Technical Abstract: Plant nutrient resorption prior to leaf senescence is an important nutrient conservation mechanism for aridland plant species. However, little is known regarding the phylogenetic and environmental factors influencing this trait. Our objective was to compare nitrogen and phosphorus resorption in a suite of species in the Asteraceae and Chenopodiaceae and assess the relative impact of soil salinity on nitrogen resorption. Although there were no significant differences in N resorption proficiency between asters and chenopods, chenopods were more proficient than asters at resorbing P. Plant responses to natural salinity gradients were species-specific and likely were related to the different salt-tolerance physiologies of the species. During the course of our three year study, precipitation varied 6.4- and nearly 10-fold from the long term average at our two desert sites; despite this variation, annual variation in nutrient resorption was not linked to annual precipitation. More detailed studies are required to better understand environmental influences on resorption patterns. Understanding controls on this trait may give insight into how species will respond to anthropogenic soil salinization and desertification.