Documentation Revision Date: 2023-03-17
Dataset Version: 1
Summary
This dataset contains one data file in comma-separated values (*.csv) format.
Figure 1. Ratios of (a) maximum rate of carboxylation to respiration at 25 degrees C from Griffin et al. (2022) (Vcmax /R25 ) and (b) maximum electron transport rate to respiration at 25 degrees C from Griffin et al. (2022) (Jmax /R25 ) of white spruce from high and low canopy positions at the Forest Tundra Ecotone (FTE, blue), Alaska, and Black Rock Forest (BRF, green), New York. Boxplots show the median and first and third quartiles. Whiskers display the range of groups with individual points representing outliers falling outside 1.5 times the interquartile range. Different letters represent significant differences between locations and canopy positions.
Citation
Schmiege, S.C., K. Griffin, N.T. Boleman, L. Vierling, S.G. Bruner, E. Min, A.J. Maguire, J. Jensen, and J. Eitel. 2023. ABoVE: White Spruce Photosynthetic and Leaf Traits, Alaska and New York, 2017. ORNL DAAC, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/2124
Table of Contents
- Dataset Overview
- Data Characteristics
- Application and Derivation
- Quality Assessment
- Data Acquisition, Materials, and Methods
- Data Access
- References
Dataset Overview
This dataset provides measurements of gas exchange (light response curves, Kok curves and ACi curves), leaf traits (carbon, nitrogen, and specific leaf area), leaf pigments (Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b and Carotenoids), the photochemical reflectance index (PRI), and average photosynthetic photon flux density as collected from hemispherical photographs. Data were collected on white spruce trees (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) growing at the northern edge of the species' distribution in Alaska and at the southern edge of the species' distribution in Black Rock Forest (BRF), New York. Measurements were taken at high and low canopy positions on each tree at both sites during the 2017 growing season (2017-06-19 to 2017-07-20). Gas exchange, leaf trait, pigment and spectral measurements were obtained using a portable photosynthesis system (LI-6800, LI-COR, Lincoln, NE). Photochemical reflectance index was determined using a spectroradiometer, and hemispherical photographs were taken with a digital camera. These data were collected to better understand how vertical canopy gradients in photosynthetic physiology change from the southernmost to the northernmost range extremes of white spruce. The data are provided in comma-separated value (CSV) format.
Project: Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment
The Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) is a NASA Terrestrial Ecology Program field campaign being conducted in Alaska and western Canada, for 8 to 10 years, starting in 2015. Research for ABoVE links field-based, process-level studies with geospatial data products derived from airborne and satellite sensors, providing a foundation for improving the analysis, and modeling capabilities needed to understand and predict ecosystem responses to, and societal implications of, climate change in the Arctic and Boreal regions.
Related Publication
Schmiege, S.C., K.L. Griffin, N.T. Boelman, L.A. Vierling, S.G. Bruner, E. Min, A.J. Maguire, J. Jensen, and J.U.H. Eitel. 2022. Vertical gradients in photosynthetic physiology diverge at the latitudinal range extremes of white spruce. Plant, Cell & Environment https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14448
Related Datasets
Eitel, J., A.J. Maguire, K. Griffin, N. Boelman, J.E. Jensen, S.C. Schmiege, and L. Vierling. 2020. ABoVE: Photochemical Reflectance and Tree Growth, Brooks Range, Alaska, 2018-2019. ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1781.
Griffin, K., S.C. Schmiege, S.G. Bruner, N. Boelman, L. Vierling, J. Eitel, and Z.M. Griffin. 2022. Spruce Leaf, Tree Traits, and Respiration at Range Extremes, AK and NY, USA, 2018. ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1948.
Maguire, A.J., J. Eitel, L. Vierling, N. Boelman, K. Griffin, J.S. Jennewein, and J.E. Jensen. 2020. ABoVE: Terrestrial Lidar Scanning Forest-Tundra Ecotone, Brooks Range, Alaska, 2016. ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1782.
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by the NASA ABoVE program, grant number NNX15AT86A.
Data Characteristics
Spatial Coverage: The Forest Tundra Ecotone (FTE) in Alaska (northern treeline in the Brooks Range of Alaska, south of Chandalar Shelf and Atigun Pass on the east side of the Dalton Highway), and Black Rock Forest (BRF) New York, US.
