Data from: The duration of high spring light for understory plants: contrasting responses to spatial and temporal temperature variation
Data files
Jul 08, 2025 version files 1.70 MB
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Canopy_DOY.csv
1.44 KB
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climate_data.csv
1.69 MB
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Erythronium_DOY.csv
2.32 KB
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README.md
4.69 KB
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Trillium_DOY.csv
4.69 KB
Abstract
This dataset contains leaf phenology observations of canopy and two understory spring herbs (Trillium erectum and Erythronium americanum) derived from automated camera imagery collected between 2017 and 2023 from 10 sites in Mont St. Joseph, Québec, Canada. Additionally, it contains mean monthly temperatures estimated for each site-year combination using data from in situ climate stations at the base of the mountain. The data were used to investigate how spatial and inter-annual climate variation affect the duration of the high light period for spring understory herbaceous plants. For both understory species and the tree canopy, leaf phenology was sensitive to spatial and temporal variation in spring temperature; earlier leaf expansion occurred at warmer sites and in warmer years. Temporal variation in spring temperature had a stronger effect on understory than canopy phenology, such that warmer temperatures were associated with an increase in the duration of high spring light, especially at high elevation. Across the spatial (elevational) temperature gradient, temperature sensitivity of one understory species (T. erectum) was weaker than for the canopy. Thus, the combination of warmer conditions and different canopy tree species at low elevation was associated with a shorter duration of high spring light.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.15dv41p88
Description of the data and file structure
This dataset contains leaf phenological observations for canopy and two understory spring herbs (Trillium erectum and Erythronium americanum) derived from automated camera imagery collected between 2017 and 2023 from 10 sites in Mont St. Joseph, Québec, Canada. Additionally, it contains mean monthly temperatures estimated for each site-year combination using data from in situ climate stations at the base of the mountain. This data supports the manuscript titled "The duration of high light for understory spring plants: contrasting responses to spatial and temporal temperature variation" accepted for publication in the Journal of Ecology.
Files and variables
File: Canopy_DOY.csv
Variables
- Year: The calendar year during which the observation was recorded.
- Site: A coded identifier for the location of the observation. For example; A01G - the first character indicates the transect ('A' -transect A; 'B'-transect B); The numeric portion indicates the elevation level along the mountain (1 and 3 - low elevation; 5 - mid elevation; 7 and 8 - high elevation); The last character indicates the camera type: G - ground camera for understory, C - canopy camera
- Transect: Indicates the transect line (either
'A'or'B') along which observations were made. - Plot: A numeric identifier representing the elevation level at which the plot is located, progressing from the base to the top of the mountain. (1 and 3 - low elevation; 5 - mid elevation; 7 and 8 - high elevation)
- DOY_canopy greenup: the day of year at which canopy greenness had reached 75%
File: Erythronium_DOY.csv
Variables
- Site: A coded identifier for the location of the observation. For example; A01G - the first character indicates the transect ('A' -transect A; 'B'-transect B); The numeric portion indicates the elevation level along the mountain (1 and 3 - low elevation; 5 - mid elevation; 7 and 8 - high elevation); The last character indicates the camera type: G - ground camera for understory, C - canopy camera
- Transect: Indicates the transect line (either
'A'or'B') along which observations were made. - Plot: A numeric identifier representing the elevation level at which the plot is located, progressing from the base to the top of the mountain. (1 and 3 - low elevation; 5 - mid elevation; 7 and 8 - high elevation)
- Year: The calendar year during which the observation was recorded.
- Plant: A numeric code indicating individual plants selected for measurement within the image.
For each site–year combination, selected plants are labeled'1','2','3', etc., depending on how many were chosen. These numbers refer only to the individuals measured in the image and do not necessarily correspond across years. - DOY: the day of year at which leaf area reached 50%.
File: Trillium_DOY.csv
Variables
- Year: The calendar year during which the observation was recorded.
- Site: A coded identifier for the location of the observation. For example; A01G - the first character indicates the transect ('A' -transect A; 'B'-transect B); The numeric portion indicates the elevation level along the mountain (1 and 3 - low elevation; 5 - mid elevation; 7 and 8 - high elevation); The last character indicates the camera type: G - ground camera for understory, C - canopy camera
- Transect: Indicates the transect line (either
'A'or'B') along which observations were made. - Plot: A numeric identifier representing the elevation level at which the plot is located, progressing from the base to the top of the mountain. (1 and 3 - low elevation; 5 - mid elevation; 7 and 8 - high elevation)
- Plant: A numeric code indicating individual plants selected for measurement within the image.
For each site–year combination, selected plants are labeled'1','2','3', etc., depending on how many were chosen. These numbers refer only to the individuals measured in the image and do not necessarily correspond across years. - DOY: the day of year at which leaf area reached 50%.
File: climate_data.csv
Variables
- CombStationT: The name of the climate station from which temperature data were obtained.
- CombTAvg: The average daily temperature in degrees Celsius (°C)
- DOY: Day of Year
Code/software
Associated code is publicly available on GitHub: https://github.com/HasankiTG/Phenology_MSJ