DOI: 10.5061/dryad.hmgqnk9g0
title: Dataset for Ongole at al. - Functional traits predict tree-level phenological strategies in a mesic Indian savanna

description: Leaf phenology influences terrestrial primary production by determining
 the period of carbon uptake. While dominant leaf habit
 (evergreen/deciduous) is predictable at large scales based on
 environmental factors, there is substantial variability in the timing of
 key events such as leaf flush and senescence at smaller site-level scales.
 How much of this variability is explained by species functional traits
 related to a plant’s carbon economy? We monitored leaf phenology for 113
 individual trees of eleven dominant species in an Indian mesic savanna.
 Specifically, we related leaf functional traits and wood density to the
 (i) timing of leaf flush, leaf maturity, peak canopy and senescence, (ii)
 duration of leaf deployment, (iii) duration from start of senescence to
 leaflessness, and (iv) time to attainment of peak mature canopy following
 leaf flush. We expected species that use resources conservatively (low
 specific leaf area (SLA), high leaf dry matter content, low leaf nitrogen
 and high wood density) to senesce later and retain their leaves longer.
 For all species, leaflessness was most pronounced in early dry season and
 leaf flushing occurred in the late dry season. Species with high leaf
 carbon and dry matter content showed earlier leaf maturation, attained
 peak mature canopies sooner and deployed leaves longer. Species with high
 SLA, leaf nitrogen and low wood density showed earlier senescence but
 relationships were weak. In this savanna, phenology at fine scales was
 indeed associated with species functional traits relating to carbon
 investment, but these relationships were strong only when intra-specific
 variation in phenology was low.
description: This dataset is derived from raw data. The raw data are available
 from the corresponding author upon reasonable request as they are
 currently under use. Raw data: To
 document phenological patterns of trees, we chose 113 individual trees
 belonging to eleven dominant species that accounted for 80% of the basal
 area in our plot (Table S1). The mean number of individuals observed per
 species ranged between 10 and 12. Only apparently healthy and reproductive
 individuals with girth at breast height &gt; 20 cm were monitored.
 Individuals were typically monitored twice a month
 (1<sup>st</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> week) for 17
 months (September 2017–January 2019), and visually scored for the
 following variables: canopy fullness (L), and the percentage of flushing
 (FL), mature (M) and senescing leaves (S). During each session, we
 assigned a visual percentage score of 0-100 for each phenophase (flushing,
 mature and senescence) with a resolution of 10%. While the score for
 canopy fullness was a stand-alone measurement, scores for flushing, mature
 and senescing leaves add up to 100 as these are proportions of the total
 canopy score. To the extent possible, the same observer conducted the
 measurements across the study duration. The functional
 trait data is from Ratnam et al. (2019) - Functional Traits of Trees From
 Dry Deciduous “Forests” of Southern India Suggest Seasonal Drought and
 Fire Are Important Drivers