TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access
Authors: Kattge Jens , Bönisch Gerhard , Díaz Sandra , Lavorel Sandra , Prentice Iain Colin , Leadley Paul , Tautenhahn Susanne , Werner Gijsbert D. A. , Aakala Tuomas , Abedi Mehdi , Acosta Alicia T. R. , Adamidis George C. , Adamson Kairi , Aiba Masahiro , Albert Cécile H. , Alcántara Julio M. , Alcázar C Carolina , Aleixo Izabela , Ali Hamada , Amiaud Bernard , Ammer Christian , Amoroso Mariano M. , Anand Madhur , Anderson Carolyn , Anten Niels , Antos Joseph , Apgaua Deborah Mattos Guimarães , Ashman Tia‐Lynn , Asmara Degi Harja , Asner Gregory P. , Aspinwall Michael , Atkin Owen , Aubin Isabelle , Baastrup‐Spohr Lars , Bahalkeh Khadijeh , Bahn Michael , Baker Timothy , Baker William J. , Bakker Jan P. , Baldocchi Dennis , Baltzer Jennifer , Banerjee Arindam , Baranger Anne , Barlow Jos , Barneche Diego R. , Baruch Zdravko , Bastianelli Denis , Battles John , Bauerle William , Bauters Marijn , Bazzato Erika , Beckmann Michael , Beeckman Hans , Beierkuhnlein Carl , Bekker Renee , Belfry Gavin , Belluau Michael , Beloiu Mirela , Benavides Raquel , Benomar Lahcen , Berdugo‐Lattke Mary Lee , Berenguer Erika , Bergamin Rodrigo , Bergmann Joana , Bergmann Carlucci Marcos , Berner Logan , Bernhardt‐Römermann Markus , Bigler Christof , Bjorkman Anne D. , Blackman Chris , Blanco Carolina , Blonder Benjamin , Blumenthal Dana , Bocanegra‐González Kelly T. , Boeckx Pascal , Bohlman Stephanie , Böhning‐Gaese Katrin , Boisvert‐Marsh Laura , Bond William , Bond‐Lamberty Ben , Boom Arnoud , Boonman Coline C. F. , Bordin Kauane , Boughton Elizabeth H. , Boukili Vanessa , Bowman David M. J. S. , Bravo Sandra , Brendel Marco Richard , Broadley Martin R. , Brown Kerry A. , Bruelheide Helge , Brumnich Federico , Bruun Hans Henrik , Bruy David , Buchanan Serra W. , Bucher Solveig Franziska , Buchmann Nina , Buitenwerf Robert , Bunker Daniel E. , Bürger Jana , Burrascano Sabina , Burslem David F. R. P. , Butterfield Bradley J. , Byun Chaeho , Marques Marcia , Scalon Marina C. , Caccianiga Marco , Cadotte Marc , Cailleret Maxime , Camac James , Camarero Jesús Julio , Campany Courtney , Campetella Giandiego , Campos Juan Antonio , Cano‐Arboleda Laura , Canullo Roberto , Carbognani Michele , Carvalho Fabio , Casanoves Fernando , Castagneyrol Bastien , Catford Jane A. , Cavender‐Bares Jeannine , Cerabolini Bruno E. L. , Cervellini Marco , Chacón‐Madrigal Eduardo , Chapin Kenneth , Chapin F. Stuart , Chelli Stefano , Chen Si‐Chong , Chen Anping , Cherubini Paolo , Chianucci Francesco , Choat Brendan , Chung Kyong‐Sook , Chytrý Milan , Ciccarelli Daniela , Coll Lluís , Collins Courtney G. , Conti Luisa , Coomes David , Cornelissen Johannes H. C. , Cornwell William K. , Corona Piermaria , Coyea Marie , Craine Joseph , Craven Dylan , Cromsigt Joris P. G. M. , Csecserits Anikó , Cufar Katarina , Cuntz Matthias , da Silva Ana Carolina , Dahlin Kyla M. , Dainese Matteo , Dalke Igor , Dalle Fratte Michele , Dang‐Le Anh Tuan , Danihelka Jirí , Dannoura Masako , Dawson Samantha , de Beer Arend Jacobus , De Frutos Angel , De Long Jonathan R. , Dechant Benjamin , Delagrange Sylvain , Delpierre Nicolas , Derroire Géraldine , Dias Arildo S. , Diaz‐Toribio Milton Hugo , Dimitrakopoulos Panayiotis G. , Dobrowolski Mark , Doktor Daniel , Dřevojan Pavel , Dong Ning , Dransfield John , Dressler Stefan , Duarte Leandro , Ducouret