Description

This dataset supports a study on root trait variability in seedlings of seven co-occurring tree species from temperate forests in Eastern North America (Canada). It comprises 338 individual measurements of eight root traits—spanning system-level, morphological, and architectural categories—along with one foliar trait. The traits measured are: Root-to-Shoot Ratio, Maximum Rooting Depth, Proportion of Absorptive Roots, Root Tissue Density, Specific Root Length, Average Diameter of Absorptive Roots, Root Branching Density, and Specific Leaf Area. Trait data were collected from seedlings of seven tree species under contrasting climate and light conditions across three regions in Quebec and Ontario during the summer of 2024 (between July 29 and August 9). The selected species include two gymnosperms and five angiosperms: Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., Pinus strobus L., Acer saccharum Marshall, Acer rubrum L., Betula alleghaniensis Britton, Betula papyrifera Marshall, and Quercus rubra L. Sampling followed a hierarchical nested design. Fourteen study plots (each approximately 1,250 m²) were established under two contrasting light conditions (open vs. closed sites) and nested within three regions: (1) Petawawa, Ontario (46.00°N, 77.43°W); (2) Kenauk, Quebec (45.75°N, 74.83°W); and (3) Duchesnay, Quebec (46.60°N, 71.40°W). The dataset also includes metadata on plot characteristics (location, soil properties), forest stand structure and composition, and understory vegetation. **How to cite the data:** Dendoncker M., Dubé B., Darquié L., Deschenes E., Lontsi Meli G.R., Maheu A., Munson A., Messier C., Ola A., Thiffault N., Villemaire-Côté O., Aubin I. 2025. FunRoots : Root and leaf traits of tree seedlings of seven species in Eastern Canadian Forests [Data set]. https://doi.org/10.23687/d9c4d93f-2388-4158-b3cf-49a9ecea6b2c

Resources

Name	Format	Description	Link
stands	CSV		https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/d9c4d93f-2388-4158-b3cf-49a9ecea6b2c/resource/39575d14-df43-4d8e-9ff6-26d729d074dd/download/stands_funroots_20251113.csv
Protocol - EN	PDF		https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/d9c4d93f-2388-4158-b3cf-49a9ecea6b2c/resource/63b4016d-cf24-4fe0-a796-438282fd970d/download/funroots_protocol_metadata_en_20251114.pdf
plots	CSV		https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/d9c4d93f-2388-4158-b3cf-49a9ecea6b2c/resource/969d370f-c7c4-4a43-bb9c-6a948f5d03b9/download/plots_funroots_20251113.csv
seedlings	CSV		https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/d9c4d93f-2388-4158-b3cf-49a9ecea6b2c/resource/a178fc93-866c-4248-a5c0-3db42d261b91/download/seedlings_funroots_20251113.csv
understory cover	CSV		https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/d9c4d93f-2388-4158-b3cf-49a9ecea6b2c/resource/de5e3acc-f0f3-4c12-81f8-9556356a63e6/download/understory_cover_funroots_20251123.csv
understory taxa	CSV		https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/d9c4d93f-2388-4158-b3cf-49a9ecea6b2c/resource/e13a40c6-e11c-420e-9be6-a9bd8d1a67db/download/understory_taxa_funroots_20251123.csv
Protocol - FR	PDF		https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/d9c4d93f-2388-4158-b3cf-49a9ecea6b2c/resource/ec9d580a-6399-4f22-8eba-31181f8283ad/download/funroots_protocole_metadata_fr_20251114.pdf
data dictionary	CSV		https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/d9c4d93f-2388-4158-b3cf-49a9ecea6b2c/resource/efffb37a-63ff-4b8c-989b-858b37ec98bb/download/data_dictionary_funroots_20251113.csv

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