Tundra Trait Team: A database of plant traits spanning the tundra biome
Authors: Bjorkman Anne D. , Myers‐Smith Isla H. , Elmendorf Sarah C. , Normand Signe , Thomas Haydn J. D. , Alatalo Juha M. , Alexander Heather , Anadon‐Rosell Alba , Angers‐Blondin Sandra , Bai Yang , Baruah Gaurav , te Beest Mariska , Berner Logan , Björk Robert G. , Blok Daan , Bruelheide Helge , Buchwal Agata , Buras Allan , Carbognani Michele , Christie Katherine , Collier Laura S. , Cooper Elisabeth J. , Cornelissen J. Hans C. , Dickinson Katharine J. M. , Dullinger Stefan , Elberling Bo , Eskelinen Anu , Forbes Bruce C. , Frei Esther R. , Iturrate‐Garcia Maitane , Good Megan K. , Grau Oriol , Green Peter , Greve Michelle , Grogan Paul , Haider Sylvia , Hájek Tomáš , Hallinger Martin , Happonen Konsta , Harper Karen A. , Heijmans Monique M. P. D. , Henry Gregory H. R. , Hermanutz Luise , Hewitt Rebecca E. , Hollister Robert D. , Hudson James , Hülber Karl , Iversen Colleen M. , Jaroszynska Francesca , Jiménez‐Alfaro Borja , Johnstone Jill , Jorgensen Rasmus Halfdan , Kaarlejärvi Elina , Klady Rebecca , Klimešová Jitka , Korsten Annika , Kuleza Sara , Kulonen Aino , Lamarque Laurent J. , Lantz Trevor , Lavalle Amanda , Lembrechts Jonas J. , Lévesque Esther , Little Chelsea J. , Luoto Miska , Macek Petr , Mack Michelle C. , Mathakutha Rabia , Michelsen Anders , Milbau Ann , Molau Ulf , Morgan John W. , Mörsdorf Martin Alfons , Nabe‐Nielsen Jacob , Nielsen Sigrid Schøler , Ninot Josep M. , Oberbauer Steven F. , Olofsson Johan , Onipchenko Vladimir G. , Petraglia Alessandro , Pickering Catherine , Prevéy Janet S. , Rixen Christian , Rumpf Sabine B. , Schaepman‐Strub Gabriela , Semenchuk Philipp , Shetti Rohan , Soudzilovskaia Nadejda A. , Spasojevic Marko J. , Speed James David Mervyn , Street Lorna E. , Suding Katharine , Tape Ken D. , Tomaselli Marcello , Trant Andrew , Treier Urs A. , Tremblay Jean‐Pierre , Tremblay Maxime , Venn Susanna , Virkkala Anna‐Maria , Vowles Tage , Weijers Stef , Wilmking Martin , Wipf Sonja , Zamin Tara 
Published: October 2018

Motivation

The Tundra Trait Team (TTT) database includes field‐based measurements of key traits related to plant form and function at multiple sites across the tundra biome. This dataset can be used to address theoretical questions about plant strategy and trade‐offs, trait–environment relationships and environmental filtering, and trait variation across spatial scales, to validate satellite data, and to inform Earth system model parameters.

Main types of variable contained

The database contains 91,970 measurements of 18 plant traits. The most frequently measured traits (> 1,000 observations each) include plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf fresh and dry mass, leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus content, leaf C:N and N:P, seed mass, and stem specific density.

Spatial location and grain

Measurements were collected in tundra habitats in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, including Arctic sites in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Fennoscandia and Siberia, alpine sites in the European Alps, Colorado Rockies, Caucasus, Ural Mountains, Pyrenees, Australian Alps, and Central Otago Mountains (New Zealand), and sub‐Antarctic Marion Island. More than 99% of observations are georeferenced.

Time period and grain

All data were collected between 1964 and 2018. A small number of sites have repeated trait measurements at two or more time periods.

Major taxa and level of measurement

Trait measurements were made on 978 terrestrial vascular plant species growing in tundra habitats. Most observations are on individuals (86%), while the remainder represent plot or site means or maximums per species.

Software format

csv file and GitHub repository with data cleaning scripts in R; contribution to TRY plant trait database (www.try-db.org) to be included in the next version release.