Plant root trait measurements raw data, 1962-2018, Island of Puerto Rico

Author(s): Yaffar D; Lugo A; Silver W; Cuevas E; Molina Colon S

Site ID: US-PR0

Site Name: Island of Puerto Rico

Variables: Root data

Date Range: Aug. 16, 1962 - Aug. 1, 2019

Description: This data package is a compilation of studies and raw datasets on root traits including root biomass, root nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations organized by different root diameters, species, soil depth, and forest types in Puerto Rico. The attached zip file contains a metadata document "archive metadata.docx" in Word document and PDF formats that describe the methods of data collection, the data sources and publications used in the synthesis, and information about the contents of the two CSV data files "root.shoot.ratio_PR.csv" and "Raw data.csv." Also included are a KMZ file with data collection locations and an additional CSV file with coordinates for each site of data collection organized by data author and year of publication.

QA/QC: None

Methods Description: Data was collected from search engines Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus. We looked at all papers returned when searching for the key words: "root", "below ground", "plant", and "Puerto Rico". FRED (Fine Root Ecology Database Version 2) and ORNL DAAC (Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center) were used to compare Puerto Rico's data with other tropical/global studies. Fine roots were defined as all roots less than or equal to 2 mm in diameter. Root:shoot ratio was collected using whole tree sampling. Puerto Rico root:shoot ratio was compared with global metanalyses we used the formula from the methods of Cairns et al. (1997) and Mokany et al. (2006). All statistical analyses were performed in R studio. We used ANOVA to compare root:shoot ratio as well as N and P among species. Further methods are detailed in the word document included in the attached zip file.

Access Level: Public

Originating Institution(s): Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Sponsor Organization(s): None

Contact: Yaffar, Daniela - Oak Ridge National Laboratory (danielayaffar@gmail.com)

Version: 1.0

Dataset Citation: Yaffar D; Lugo A; Silver W; Cuevas E; Molina Colon S (2021): Plant root trait measurements raw data, 1962-2018, Island of Puerto Rico. 1.0. NGEE Tropics Data Collection. (dataset). http://dx.doi.org/10.15486/ngt/1558773

Acknowledgement: USDA Forest Service - International Institute of Tropical Forestry.

Data Link: Download Dataset

Frangi & Lugo (1985), Murphy & Lugo (1986), Cuevas et al. (1991), and Lugo (1992), Colón (2006) and Teh, Silver & Scatena (2009), Gale & Grigal (1987), Cairns et al. (1997), Mokany et al. (2006), (RStudio Team, (2016)