DOI: 10.5061/dryad.8cz8w9gwv
title: Data from: Genetic variation in growth and leaf traits associated with local adaptation to climate in yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton)

description: Understanding patterns of variation in functional traits of hardwood trees
 is crucial for conserving and managing North American temperate forests
 under climate change. This study examined provenance variation of yellow
 birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) in growth, biomass allocation, leaf
 morphology, and stable carbon isotope composition. Trees were grown from
 ten seed sources originating from across Canada and the northern USA.
 Height and diameter were not significantly related to climate at seed
 origin, suggesting that variation may be better explained by site factors,
 such as soil pH and soil moisture. In contrast, carbon isotope composition
 and leaf morphological traits were significantly correlated to climate
 variables including temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation.
 Provenances from warmer, drier localities tended to have higher stable
 carbon isotope ratio (δ13C), greater specific leaf area, and narrower leaf
 width than their counterparts from cooler, wetter climates. Thus,
 variation in leaf morphological traits appears to be involved in
 adaptation of yellow birch to variation in temperature and moisture
 availability across the species' range. Our results suggest that
 there may exist potential for selection and breeding of drought resistant
 yellow birch genotypes to aid in reforestation under climate
 change. 
description: # Data from: Genetic variation in growth and leaf traits associated with
 local adaptation to climate in yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis
 Britton) --- The dataset contains raw data for measurements of functional
 traits of yellow birch seedlings measured in a greenhouse common garden
 experiment. Measured traits pertain to growth, biomass allocation, carbon
 isotope composition, and leaf morphology. ## Description of the data and
 file structure The file 'Height_Diameter_200Seedlings.csv'
 contains raw measurements of total height (cm) and root collar diameter
 (cm) of all seedlings (n=200) in the common garden trial at two years of
 age The file 'Biomass_LeafMorphology_40Seedlings.csv' contains
 raw measurements of one seedling per provenance per block (n=40) of 26
 traits including: 1. leaf weight (g) 2. branch weight (g) 3. stem weight
 (g) 4. root weight (g) 5. aboveground biomass (g) 6. total seedling weight
 (g) 7. ratio of leaf:total weight 8. ratio of branch:total weight 9. ratio
 of stem:total weight 10. ratio of root:total weight 11. ratio of
 root:shoot weight 12. stable carbon isotope composition (delta13C) 13.
 total leaf area (cm) 14. blade perimeter (cm) 15. leaf vertical length
 (cm) 16. Average horizontal leaf width (cm) 17. Aspect ratio = ratio of
 leaf horizontal width (cm) to vertical length (cm) 18. Form coefficient =
 a numerical value which grade the leaf shape between circular (shortest
 perimeter for a given area) and filliform (longest perimeter for a given
 area). 19. BladeLength (cm) 20. Maximum perpendicular leaf width (cm) 21.
 Leaf width at 50% of leaf blade height, PerpWidth1 (cm) 22. Leaf width at
 90% of leaf blade height, PerpWidth2 (cm) 23. Leaf lobe angle at 10% of
 leaf blade height, LobeAngle1 (degrees) 24. Leaf lobe angle at 25% of leaf
 blade height, LobeAngle2 (degrees) 25. Petiole length (cm) 26. Specific
 leaf area (SLA) = ratio of total leaf area (cm2) to leaf dry mass (g)