Data for "Greater variation in boreal plant community composition and community-level traits at local- than regional-scale"
- Description:
- This is the final dataset associated with the publication, “Greater variation in boreal plant community composition and community-level traits at local- than regional-scale”, published in the Journal of Vegetation Science (2023). This dataset includes three primary files:
- the plant community composition dataset
- the associated environmental variables dataset
- the plant functional trait dataset
A fourth file containing geospatial reference data for the four study sites is also included.
Combined, the community composition and trait datasets were used to calculate the community-weighted means presented in the manuscript. These data explored how plant community composition and traits change across the latitudinal extent of the boreal biome of western North America, from central Saskatchewan to the northern treeline near Inuvik, NT.
In this study, we selected four boreal peatlands sites and within each site, sampled across dominant topoedaphic and/or hydrologic gradients to explore variation both within sites (local-scale) and among sites (regional-scale). At each site, we stratified sample collection by dominant landscape features across each gradient, and we randomly placed two or more 1m by 1m quadrats to assess community composition of vascular plants via stem counts and measure canopy cover, active and organic layer thickness. At three sites (Southern Old Black Spruce, Key Pile Camp, and Havipak Creek) we placed a total of 20 quadrats and, due to an intensive study at Scotty Creek Research Station (see Standen and Baltzer 2021), we placed 80 quadrats. Within each dominant landscape feature at each site, we collected functional trait data on at least 3 replicates of each abundant species. We explored patterns of community weighted mean functional traits pertaining to carbon exchange and community composition of both vascular plants and bryophyte communities and determined whether interspecific or intraspecific trait variation were driving changes within and across these sites. See Standen and Baltzer (2023) for more detailed methods.
- Standen, Katherine M.and Baltzer, Jennifer L.
- Contributor(s):
- Baltzer, Jennifer L., Laurier Library Research Data Services, and Standen, Katherine M.
- Source Repository:
- Wilfrid Laurier University Dataverse
- Series:
- Wilfrid Laurier University Library Research Data Repository Dataverse
- Publisher(s):
- Borealis
- Access:
- Public
- URL:
- https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/MVGFRF
- Publication date:
- 2023-09-18
- Subjects:
- Keywords:
- Identifier:
- https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/MVGFRF
