The GenTree Leaf Collection: Inter‐ and intraspecific leaf variation in seven forest tree species in Europe
Authors: Benavides Raquel , Carvalho Bárbara , Bastias Cristina C. , López‐Quiroga David , Mas Antonio , Cavers Stephen , Gray Alan , Albet Audrey , Alía Ricardo , Ambrosio Olivier , Aravanopoulos Filippos , Auñón Francisco , Avanzi Camilla , Avramidou Evangelia V. , Bagnoli Francesca , Ballesteros Eduardo , Barbas Evangelos , Bastien Catherine , Bernier Frédéric , Bignalet Henry , Bouic Damien , Brunetto William , Buchovska Jurata , Cabanillas‐Saldaña Ana M. , Cheval Nicolas , Climent José M. , Correard Marianne , Cremer Eva , Danusevičius Darius , Dauphin Benjamin , Del Caño Fernando , Denou Jean‐Luc , Dokhelar Bernard , Dourthe Rémi , Farsakoglou Anna‐Maria , Fera Andreas , Fonti Patrick , Ganopoulos Ioannis , García del Barrio José M. , Gilg Olivier , González‐Martínez Santiago C. , Graf René , Grivet Delphine , Gugerli Felix , Hartleitner Christoph , Heer Katrin , Hollenbach Enja , Hurel Agathe , Issehuth Bernard , Jean Florence , Jorge Veronique , Jouineau Arnaud , Kappner Jan‐Philipp , Kärkkäinen Katri , Kesälahti Robert , Knutzen Florian , Kujala Sonja T. , Kumpula Timo , Labriola Mariaceleste , Lalanne Celine , Lambertz Johannes , Lascoux Martin , Le Provost Gregoire , Liesebach Mirko , Malliarou Ermioni , Marchon Jérémy , Mariotte Nicolas , Martínez‐Sancho Elisabet , Matesanz Silvia , Meischner Helge , Michotey Célia , Milesi Pascal , Morganti Sandro , Myking Tor , Nilsen Anne E. , Notivol Eduardo , Opgenoorth Lars , Østreng Geir , Pakull Birte , Piotti Andrea , Plomion Christophe , Poinot Nicolas , Pringarbe Mehdi , Puzos Luc , Pyhäjärvi Tanja , Raffin Annie , Ramírez‐Valiente José A. , Rellstab Christian , Richter Sebastian , Robledo‐Arnuncio Juan J. , San Segundo Sergio , Savolainen Outi , Schneck Volker , Schueler Silvio , Scotti Ivan , Semerikov Vladimir , Henrik Sønstebø Jørn , Spanu Ilaria , Thevenet Jean , Tollefsrud Mari Mette , Turion Norbert , Vendramin Giovanni Giuseppe , Villar Marc , Westin Johan , Fady Bruno , Valladares Fernando 
Published: January 2021

Motivation

Trait variation within species can reveal plastic and/or genetic responses to environmental gradients, and may indicate where local adaptation has occurred. Here, we present a dataset of rangewide variation in leaf traits from seven of the most ecologically and economically important tree species in Europe. Sample collection and trait assessment are embedded in the GenTree project (EU‐Horizon 2020), which aims at characterizing the genetic and phenotypic variability of forest tree species to optimize the management and sustainable use of forest genetic resources. Our dataset captures substantial intra‐ and interspecific leaf phenotypic variability, and provides valuable information for studying the relationship between ecosystem functioning and trait variability of individuals, and the response and resilience of species to environmental changes.

Main types of variable contained

We chose morphological and chemical characters linked to trade‐offs between acquisition and conservation of resources and water use, namely specific leaf area, leaf size, carbon and nitrogen content and their ratio, and the isotopic signature of stable isotope 13C and 15N in leaves.

Spatial location and grain

We surveyed between 18 and 22 populations per species, 141 in total, across Europe.

Time period

Leaf sampling took place between 2016 and 2017.

Major taxa and level of measurement

We sampled at least 25 individuals in each population, 3,569 trees in total, and measured traits in 35,755 leaves from seven European tree species, i.e. the conifers Picea abies, Pinus pinaster and Pinus sylvestris, and the broadleaves Betula pendula, Fagus sylvatica, Populus nigra and Quercus petraea.

Software format

The data files are in ASCII text, tab delimited, not compressed.