Data Provider Contact Details *
* Name Anvar Sanaei
* Email anvar.sanaei@uni-leipzig.de
* Affiliation Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Life Sciences, Leipzig University
* Country Germany
Role *
Data_creator true
Data_manager true
Data_owner true
Primary_contact true
Research Group *
* Research_group Other-specify
Other-specify Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Life Sciences, Leipzig University
Dataset *
* Project_or_workshop_or_thesis_title ARBOfun
* Dataset_title Absorptive and transport root traits for 25 broadleaved tree species in ARBOfun
* Short_abstract This dataset contains data on root (absorptive and transport roots) and leaf traits and tree growth of 25 broadleaved tree species measured as average basal area increment (2014-2022). We collected the data in the arboretum ARBOfun in Großpösna, Germany. The R code used to analyse and visualize the data is also included.
* Keywords absorptive roots, basal area increment, broadleaved tree species, leaves, transport roots, principal component analysis, PCA
* Data_access_policy Open (CC BY 4.0)
Extensive_description_of_the_dataset In 2018 and 2019, the roots of three individuals per species were sampled. Next, in the lab, under the stereo microscope, the root branches were dissected into different orders: the first to fifth root orders. The root order of a tree species refers to the hierarchical classification of roots based on their branching sequence, where the most distal roots in a branching system are first order roots, the node from which two first order roots branch marks the location of a second order and the root branches to the proximal end are the fourth and fifth root orders. After scanning the roots, morphological root traits (specific root length, root diameter, and root tissue density) were quantified by root orders. After that, we measured root anatomical traits (root area, stele area, cortex area, and cortex area to stele area ratio) following the standard protocols. We also measured the rate of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization (MCR) using the magnified intersection method. Finally, between 2018 and 2022, we collected leaves (eleven fully expanded and intact sun-exposed leaves) of those 25 tree species, scanned them, and then measured the following leaf traits: leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf mass per area (LMA), and leaf toughness. The diameter at breast height (DBH) of each tree species was measured every year, and with that, we calculated the average basal area increment as a proxy for growth. List of files: - ARBOfun_trait_growth_data_root_order_data.csv: raw root and leaf data including the root order. Used for the supplementary analyses in Sanaei et al. (2025). - ARBOfun_trait_growth_data_functional_root_group_data.csv: root and leaf data averaged per root functional group (itself derived from root order). Used for the main analyses in Sanaei et al. (2025). - Meta_ARBOfun_functional_root_leaf_traits_growth.csv: metadata file describing the variables measured, their data type, and unit. - Meta_ARBOfun_order_based_root_leaf_traits_growth.csv: metadata file describing the variables measured, their data type, and unit. - ARBOfun root and leaf analysis.R (attached): R code used for the principal component analysis and visualization presented in Sanaei et al. (2025). All files use UTF-8 character encoding. There are no missing values.
Data_origin Field Experiment
Other-specify
Status_of_the_data_collection Completed
Persons Associated With Dataset ( 1 )
Name Christian Wirth
Email cwirth@uni-leipzig.de
Affiliation Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Life Sciences, Leipzig University; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Country Germany
Role
Data_creator
Data_manager
Data_owner true
Primary_contact
Research Group
Research_group iDiv Member
Other-specify
Persons Associated With Dataset ( 2 )
Name Alexandra Weigelt
Email alexandra.weigelt@uni-leipzig.de
Affiliation Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Life Sciences, Leipzig University; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Country Germany
Role
Data_creator
Data_manager false
Data_owner true
Primary_contact
Research Group
Research_group iDiv Member
Other-specify
Habitat
Terrestrial true
Freshwater
Marine
Taxonomic Scope
Animalia
Plantae true
Fungi
Bacteria
Virus
Microorganism
Temporal Cover
Date of first Record
Year 2018
Month
Day
Date of last Record
Year 2022
Month
Day
Spatial Cover
Coverage Local
Locality_names ARBOfun (Arboretum at Großpösna)
Country Germany
Additional Information
How_to_cite_dataset Sanaei, A., Weigelt, A., & Wirth, C. (2025). Absorptive and transport root traits for 25 broadleaved tree species in ARBOfun (Version 1.0) [Dataset]. German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research. https://doi.org/10.25829/idiv.3581-33ht28
Dataset_doi_or_url https://doi.org/10.25829/idiv.3581-33ht28
Publications_based_on_this_dataset Sanaei, A., van der Plas, F., Chen, H. et al. Tree growth is better explained by absorptive fine root traits than by transport fine root traits. Commun Biol 8, 313 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07756-y
Projects_that_are_related_to_this_dataset
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