (in Chinese with English abstract). Chin J Plant Ecol 34: 263-270.

Xu ZF, Hu TX, Zhang YB (2012a) Effects of experimental warming on phenology, growth and gas exchange of treeline birch (Betula utilis) saplings, Eastern Tibetan Plateau, China. European Journal of Forest Research 131: 811-819.

Xu ZF, Yin HJ, Xiong P, Wan C, Liu Q (2012b) Short-term responses of Picea asperata seedlings of different ages grown in two contrasting forest ecosystems to experimental warming. Environ Exp Bot 77: 1-11.

Yang Y, Wang GX, Klanderud K, Yang LD (2011) Responses in leaf functional traits and resource allocation of a dominant alpine sedge (Kobresia pygmaea) to climate warming in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau permafrost region. Plant Soil 349: 377-387.

Yang Y, Wang GX, Yang LD, Guo JY (2013) Effects of Drought and Warming on Biomass, Nutrient Allocation, and Oxidative Stress in Abies fabri in Eastern Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 32: 298-306.

Yang Y, Wang GX, Yang LD, Guo JY, Li N (2012) Physiological responses of Kobresia pygmaea to warming in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau permafrost region. Acta Oecol 39: 109-116.

Yin HJ, Lai T, Cheng XY, Jiang XM, Liu Q (2008a) Warming effects on growth and physiological of seedlings of Betula Albo-sinensis and Abries Faxoniana under two contrasting light conditions in subalpine coniferous forest of western Sichuan, China (in Chinese with English abstract). Chin J Plant Ecol 32: 1072-1083.

Yin HJ, Liu Q, Lai T (2008b) Warming effects on growth and physiology in the seedlings of the two conifers Picea asperata and Abies faxoniana under two contrasting light conditions. Ecol Res 23: 459-469.