Data from: ‘MultiTraits’: An integrated R package for analysis and visualization of multidimensional plant traits
Data files
Mar 26, 2026 version files 2.74 MB
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MultiTraits_workflow.R
3.59 KB
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MultiTraits-0.6.0.tar.gz
2.73 MB
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README.md
4.62 KB
Abstract
The multidimensional characteristics of plant traits and their trade-offs are central to ecology. However, there is a lack of systematic and standardized tools for analyzing these intricate relationships. To fill this gap, we developed the ‘MultiTraits' R package, which incorporates four complementary analytical modules: competitors–stress tolerators–ruderals strategy analysis, leaf–height–seed strategy analysis, niche periodic table analysis, and plant trait network analysis. This package provides standardized workflows and highly customizable visualization tools, enabling researchers to systematically explore and quantify multidimensional plant trait data. Using the Pine Forests Flora dataset as a case study, we demonstrated the package's effectiveness in identifying plant community trait patterns and ecological strategies. We anticipate that the ‘MultiTraits' package will become an essential tool for functional ecology research, facilitating systematic exploration of multidimensional plant trait data and driving new insights in the field.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.n8pk0p396
Description of the data and file structure
This dataset contains the R package 'MultiTraits' and the associated analysis workflow code developed for the manuscript: "He, Y. et al. 2026. 'MultiTraits': an integrated R package for analysis and visualization of multidimensional plant traits – Ecography".
The 'MultiTraits' package integrates four key analytical modules for functional ecology: CSR (Competitors-Stress tolerators-Ruderals) strategy analysis, LHS (Leaf-Height-Seed) strategy analysis, NPT (Niche Periodic Table) analysis, and PTN (Plant Trait Network) analysis.
The dataset included within the package (Pine Forests Flora, PFF) comprises 18 functional traits measured across 133 plant species in semi-arid ponderosa pine forest ecosystems in northern Arizona, USA. This data was used to validate the package functions and demonstrate the workflow.
Files and variables
File: MultiTraits_workflow.R
Description: An R script containing the complete code to reproduce the analyses and figures (Fig. 3, 4, 5, 6) presented in the associated manuscript. This script demonstrates how to load the package, process the PFF dataset, and perform CSR, LHS, NPT, and PTN analyses using the 'MultiTraits' functions.
File: MultiTraits-0.6.0.tar.gz
Description: The source code of the 'MultiTraits' R package (version 0.6.0). It can be installed directly into R. Upon extraction, this compressed archive contains the standard directory structure of an R package, detailed as follows:
- /R: Contains all the underlying R source code scripts (.R files) for the package's functions, including those for CSR, LHS, NPT, and PTN analyses.
- /data: Contains the embedded datasets, including the 'PFF' (Pine Forests Flora) dataset (.rda or .RData format) used for package validation and workflow demonstrations.
- /man: Contains the manual documentation files (.Rd format) for each function, which compile into the standard R help pages.
- /vignettes: Contains detailed tutorials and workflow examples (.Rmd files) demonstrating how to use the package step-by-step.
- /inst: Contains external files that are installed along with the package (e.g., citation information, external scripts, or additional documentation).
- /build: Contains internal tracking files generated and used by R during the package building process.
- DESCRIPTION: A text file containing crucial package metadata, such as the package name, version, authors, description, and required dependencies.
- NAMESPACE: A file defining the functions exported by the package for users, as well as external functions imported from other packages.
- README.md: A basic markdown file providing a quick overview, installation instructions, and basic usage for GitHub/CRAN users.
- NEWS.md: A changelog file documenting updates, new features, and bug fixes for version 0.6.0.
Code/software
Variables in the included PFF dataset (accessed via data(PFF) in R):
The PFF dataset contains trait measurements for plant species found in pine forests, with the following variables:
- Height: Maximum plant height (cm)
- Leaf_area: Leaf area (mm2)
- LDMC: Leaf dry matter content (%)
- SLA: Specific leaf area (mm2/mg)
- SRL: Specific root length (m/g)
- SeedMass: Seed mass (mg)
- FltDate: Mean flowering date (Julian day)
- FltDur: Mean flowering duration (days)
- k_value: Decomposition decay constant, where proportion of original mass remaining = exp(- k-value*0.926)
- Leaf_Cmass: Leaf carbon content (%)
- Leaf_Nmass: Leaf nitrogen content (%)
- Leaf_CN: Leaf carbon/nitrogen ratio
- Leaf_Pmass: Leaf phosphorus content (%)
- Leaf_NP: Leaf nitrogen/phosphorus ratio
- Leaf_CP: Leaf carbon/phosphorus ratio
- Root_Cmass: Root carbon content (%)
- Root_Nmass: Root nitrogen content (%)
- Root_CN: Root carbon/nitrogen ratio
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
Data was derived from the following sources:
- Laughlin, D. C., Leppert, J. J., Moore, M. M., & Sieg, C. H. (2010). A multi-trait test of the leaf–height–seed plant strategy scheme with 133 species from a pine forest flora. Functional Ecology, 24(3), 493-501. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2009.01672.x