Emilie , Dullinger Stefan , Durka Walter , Duursma Remko , Dymova Olga , E‐Vojtkó Anna , Eckstein Rolf Lutz , Ejtehadi Hamid , Elser James , Emilio Thaise , Engemann Kristine , Erfanian Mohammad Bagher , Erfmeier Alexandra , Esquivel‐Muelbert Adriane , Esser Gerd , Estiarte Marc , Domingues Tomas F. , Fagan William F. , Fagúndez Jaime , Falster Daniel S. , Fan Ying , Fang Jingyun , Farris Emmanuele , Fazlioglu Fatih , Feng Yanhao , Fernandez‐Mendez Fernando , Ferrara Carlotta , Ferreira Joice , Fidelis Alessandra , Finegan Bryan , Firn Jennifer , Flowers Timothy J. , Flynn Dan F. B. , Fontana Veronika , Forey Estelle , Forgiarini Cristiane , François Louis , Frangipani Marcelo , Frank Dorothea , Frenette‐Dussault Cedric , Freschet Grégoire T. , Fry Ellen L. , Fyllas Nikolaos M. , Mazzochini Guilherme G. , Gachet Sophie , Gallagher Rachael , Ganade Gislene , Ganga Francesca , García‐Palacios Pablo , Gargaglione Verónica , Garnier Eric , Garrido Jose Luis , de Gasper André Luís , Gea‐Izquierdo Guillermo , Gibson David , Gillison Andrew N. , Giroldo Aelton , Glasenhardt Mary‐Claire , Gleason Sean , Gliesch Mariana , Goldberg Emma , Göldel Bastian , Gonzalez‐Akre Erika , Gonzalez‐Andujar Jose L. , González‐Melo Andrés , González‐Robles Ana , Graae Bente Jessen , Granda Elena , Graves Sarah , Green Walton A. , Gregor Thomas , Gross Nicolas , Guerin Greg R. , Günther Angela , Gutiérrez Alvaro G. , Haddock Lillie , Haines Anna , Hall Jefferson , Hambuckers Alain , Han Wenxuan , Harrison Sandy P. , Hattingh Wesley , Hawes Joseph E. , He Tianhua , He Pengcheng , Heberling Jacob Mason , Helm Aveliina , Hempel Stefan , Hentschel Jörn , Hérault Bruno , Hereş Ana‐Maria , Herz Katharina , Heuertz Myriam , Hickler Thomas , Hietz Peter , Higuchi Pedro , Hipp Andrew L. , Hirons Andrew , Hock Maria , Hogan James Aaron , Holl Karen , Honnay Olivier , Hornstein Daniel , Hou Enqing , Hough‐Snee Nate , Hovstad Knut Anders , Ichie Tomoaki , Igić Boris , Illa Estela , Isaac Marney , Ishihara Masae , Ivanov Leonid , Ivanova Larissa , Iversen Colleen M. , Izquierdo Jordi , Jackson Robert B. , Jackson Benjamin , Jactel Hervé , Jagodzinski Andrzej M. , Jandt Ute , Jansen Steven , Jenkins Thomas , Jentsch Anke , Jespersen Jens Rasmus Plantener , Jiang Guo‐Feng , Johansen Jesper Liengaard , Johnson David , Jokela Eric J. , Joly Carlos Alfredo , Jordan Gregory J. , Joseph Grant Stuart , Junaedi Decky , Junker Robert R. , Justes Eric , Kabzems Richard , Kane Jeffrey , Kaplan Zdenek , Kattenborn Teja , Kavelenova Lyudmila , Kearsley Elizabeth , Kempel Anne , Kenzo Tanaka , Kerkhoff Andrew , Khalil Mohammed I. , Kinlock Nicole L. , Kissling Wilm Daniel , Kitajima Kaoru , Kitzberger Thomas , Kjøller Rasmus , Klein Tamir , Kleyer Michael , Klimešová Jitka , Klipel Joice , Kloeppel Brian , Klotz Stefan , Knops Johannes M. H. , Kohyama Takashi , Koike Fumito , Kollmann Johannes , Komac Benjamin , Komatsu Kimberly , König Christian , Kraft Nathan J. B. , Kramer Koen , Kreft Holger , Kühn Ingolf , Kumarathunge Dushan , Kuppler Jonas , Kurokawa Hiroko , Kurosawa Yoko , Kuyah Shem , Laclau Jean‐Paul , Lafleur Benoit , Lallai Erik , Lamb Eric , Lamprecht Andrea , Larkin Daniel J. , Laughlin Daniel , Le Bagousse‐Pinguet Yoann , le Maire Guerric , le Roux Peter C. , le Roux Elizabeth , Lee Tali , Lens Frederic , Lewis Simon L. , Lhotsky Barbara , Li Yuanzhi , Li Xine , Lichstein Jeremy