Abstract
AbstractMotivationTrait data are fundamental to the quantitative description of plant form and function. Although root traits capture key dimensions related to plant responses to changing environmental conditions and effects on ecosystem processes, they have rarely been included in large‐scale comparative studies and global models. For instance, root traits remain absent from nearly all studies that define the global spectrum of plant form and function. Thus, to overcome conceptual and methodological roadblocks preventing a widespread integration of root trait data into large‐scale analyses we created the Global Root Trait (GRooT) Database. GRooT provides ready‐to‐use data by combining the expertise of root ecologists with data mobilization and curation. Specifically, we (a) determined a set of core root traits relevant to the description of plant form and function based on an assessment by experts, (b) maximized species coverage through data standardization within and among traits, and (c) implemented data quality checks.Main types of variables containedGRooT contains 114,222 trait records on 38 continuous root traits.Spatial location and grainGlobal coverage with data from arid, continental, polar, temperate and tropical biomes. Data on root traits were derived from experimental studies and field studies.Time period and grainData were recorded between 1911 and 2019.Major taxa and level of measurementGRooT includes root trait data for which taxonomic information is available. Trait records vary in their taxonomic resolution, with subspecies or varieties being the highest and genera the lowest taxonomic resolution available. It contains information for 184 subspecies or varieties, 6,214 species, 1,967 genera and 254 families. Owing to variation in data sources, trait records in the database include both individual observations and mean values.Software formatGRooT includes two csv files. A GitHub repository contains the csv files and a script in R to query the database.
Highlights
Plant traits have been used for describing multiple aspects of plant species’ fitness and realized performance, including growth, survival and reproduction (Adler et al, 2014; Calow, 1987; Díaz et al, 2016; Geber & Griffen, 2003; Grime, 1977; Reich et al, 2003)
Root traits are likely to capture key dimensions of plant form and function, plant evolutionary history and responses to environmental variability (Bardgett et al, 2014; Freschet et al, 2017; Kong et al, 2019; Laliberté, 2016; Ma et al, 2018; Valverde-Barrantes et al, 2017), they remain underrepresented in large-scale comparative studies and global models
Root traits remain absent from most existing studies that define the global spectrum of plant form and function (Chave et al, 2009; Díaz et al, 2016; Reich, 2014; Wright et al, 2004; but see Averill et al, 2019)
Summary
Plant traits have been used for describing multiple aspects of plant species’ fitness and realized performance, including growth, survival and reproduction (Adler et al, 2014; Calow, 1987; Díaz et al, 2016; Geber & Griffen, 2003; Grime, 1977; Reich et al, 2003). Some trait variables that are not directly comparable in terms of definitions and units have been aggregated by type on TRY, such as root type/ root architecture Using these data requires that one first disaggregates these traits (e.g., by establishing links between trait names and definitions) and standardizes trait values. Accurate global assessments on root trait data availability, in terms of geographical or phylogenetic coverage, are essential to identify data gaps and to work towards increasing representativeness in largescale comparative studies and dynamic global vegetation models. To overcome these roadblocks, we have created the Global Root Trait (GRooT) Database. We envision that our advanced root trait database will be informative to global traitbased models and help to guide future measurement initiatives
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