Temporal Resolution: One-time measurements
Temporal Coverage: 2017-06-19 to 2017-07-20
Study Area: Latitude and longitude are given in decimal degrees.
| Site | Westernmost Longitude | Easternmost Longitude | Northernmost Latitude | Southernmost Latitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Tundra Ecotone (FTE), Alaska | -149.754 | -149.754 | 67.9947 | 67.9947 |
| Black Rock Forest (BRF), New York | -74.0246 | -74.0246 | 41.4011 | 41.4011 |
Data File Information:
This dataset contains one data file: WhiteSpruce_Leaf_Traits_Alaska_NewYork.csv. The file contains measurements of gas exchange (light response curves, Kok curves and ACi curves), leaf traits (carbon, nitrogen and specific leaf area), leaf pigments (Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b and Carotenoids), the photochemical reflectance index (PRI), and average photosynthetic photon flux density as collected from hemispherical photographs.
No data values are indicated by -9999.
Note: FTE data were collected from six plots spaced along a north-south 5.5 km transect; however the same coordinates are used for all FTE measurements. At BRF data were collected from a single site location.
Table 1. Data dictionary for WhiteSpruce_Leaf_Traits_Alaska_NewYork.csv.
| Variable | Units | Description |
|---|---|---|
| location | Forest Tundra Ecotone, Alaska (AK); or Black Rock Forest, NY (BRF) | |
| plot | Plot number: in Alaska 1-6; at BRF only one plot called plot 7 | |
| tree | Tree identifier at each plot: in Alaska A-F; at BRF 1-6 | |
| latitude | degrees north | Latitude of study sites |
| longitude | degrees east | Longitude of study sites |
| canopy | Canopy position: low or high | |
| leaf | Leaf identifier if more than one was measured per tree | |
| licor_rep | 1 | Replication number in case any curves were remeasured |
| licor_date_collected | YYY-MM-DD | Date of licor measurements (all gas exchange data and carbon, nitrogen data) |
| respiration_light | μmol m-2 s-1 | Respiration in the light |
| apparent_quantum_yield | Apparent quantum yield | |
| respiration_dark | μmol m-2 s-1 | Respiration in the dark |
| light_comp_point | μmol m-2 s-1 | Light compensation point |
| photosynthesis_1500 | μmol m-2 s-1 | Photosynthesis at 1500 μmol m-2 s-1 |
| light_sat_point | μmol m-2 s-1 | Light saturation point |
| max_carboxylation_rate | μmol m-2 s-1 | Maximum carboxylation rate |
| max_electron_transport | μmol m-2 s-1 | Maximum electron transport |
| nitrogen | percent | % Nitrogen |
| carbon | percent | % Carbon |
| carbon_nitrogen_ratio | Carbon to nitrogen ratio | |
| carbon_perleaf_area | mg C cm-2 | Carbon per leaf area |
| nitrogen_perleaf_area | mg N cm-2 | Nitrogen per leaf area |
| specific_leaf_area | cm2 g-1 | Specific leaf area |
| photo_reflectance_index | Photochemical reflectance index | |
| chlorophyll_a_area | μg cm-2 | Area-based chlorophyll a content |
| chlorophyll_b_area | μg cm-2 | Area-based chlorophyll b content |
| sum_chlorophyll_ab_area | μg cm-2 | Sum of area-based chlorophyll a and b contents |
| carotenoid_content_area | μg cm-2 | Area-based carotenoid content |
| ratio_chlorophyll_carotenoids | Ratio of total chlorophyll to carotenoids | |
| ratio_chlorophyll_a_to_b | Ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b | |
| unique_tree | Concatenation of location, plot and tree columns | |
| av_photo_photonflux_density | mol m-2 day-1 | Average photosynthetic photon flux density |
Application and Derivation
This dataset provides measurements of gas exchange (light response curves, Kok curves and ACi curves), leaf traits (carbon, nitrogen and specific leaf area), leaf pigments (Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b and Carotenoids), the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and average photosynthetic photon flux density as collected from hemispherical photographs. The data were collected to better understand how vertical canopy gradients in photosynthetic physiology change from the southernmost to the northernmost range extremes of white spruce. See Schmiege et al. (2022) for details.
Quality Assessment
Data were manually edited by the data provider to remove spurious data.
Data Acquisition, Materials, and Methods
Study Sites:
Two areas located at the northern and southern range limits of white spruce were chosen for this study. At the northern range limit, data were collected from six sites located in the forest tundra ecotone along a north south 5.5 km long transect on the east side of the Dalton Highway in the Brooks Range in northern Alaska (67°59’40.92” N latitude, 149°45’15.84” W longitude; Eitel et al., 2019). White spruce is the dominant tree species. Deciduous shrubs and sedges are present in the understory. The site is underlain by continuous permafrost. During the Alaska measurement campaign in July 2017, photoperiod ranged from 22 to 24 hours.
At the southern range limit of white spruce, data were collected from Black Rock Forest, New York (BRF; 41°24’03.91” N latitude, 74°01’28.49” W longitude). BRF is a northern temperate deciduous forest that is dominated by oaks (Schuster et al. 2008). The photoperiod was approximately 15 hours during the measurement campaign in June 2017.
Methodology:
At the FTE, three white spruce trees with DBH greater than 10 cm were chosen at each of the six sites for a total of 18 study trees. At BRF, six white spruce trees with DBH greater than 10 cm were chosen at a single site. On each tree, measurements were taken at a high (approximately 1 m below the apical meristem) and low (at approximately 1.37 m, i.e. diameter at breast height) south-facing canopy positions. Because there were fewer trees at BRF, three measurements per canopy position per tree were taken.
Light environment measurements: Hemispherical photographs were taken at the high and low canopy positions on each tree with a digital camera (CoolPix 4500, Nikon Corporation, Tokyo Japan) and an attached fisheye lens to assess canopy openness. The camera was positioned immediately adjacent to the branch chosen for measurements, with the camera pointing north for the photograph. Light environment was assessed and modeled using the free R code and documentation of ter Steege (2018).
Gas exchange, leaf trait, pigment and spectral measurements: Gas exchange was measured at high and low canopy positions on each tree at the two locations. At both locations, measurements were taken on a branch tip inserted into the cuvette. CO2 (A-Ci), light response (A-Q) and Kok curves were collected using two portable photosynthesis systems (LI-6800, LI-COR, Lincoln, NE).
After gas exchange measurements, leaf area was measured and leaves were dried to gain estimates of specific leaf area. Leaves were then ground for analysis of leaf carbon and nitrogen content. Pigment concentrations were assessed on needles adjacent to those chosen for gas exchange and carbon and nitrogen analyses. The Photochemical Reflectance Index was also measured using a spectroradiometer.
For additional details on methods, please see Schmiege et al. (2022).
Data Access
These data are available through the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC).
ABoVE: White Spruce Photosynthetic and Leaf Traits, Alaska and New York, 2017
Contact for Data Center Access Information:
- E-mail: uso@daac.ornl.gov
- Telephone: +1 (865) 241-3952
References
Eitel, J., A.J. Maguire, K. Griffin, N. Boelman, J.E. Jensen, S.C. Schmiege, and L. Vierling. 2020. ABoVE: Photochemical Reflectance and Tree Growth, Brooks Range, Alaska, 2018-2019. ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1781.
Maguire, A.J., J.U. H. Eitel, K.L. Griffin, T.S. Magney, R.A. Long, L.A. Vierling, S.C. Schmiege, J.S. Jennewein, W.A. Weygint, N.T. Boelman, and S.G. Bruner. 2020. On the Functional Relationship Between Fluorescence and Photochemical Yields in Complex Evergreen Needleleaf Canopies. Geophysical Research Letters 47. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL087858.
Griffin, K., S.C. Schmiege, S.G. Bruner, N. Boelman, L. Vierling, J. Eitel, and Z.M. Griffin. 2022. Spruce Leaf, Tree Traits, and Respiration at Range Extremes, AK and NY, USA, 2018. ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1948.
Maguire, A.J., J. Eitel, L. Vierling, N. Boelman, K. Griffin, J.S. Jennewein, and J.E. Jensen. 2020. ABoVE: Terrestrial Lidar Scanning Forest-Tundra Ecotone, Brooks Range, Alaska, 2016. ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1782.
Schmiege, S.C., K.L. Griffin, N.T. Boelman, L.A. Vierling, S.G. Bruner, E. Min, A.J. Maguire, J. Jensen, and J.U.H. Eitel. 2022. Vertical gradients in photosynthetic physiology diverge at the latitudinal range extremes of white spruce. Plant, Cell & Environment https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14448
Schuster, W.S. F., K.L. Griffin, H. Roth, M.H. Turnbull, D. Whitehead, and D.T. Tissue. 2008. Changes in composition, structure and aboveground biomass over seventy-six years (1930-2006) in the Black Rock Forest, Hudson Highlands, southeastern New York State. Tree Physiology 28:537–549. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/28.4.537ter.
ter Steege, H. 2018. Hemiphot.R: Free R scripts to analyse hemispherical photographs for canopy openness, leaf area index and photosynthetic active radiation under forest canopies. Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.