The global spectrum of plant form and function: enhanced species-level trait dataset
Authors: Díaz Sandra , Kattge Jens , Cornelissen Johannes H. C. , Wright Ian J. , Lavorel Sandra , Dray Stéphane , Reu Björn , Kleyer Michael , Wirth Christian , Prentice I. Colin , Garnier Eric , Bönisch Gerhard , Westoby Mark , Poorter Hendrik , Reich Peter B. , Moles Angela T. , Dickie John , Zanne Amy E. , Chave Jérôme , Wright S. Joseph , Sheremetiev Serge N. , Jactel Hervé , Baraloto Christopher , Cerabolini Bruno E. L. , Pierce Simon , Shipley Bill , Casanoves Fernando , Joswig Julia S. , Günther Angela , Falczuk Valeria , Rüger Nadja , Mahecha Miguel D. , Gorné Lucas D. , Amiaud Bernard , Atkin Owen K. , Bahn Michael , Baldocchi Dennis , Beckmann Michael , Blonder Benjamin , Bond William , Bond-Lamberty Ben , Brown Kerry , Burrascano Sabina , Byun Chaeho , Campetella Giandiego , Cavender-Bares Jeannine , Chapin F. Stuart , Choat Brendan , Coomes David Anthony , Cornwell William K. , Craine Joseph , Craven Dylan , Dainese Matteo , de Araujo Alessandro Carioca , de Vries Franciska T. , Domingues Tomas Ferreira , Enquist Brian J. , Fagúndez Jaime , Fang Jingyun , Fernández-Méndez Fernando , Fernandez-Piedade Maria T. , Ford Henry , Forey Estelle , Freschet Gregoire T. , Gachet Sophie , Gallagher Rachael , Green Walton , Guerin Greg R. , Gutiérrez Alvaro G. , Harrison Sandy P. , Hattingh Wesley Neil , He Tianhua , Hickler Thomas , Higgins Steven I. , Higuchi Pedro , Ilic Jugo , Jackson Robert B. , Jalili Adel , Jansen Steven , Koike Fumito , König Christian , Kraft Nathan , Kramer Koen , Kreft Holger , Kühn Ingolf , Kurokawa Hiroko , Lamb Eric G. , Laughlin Daniel C. , Leishman Michelle , Lewis Simon , Louault Frédérique , Malhado Ana C. M. , Manning Peter , Meir Patrick , Mencuccini Maurizio , Messier Julie , Miller Regis , Minden Vanessa , Molofsky Jane , Montgomery Rebecca , Montserrat-Martí Gabriel , Moretti Marco , Müller Sandra , Niinemets Ülo , Ogaya Romà , Öllerer Kinga , Onipchenko Vladimir , Onoda Yusuke , Ozinga Wim A. , Pausas Juli G. , Peco Begoña , Penuelas Josep , Pillar Valério D. , Pladevall Clara , Römermann Christine , Sack Lawren , Salinas Norma , Sandel Brody , Sardans Jordi , Schamp Brandon , Scherer-Lorenzen Michael , Schulze Ernst-Detlef , Schweingruber Fritz , Shiodera Satomi , Sosinski Ênio , Soudzilovskaia Nadejda , Spasojevic Marko J. , Swaine Emily , Swenson Nathan , Tautenhahn Susanne , Thompson Ken , Totte Alexia , Urrutia-Jalabert Rocío , Valladares Fernando , van Bodegom Peter , Vasseur François , Verheyen Kris , Vile Denis , Violle Cyrille , von Holle Betsy , Weigelt Patrick , Weiher Evan , Wiemann Michael C. , Williams Mathew , Wright Justin , Zotz Gerhard 
Published: December 2022

Here we provide the ‘Global Spectrum of Plant Form and Function Dataset’, containing species mean values for six vascular plant traits. Together, these traits –plant height, stem specific density, leaf area, leaf mass per area, leaf nitrogen content per dry mass, and diaspore (seed or spore) mass – define the primary axes of variation in plant form and function. The dataset is based on ca. 1 million trait records received via the TRY database (representing ca. 2,500 original publications) and additional unpublished data. It provides 92,159 species mean values for the six traits, covering 46,047 species. The data are complemented by higher-level taxonomic classification and six categorical traits (woodiness, growth form, succulence, adaptation to terrestrial or aquatic habitats, nutrition type and leaf type). Data quality management is based on a probabilistic approach combined with comprehensive validation against expert knowledge and external information. Intense data acquisition and thorough quality control produced the largest and, to our knowledge, most accurate compilation of empirically observed vascular plant species mean traits to date.