Foliar isotopic and elemental biochemistry and leaf mass per area (LMA), Parque Natural Metropolitano, Panama, 2022

Author(s): Davidson K; Lamour J; Calderon O; Ely K

Site ID: PA-PNM

Site Name: Parque Natural Metropolitano

Variables: Leaf chemistry; Leaf mass area

Date Range: Jan. 18, 2022 - April 8, 2022

Description: Foliar N and C isotope composition, bulk elemental N and C composition, and leaf mass per area (LMA) for leaves sampled from the Parque Natural Metropolitano (PNM), Panama, from January to April 2022 are presented. Measurements were made on leaves from 17 different tree, shrub and liana species, from sunlit canopy and understory locations on 8 vertical profiles. Full sample details and leaf area index (LAI) from the vertical profiles at PNM are also included in the data package. The aim of this measurement campaign was two-fold: to improve our understanding of the vertical variation in leaf-level water use efficiency, and to improve models which can predict leaf traits from leaf contact spectral measurements. Biochemistry data and sample metadata are presented in .csv files. The original isotopic data report, which includes details about standards and data accuracy, is provided in .xlsx format. Data and metadata meet the ESS-DIVE reporting format requirements for file level metadata (FLMD) and comma separated values (csv). The protocol details are provided as pdf documents. In addition to foliar biochemistry data reported here these samples were also used for measurement of leaf gas exchange, and leaf optical properties. These data can be linked using the unique sample ID and are provided in separate data packages (NGT0192 and NGT0193).

QA/QC: Full QA-QC

Methods Description: Foliar samples included in this dataset were either previously measured for gas exchange (SampleID prefix “BNL”), or as part of a spectroscopic survey of vertical levels within the canopy (SampleID prefix “SPC”). Samples were collected using the canopy access crane located in the Parque Natural Metropolitano, Panama, operated by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). Refer to the related references for complete methods and data for these measurements. For leaf samples previously measured for gas exchange, 5-11 disks of a known area were collected from each leaf. These leaf disks were weighed to obtain a fresh mass, placed in paper envelopes, and dried to a constant mass in a 60ºC drying oven. The samples were then reweighed to measure dry mass, and LMA (dry mass / leaf area) was calculated. Samples previously measured as part of the spectroscopic survey were placed as whole leaves in paper envelopes, and dried to a constant mass in a 60ºC drying oven. All dried samples were ground using a ball mill to achieve uniform texture (<40 mesh). Samples were then sent to the University of Utah SIRFER Lab for measurement of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios and elemental C and N content. The SIRFER lab uses an isotope ratio mass spectrometer coupled to an elemental analyzer, operated in continuous flow mode. Additional details about the SIRFER lab and their methodology can be found at https://sirfer.utah.edu/index.html or in the data package file Isotope_Data_Report.xlsx.

Access Level: Public

Originating Institution(s): Brookhaven National Laboratory; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Sponsor Organization(s): None

Contact: Rogers, Alistair - Brookhaven National Laboratory (arogers@bnl.gov)

Version: 1.0

Dataset Citation: Davidson K; Lamour J; Calderon O; Ely K (2024): Foliar isotopic and elemental biochemistry and leaf mass per area (LMA), Parque Natural Metropolitano, Panama, 2022. 1.0. NGEE Tropics Data Collection. (dataset). https://doi.org/10.15486/ngt/2222432

Acknowledgement: This research was supported as part of NGEE-Tropics, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research under contract no. DE-SC0012704.

Data Link: Download Dataset

Kenneth Davidson, Julien Lamour, Osvaldo Calderon, Alfonso Zambrano, Cynthia Wright, Kim Ely (2022). Leaf reflectance, leaf transmittance and sky irradiance, at four sites in Panama, 2022. NGEE Tropics Data Collection. Accessed at https://doi.org/10.15486/ngt/1896889.

Julien Lamour, Kenneth Davidson, Osvaldo Calderon, Kim Ely (2022). Leaf gas exchange and fitted parameters, two sites in Panama, 2022. NGEE Tropics Data Collection. Accessed at https://doi.org/10.15486/ngt/1896884.