W. , Liebergesell Mario , Lim Jun Ying , Lin Yan‐Shih , Linares Juan Carlos , Liu Chunjiang , Liu Daijun , Liu Udayangani , Livingstone Stuart , Llusià Joan , Lohbeck Madelon , López‐García Álvaro , Lopez‐Gonzalez Gabriela , Lososová Zdeňka , Louault Frédérique , Lukács Balázs A. , Lukeš Petr , Luo Yunjian , Lussu Michele , Ma Siyan , Maciel Rabelo Pereira Camilla , Mack Michelle , Maire Vincent , Mäkelä Annikki , Mäkinen Harri , Malhado Ana Claudia Mendes , Mallik Azim , Manning Peter , Manzoni Stefano , Marchetti Zuleica , Marchino Luca , Marcilio‐Silva Vinicius , Marcon Eric , Marignani Michela , Markesteijn Lars , Martin Adam , Martínez‐Garza Cristina , Martínez‐Vilalta Jordi , Mašková Tereza , Mason Kelly , Mason Norman , Massad Tara Joy , Masse Jacynthe , Mayrose Itay , McCarthy James , McCormack M. Luke , McCulloh Katherine , McFadden Ian R. , McGill Brian J. , McPartland Mara Y. , Medeiros Juliana S. , Medlyn Belinda , Meerts Pierre , Mehrabi Zia , Meir Patrick , Melo Felipe P. L. , Mencuccini Maurizio , Meredieu Céline , Messier Julie , Mészáros Ilona , Metsaranta Juha , Michaletz Sean T. , Michelaki Chrysanthi , Migalina Svetlana , Milla Ruben , Miller Jesse E. D. , Minden Vanessa , Ming Ray , Mokany Karel , Moles Angela T. , Molnár Attila , Molofsky Jane , Molz Martin , Montgomery Rebecca A. , Monty Arnaud , Moravcová Lenka , Moreno‐Martínez Alvaro , Moretti Marco , Mori Akira S. , Mori Shigeta , Morris Dave , Morrison Jane , Mucina Ladislav , Mueller Sandra , Muir Christopher D. , Müller Sandra Cristina , Munoz François , Myers‐Smith Isla H. , Myster Randall W. , Nagano Masahiro , Naidu Shawna , Narayanan Ayyappan , Natesan Balachandran , Negoita Luka , Nelson Andrew S. , Neuschulz Eike Lena , Ni Jian , Niedrist Georg , Nieto Jhon , Niinemets Ülo , Nolan Rachael , Nottebrock Henning , Nouvellon Yann , Novakovskiy Alexander ,   The Nutrient Network, Nystuen Kristin Odden , O'Grady Anthony , O'Hara Kevin , O'Reilly‐Nugent Andrew , Oakley Simon , Oberhuber Walter , Ohtsuka Toshiyuki , Oliveira Ricardo , Öllerer Kinga , Olson Mark E. , Onipchenko Vladimir , Onoda Yusuke , Onstein Renske E. , Ordonez Jenny C. , Osada Noriyuki , Ostonen Ivika , Ottaviani Gianluigi , Otto Sarah , Overbeck Gerhard E. , Ozinga Wim A. , Pahl Anna T. , Paine C. E. Timothy , Pakeman Robin J. , Papageorgiou Aristotelis C. , Parfionova Evgeniya , Pärtel Meelis , Patacca Marco , Paula Susana , Paule Juraj , Pauli Harald , Pausas Juli G. , Peco Begoña , Penuelas Josep , Perea Antonio , Peri Pablo Luis , Petisco‐Souza Ana Carolina , Petraglia Alessandro , Petritan Any Mary , Phillips Oliver L. , Pierce Simon , Pillar Valério D. , Pisek Jan , Pomogaybin Alexandr , Poorter Hendrik , Portsmuth Angelika , Poschlod Peter , Potvin Catherine , Pounds Devon , Powell A. Shafer , Power Sally A. , Prinzing Andreas , Puglielli Giacomo , Pyšek Petr , Raevel Valerie , Rammig Anja , Ransijn Johannes , Ray Courtenay A. , Reich Peter B. , Reichstein Markus , Reid Douglas E. B. , Réjou‐Méchain Maxime , de Dios Victor Resco , Ribeiro Sabina , Richardson Sarah , Riibak Kersti , Rillig Matthias C. , Riviera Fiamma , Robert Elisabeth M. R. , Roberts Scott , Robroek Bjorn , Roddy Adam , Rodrigues Arthur Vinicius , Rogers Alistair , Rollinson Emily , Rolo Victor , Römermann Christine , Ronzhina Dina , Roscher Christiane , Rosell Julieta A. , Rosenfield Milena Fermina , Rossi Christian , Roy David B. , Royer‐Tardif Samuel , Rüger Nadja , Ruiz‐Peinado Ricardo , Rumpf Sabine B. , Rusch Graciela M. , Ryo Masahiro , Sack Lawren , Saldaña Angela , Salgado‐Negret Beatriz , Salguero‐Gomez Roberto , Santa‐Regina Ignacio , Santacruz‐García Ana Carolina , Santos Joaquim , Sardans Jordi , Schamp Brandon , Scherer‐Lorenzen Michael , Schleuning Matthias , Schmid Bernhard , Schmidt Marco , Schmitt Sylvain , Schneider Julio V. , Schowanek Simon D. , Schrader Julian , Schrodt Franziska , Schuldt Bernhard , Schurr Frank , Selaya Garvizu Galia , Semchenko Marina , Seymour Colleen , Sfair Julia C. , Sharpe Joanne M. , Sheppard Christine S. , Sheremetiev Serge , Shiodera Satomi , Shipley Bill , Shovon Tanvir Ahmed , Siebenkäs Alrun , Sierra Carlos , Silva Vasco , Silva Mateus , Sitzia Tommaso , Sjöman Henrik , Slot Martijn , Smith Nicholas G. , Sodhi Darwin , Soltis Pamela , Soltis Douglas , Somers Ben , Sonnier Grégory , Sørensen Mia Vedel , Sosinski Enio Egon , Soudzilovskaia Nadejda A. , Souza Alexandre F. , Spasojevic Marko , Sperandii Marta Gaia , Stan Amanda B. , Stegen James , Steinbauer Klaus , Stephan Jörg G. , Sterck Frank , Stojanovic Dejan B. , Strydom Tanya , Suarez Maria Laura , Svenning Jens‐Christian , Svitková Ivana , Svitok Marek , Svoboda Miroslav , Swaine Emily , Swenson Nathan , Tabarelli Marcelo , Takagi Kentaro , Tappeiner Ulrike , Tarifa Rubén , Tauugourdeau Simon , Tavsanoglu Cagatay , te Beest Mariska , Tedersoo Leho , Thiffault Nelson , Thom Dominik , Thomas Evert , Thompson Ken , Thornton Peter E. , Thuiller Wilfried , Tichý Lubomír , Tissue David , Tjoelker Mark G. , Tng David Yue Phin , Tobias Joseph , Török Péter , Tarin Tonantzin , Torres‐Ruiz José M. , Tóthmérész Béla , Treurnicht Martina , Trivellone Valeria , Trolliet Franck , Trotsiuk Volodymyr , Tsakalos James L. , Tsiripidis Ioannis , Tysklind Niklas , Umehara Toru , Usoltsev Vladimir , Vadeboncoeur Matthew , Vaezi Jamil , Valladares Fernando , Vamosi Jana , van Bodegom Peter M. , van Breugel Michiel , Van Cleemput Elisa , van de Weg Martine , van der Merwe Stephni , van der Plas Fons , van der Sande Masha T. , van Kleunen Mark , Van Meerbeek Koenraad , Vanderwel Mark , Vanselow Kim André , Vårhammar Angelica , Varone Laura , Vasquez Valderrama Maribel Yesenia , Vassilev Kiril , Vellend Mark , Veneklaas Erik J. , Verbeeck Hans , Verheyen Kris , Vibrans Alexander , Vieira Ima , Villacís Jaime , Violle Cyrille , Vivek Pandi , Wagner Katrin , Waldram Matthew , Waldron Anthony , Walker Anthony P. , Waller Martyn , Walther Gabriel , Wang Han , Wang Feng , Wang Weiqi , Watkins Harry , Watkins James , Weber Ulrich , Weedon James T. , Wei Liping , Weigelt Patrick , Weiher Evan , Wells Aidan W. , Wellstein Camilla , Wenk Elizabeth , Westoby Mark , Westwood Alana , White Philip John , Whitten Mark , Williams Mathew , Winkler Daniel E. , Winter Klaus , Womack Chevonne , Wright Ian J. , Wright S. Joseph , Wright Justin , Pinho Bruno X. , Ximenes Fabiano , Yamada Toshihiro , Yamaji Keiko , Yanai Ruth , Yankov Nikolay , Yguel Benjamin , Zanini Kátia Janaina , Zanne Amy E. , Zelený David , Zhao Yun‐Peng , Zheng Jingming , Zheng Ji , Ziemińska Kasia , Zirbel Chad R. , Zizka Georg , Zo‐Bi Irié Casimir , Zotz Gerhard , Wirth Christian 
Published: December 2019

Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits—almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives.