Tallo: A global tree allometry and crown architecture database
Authors: Jucker Tommaso , Fischer Fabian Jörg , Chave Jérôme , Coomes David A. , Caspersen John , Ali Arshad , Loubota Panzou Grace Jopaul , Feldpausch Ted R. , Falster Daniel , Usoltsev Vladimir A. , Adu‐Bredu Stephen , Alves Luciana F. , Aminpour Mohammad , Angoboy Ilondea B. , Anten Niels P. R. , Antin Cécile , Askari Yousef , Muñoz Rodrigo , Ayyappan Narayanan , Balvanera Patricia , Banin Lindsay , Barbier Nicolas , Battles John J. , Beeckman Hans , Bocko Yannick E. , Bond‐Lamberty Ben , Bongers Frans , Bowers Samuel , Brade Thomas , van Breugel Michiel , Chantrain Arthur , Chaudhary Rajeev , Dai Jingyu , Dalponte Michele , Dimobe Kangbéni , Domec Jean‐Christophe , Doucet Jean‐Louis , Duursma Remko A. , Enríquez Moisés , van Ewijk Karin Y. , Farfán‐Rios William , Fayolle Adeline , Forni Eric , Forrester David I. , Gilani Hammad , Godlee John L. , Gourlet‐Fleury Sylvie , Haeni Matthias , Hall Jefferson S. , He Jie‐Kun , Hemp Andreas , Hernández‐Stefanoni José L. , Higgins Steven I. , Holdaway Robert J. , Hussain Kiramat , Hutley Lindsay B. , Ichie Tomoaki , Iida Yoshiko , Jiang Hai‐sheng , Joshi Puspa Raj , Kaboli Hasan , Larsary Maryam Kazempour , Kenzo Tanaka , Kloeppel Brian D. , Kohyama Takashi , Kunwar Suwash , Kuyah Shem , Kvasnica Jakub , Lin Siliang , Lines Emily R. , Liu Hongyan , Lorimer Craig , Loumeto Jean‐Joël , Malhi Yadvinder , Marshall Peter L. , Mattsson Eskil , Matula Radim , Meave Jorge A. , Mensah Sylvanus , Mi Xiangcheng , Momo Stéphane , Moncrieff Glenn R. , Mora Francisco , Nissanka Sarath P. , O'Hara Kevin L. , Pearce Steven , Pelissier Raphaël , Peri Pablo L. , Ploton Pierre , Poorter Lourens , Pour Mohsen Javanmiri , Pourbabaei Hassan , Dupuy‐Rada Juan Manuel , Ribeiro Sabina C. , Ryan Casey , Sanaei Anvar , Sanger Jennifer , Schlund Michael , Sellan Giacomo , Shenkin Alexander , Sonké Bonaventure , Sterck Frank J. , Svátek Martin , Takagi Kentaro , Trugman Anna T. , Ullah Farman , Vadeboncoeur Matthew A. , Valipour Ahmad , Vanderwel Mark C. , Vovides Alejandra G. , Wang Weiwei , Wang Li‐Qiu , Wirth Christian , Woods Murray , Xiang Wenhua , Ximenes Fabiano de Aquino , Xu Yaozhan , Yamada Toshihiro , Zavala Miguel A. 
Published: June 2022

Data capturing multiple axes of tree size and shape, such as a tree's stem diameter, height and crown size, underpin a wide range of ecological research—from developing and testing theory on forest structure and dynamics, to estimating forest carbon stocks and their uncertainties, and integrating remote sensing imagery into forest monitoring programmes. However, these data can be surprisingly hard to come by, particularly for certain regions of the world and for specific taxonomic groups, posing a real barrier to progress in these fields. To overcome this challenge, we developed the Tallo database, a collection of 498,838 georeferenced and taxonomically standardized records of individual trees for which stem diameter, height and/or crown radius have been measured. These data were collected at 61,856 globally distributed sites, spanning all major forested and non‐forested biomes. The majority of trees in the database are identified to species (88%), and collectively Tallo includes data for 5163 species distributed across 1453 genera and 187 plant families. The database is publicly archived under a CC‐BY 4.0 licence and can be access from: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6637599. To demonstrate its value, here we present three case studies that highlight how the Tallo database can be used to address a range of theoretical and applied questions in ecology—from testing the predictions of metabolic scaling theory, to exploring the limits of tree allometric plasticity along environmental gradients and modelling global variation in maximum attainable tree height. In doing so, we provide a key resource for field ecologists, remote sensing researchers and the modelling community working together to better understand the role that trees play in regulating the terrestrial carbon cycle.