The GenTree Leaf Collection: inter and intraspecific leaf variation in seven forest tree species in Europe
Benavides R, Carvalho B, Bastias CC, López-Quiroga D, Mas A, Cavers S, Gray A, Albet A, Alía R, Ambrosio O, Aravanopoulos F, Auñón F, Avanzi C, Avramidou EV, Bagnoli F, Ballesteros E, Barbas E, Bastien C, Bernier F, Bignalet H, Bouic D, Brunetto W, Buchovska J, Cabanillas-Saldaña AM, Cheval N, Climent JM, Correard M, Cremer E, Danusevičius D, Dauphin B, Del Caño F, Denou J, Dokhelar B, Dourthe R, Farsakoglou A, Fera A, Fonti P, Ganopoulos I, García del Barrio JM, Gilg O, González-Martínez SC, Graf R, Grivet D, Gugerli F, Hartleitner C, Heer K, Hollenbach E, Hurel A, Issehuth B, Jean F, Jorge V, Jouineau A, Kappner J, Kärkkäinen K, Kesälahti R, Knutzen F, Kujala ST, Kumpula T, Labriola M, Lalanne C, Lambertz J, Lascoux M, Le Provost G, Liesebach M, Malliarou E, Marchon J, Mariotte N, Martínez-Sancho E, Matesanz S, Meischner H, Michotey C, Milesi P, Morganti S, Myking T, Nilsen AE, Notivol E, Opgenoorth L, Østreng G, Pakull B, Piotti A, Plomion C, Poinot N, Pringarbe M, Puzos L, Pyhäjärvi T, Raffin A, Ramírez-Valiente JA, Rellstab C, Richter S, Robledo-Arnuncio JJ, San Segundo S, Savolainen O, Schneck V, Schueler S, Scotti I, Semerikov V, Henrik Sønstebø J, Spanu I, Thevenet J, Tollefsrud MM, Turion N, Vendramin GG, Villar M, Westin J, Fady B, Valladares F
Global Ecology and Biogeography 183: 259. (2020) doi: 10.1111/geb.13239
Motivation: Trait variation within species can reveal plastic and/or genetic responsesto environmental gradients, and may indicate where local adaptation has occurred.Here, we present a dataset of rangewide variation in leaf traits from seven of the mostecologically and economically important tree species in Europe. Sample collectionand trait assessment are embedded in the GenTree project (EU-Horizon 2020), whichaims at characterizing the genetic and phenotypic variability of forest tree speciesto optimize the management and sustainable use of forest genetic resources. Ourdataset captures substantial intra- and interspecific leaf phenotypic variability, andprovides valuable information for studying the relationship between ecosystem functioningand trait variability of individuals, and the response and resilience of speciesto environmental changes. Main types of variable contained: We chose morphological and chemical characterslinked to trade-offs between acquisition and conservation of resources and wateruse, namely specific leaf area, leaf size, carbon and nitrogen content and their ratio,and the isotopic signature of stable isotope 13C and 15N in leaves. Spatial location and grain: We surveyed between 18 and 22 populations per species,141 in total, across Europe. Time period: Leaf sampling took place between 2016 and 2017.
