Dataset Information

The Arctic Plant Aboveground Biomass Synthesis Dataset.

ABSTRACT: Plant biomass is a fundamental ecosystem attribute that is sensitive to rapid climatic changes occurring in the Arctic. Nevertheless, measuring plant biomass in the Arctic is logistically challenging and resource intensive. Lack of accessible field data hinders efforts to understand the amount, composition, distribution, and changes in plant biomass in these northern ecosystems. Here, we present The Arctic plant aboveground biomass synthesis dataset, which includes field measurements of lichen, bryophyte, herb, shrub, and/or tree aboveground biomass (g m^-2) on 2,327 sample plots from 636 field sites in seven countries. We created the synthesis dataset by assembling and harmonizing 32 individual datasets. Aboveground biomass was primarily quantified by harvesting sample plots during mid- to late-summer, though tree and often tall shrub biomass were quantified using surveys and allometric models. Each biomass measurement is associated with metadata including sample date, location, method, data source, and other information. This unique dataset can be leveraged to monitor, map, and model plant biomass across the rapidly warming Arctic.

SUBMITTER: Berner LT

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10954756 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The Arctic Plant Aboveground Biomass Synthesis Dataset.

Berner Logan T LT Orndahl Kathleen M KM Rose Melissa M Tamstorf Mikkel M Arndal Marie F MF Alexander Heather D HD Humphreys Elyn R ER Loranty Michael M MM Ludwig Sarah M SM Nyman Johanna J Juutinen Sari S Aurela Mika M Happonen Konsta K Mikola Juha J Mack Michelle C MC Vankoughnett Mathew R MR Iversen Colleen M CM Salmon Verity G VG Yang Dedi D Kumar Jitendra J Grogan Paul P Danby Ryan K RK Scott Neal A NA Olofsson Johan J Siewert Matthias B MB Deschamps Lucas L Lévesque Esther E Maire Vincent V Morneault Amélie A Gauthier Gilles G Gignac Charles C Boudreau Stéphane S Gaspard Anna A Kholodov Alexander A Bret-Harte M Syndonia MS Greaves Heather E HE Walker Donald D Gregory Fiona M FM Michelsen Anders A Kumpula Timo T Villoslada Miguel M Ylänne Henni H Luoto Miska M Virtanen Tarmo T Forbes Bruce C BC Hölzel Norbert N Epstein Howard H Heim Ramona J RJ Bunn Andrew A Holmes Robert M RM Hung Jacqueline K Y JKY Natali Susan M SM Virkkala Anna-Maria AM Goetz Scott J SJ

Scientific data 20240320 1

Plant biomass is a fundamental ecosystem attribute that is sensitive to rapid climatic changes occurring in the Arctic. Nevertheless, measuring plant biomass in the Arctic is logistically challenging and resource intensive. Lack of accessible field data hinders efforts to understand the amount, composition, distribution, and changes in plant biomass in these northern ecosystems. Here, we present The Arctic plant aboveground biomass synthesis dataset, which includes field measurements of lichen, ...[more]

PMID: 38509110

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Project description:This dataset comprises tree inventories and damage assessments performed in Namibia's semi-arid Zambezi Region. Data were sampled in savannas and savanna woodlands along steep gradients of elephant population densities to capture the effects of those (and other) disturbances on individual-level and stand-level aboveground woody biomass (AGB). The dataset contains raw data on dendrometric measures and processed data on specific wood density (SWD), woody aboveground biomass, and biomass losses through disturbance impacts. Allometric proxies (height, canopy diameters, and in adult trees also stem circumferences) were recorded for n = 6,179 tree and shrub individuals. Wood samples were taken for each encountered species to measure specific wood density. These measurements have been used to estimate woody aboveground biomass via established allometric models, advanced through our improved methodologies and workflows that accounted for tree and shrub architecture shaped by disturbance impacts. To this end, we performed a detailed damage assessment on each woody individual in the field. In addition to estimations of standing biomass, our new method also delivered data on biomass losses to different disturbance agents (elephants, fire, and others) on the level of plant individuals and stands. The data presented here have been used within a study published with Ecological Indicators (Kindermann et al., 2022) to evaluate the benefits of our improved methodology in comparison to a standard reference method of aboveground biomass estimations. Additionally, it has been employed in a study on carbon storage and sequestration in vegetation and soils (Sandhage-Hofmann et al., 2021). The raw data of dendrometric measurements can be subjected to other available allometric models for biomass estimation. The processed data can be used to analyze disturbance impacts on woody aboveground biomass, or for regional carbon storage estimates. The data on species-specific wood density can be used for application to other dendrometric datasets to (re-) estimate biomass through allometric models requiring wood density. It can further be used for plant functional trait analyses.

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Dataset Information

The Arctic Plant Aboveground Biomass Synthesis Dataset.

Publications

The Arctic Plant Aboveground Biomass Synthesis Dataset.

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