A global dataset on paired leaf Na and root Na contents
Data files
Mar 19, 2025 version files 89.88 KB
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1-China_species_Na.xlsx
20.04 KB
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2-China_community_Na.xlsx
22.47 KB
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3-Global_species_Na.xlsx
36 KB
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Code_random_forest_models.R
7.24 KB
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README.md
4.13 KB
Abstract
Aim: Plants allocate sodium (Na) to leaves and roots as an adaptation to salinity and drought, potentially modulating herbivory and ecosystem carbon cycling. However, large-scale spatial pattern and environmental drivers of plant Na allocation remain unclear.
Location: China and the world.
Time period: Field data were collected between 2013 and 2019. Literature data were collected between 1970 and 2024.
Major taxa studied: Vascular plants.
Methods: We compiled a global database of paired leaf Na (NaLeaf) and root Na (NaRoot) content, combining field observations from 2183 species across 72 Chinese ecosystems with global synthesized literature records.
Results: The spatial pattern of plant Na allocation between leaves and roots is primarily regulated by aridity. Generally, plants allocate more Na to roots in humid zone but more to leaves in arid zone. Furthermore, aridification leads to abrupt and nonlinear increases in the NaLeaf to NaRoot ratio (NaLeaf: Root) when aridity exceeds critical threshold (0.814 for the Chinese plant species and 0.774 for the Chinese plant community). Importantly, the threshold response is consistently observed from species to community levels and from China to global biomes.
Main conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the flexible allocation of plant Na in response to salinity and drought on a large scale. Projected aridification could amplify leaf Na allocation in threshold-exceeding regions, possibly enhancing activity of herbivores and decomposers and triggering cascading impacts on plant community structure and carbon cycling rate.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.1ns1rn938
Description of the data and file structure
We synthesized literature data on paired NaLeaf and NaRoot contents across global terrestrial ecosystems at the species level. First, we used ISI Web of Science (https://webofscience.clarivate.cn/wos) and Google Scholar (http://scholar.google.com) for a 1970–2024 literature search with the following keywords: “sodium” OR “Na” OR “mineral element” OR “beneficial element” AND “leaf and root” OR “plant organ” AND “forest” OR “grassland” OR “desert.” Second, we screened all literature and extracted leaf and root Na contents based on the following criteria: (i) reported paired observations of NaLeaf and NaRoot from mature individuals; (ii) plants were collected from terrestrial ecosystems, specifically forests, grasslands, and deserts; and (iii) plants were sampled in the field rather than through greenhouse experiments. Third, ancillary information, including the species name, life form (tree, shrub, and herb), vegetation type (forest, grassland, and desert), and geographical location (latitude and longitude), was collected. Data from multiple years at the same sampling site were averaged to ensure independence of observations. When data were only available as figures, the GetData Graph Digitizer (http://www.getdata-graph-digitizer.com) was used. Overall, 70 independent publications were included. The final global dataset contained 175 paired measurements of NaLeaf and NaRoot from 169 species (56 families) spanning 70 sites worldwide. All missing data represented as NA.
Please find more information in the paper by Guo et al., (2025) in Global Ecology and Biogeography. DOI: 10.1111/geb.70025
Files and variables
Document: 1-China species Na
Description:
Paired species leaf Na and root Na contents across 72 Chinese terrestrial ecosystems (average value of each site)
Variables
SiteID: ID of the sampling sites
Name: Name of the sampled sites
Latitude: Latitude (°)
Longitude: Longitude (°)
Leaf Na: Leaf sodium content (g/kg)
Root Na: Root sodium content (g/kg)
MAT: Mean annual temperature (℃)
MAP: Mean annual precipitation (mm)
Aridity: Aridity level of site (1 − AI)
VPD: Atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (hPa)
Soil Na: Soil sodium content (g/kg) (0-10cm)
Soil pH: Soil pH (0-10cm)
Soil moisture: Soil moisture (0-10cm)
Soil clay: Soil clay fraction (%) (0-10cm)
Document: 2-China community Na
Description:
Paired community-weighted-mean (CWM) leaf Na and root Na contents across 72 Chinese terrestrial ecosystems (average value of each site)
Variables
SiteID: ID of the sampling sites
Name: Name of the sampled sites
Latitude: Latitude (°)
Longitude: Longitude (°)
Leaf Na: Leaf sodium content (g/kg)
Root Na: Root sodium content (g/kg)
MAT: Mean annual temperature (℃)
MAP: Mean annual precipitation (mm)
Aridity: Aridity level of site (1 − AI)
VPD: Atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (hPa)
Soil Na: Soil sodium content (g/kg) (0-10cm)
Soil pH: Soil pH (0-10cm)
Soil moisture: Soil moisture (0-10cm)
Soil clay: Soil clay fraction (%) (0-10cm)
Document: 3-Global species Na
Description: Paired species leaf Na and root Na contents across global terrestrial ecosystems (raw data from publication)
Variables
Study: Original literature
Latitude: Latitude (°)
Longitude: Longitude (°)
Vegetation type: Dominant vegetation type of the sampled sites
Species name: Species name
MAT: Mean annual temperature (℃)
MAP: Mean annual precipitation (mm)
Aridity: Aridity level of site (1 − AI)
BC: Broad leaves or coniferous leaves
DE: Deciduous leaves or evergreen leaves
Life form: Tree or shrub or herb
Leaf Na: Leaf sodium content (g/kg)
Root Na: Root sodium content (g/kg)
Code/software
R code used for analysis.
Based on a field investigation following the consistent method, we compiled a regional dataset of the Na content in paired leaves (NaLeaf) and roots (NaRoot), which included 2183 species from 72 natural ecosystems in China. We also synthesized literature data on paired NaLeaf and NaRoot contents across global terrestrial ecosystems at the species level. First, we used ISI Web of Science (https://webofscience.clarivate.cn/wos) and Google Scholar (http://scholar.google.com) for a 1970–2024 literature search with the following keywords: “sodium” OR “Na” OR “mineral element” OR “beneficial element” AND “leaf and root” OR “plant organ” AND “forest” OR “grassland” OR “desert.” Second, we screened all literature and extracted leaf and root Na contents based on the following criteria: (i) reported paired observations of NaLeaf and NaRoot from mature individuals; (ii) plants were collected from terrestrial ecosystems, specifically forests, grasslands, and deserts; and (iii) plants were sampled in the field rather than through greenhouse experiments. Third, ancillary information, including the species name, life form (tree, shrub, and herb), vegetation type (forest, grassland, and desert), and geographical location (latitude and longitude), was collected. Data from multiple years at the same sampling site were averaged to ensure independence of observations. When data were only available as figures, the GetData Graph Digitizer (http://www.getdata-graph-digitizer.com) was used. Overall, 70 independent publications were included. The final global dataset contained 175 paired measurements of NaLeaf and NaRoot from 169 species (56 families) spanning 70 sites worldwide.