Data from: climate adaptation in white oak (Quercus alba, L.): a forty-year study of growth and phenology
Data files
Mar 25, 2024 version files 302.92 KB
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2023_PS_Data.xlsx
295.82 KB
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README.md
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Abstract
Climate change poses a significant threat to the resilience and sustainability of forest ecosystems. This study examines the performance of white oak (Quercus alba, L.) across a range of provenances in a common garden planting, focusing on the species’ response to climatic variables and the potential role of assisted migration in forest management. We evaluated the survival and growth rates of white oak provenances originating from various points along a latitudinal gradient over a period of 40 years. These provenances were planted in a common garden situated near the midpoint of this latitudinal gradient, where we also monitored their phenological traits, such as budburst and leaf senescence. The results revealed substantial variation in phenological responses and growth patterns among the provenances, with southern provenances demonstrating faster growth and later senescence relative to local sources, with limited impact on survival. In contrast, the northern provenances demonstrated slower growth, resulting in later-aged competition-induced mortality. The findings highlight the necessity of incorporating genetic diversity into white oak reforestation and conservation strategies, as the local provenance may no longer be the most suitable option for current and future conditions. We advocate for a nuanced approach to forest management that leverages genetic insights to optimize seed source selection for reforestation, fostering resilient forest landscapes in the face of ongoing climate shifts.
Complete data related to the 40-year-old (as of 2023) white oak (Quercus alba) “Postage Stamp” common garden planting located at Starve Hollow State Recreation area near Vallonia, Indiana. Contact Austin M. Thomas at austin.thomas@uky.edu or austin.thomas2@usda.gov for additional information.
These data include tree height and DBH measurements, as well as phenological and dendrochronological measurements.
Description of the data and file structure
Sections:
Section 1, Position and allometric data (col A-AF)
Columns A through AF are position data and alometric measurements. Measurement and unit descriptions are in Row 1.
Location ID: Location ID in ‘Row-Column’ format.
tree ID: Unique tree identifier.
Col: Column number(excluding border trees). Column number increases from West to East.
Row: Row number(excluding border trees). Row number increases from North to South.
block: Block replicate. 6 incomplete blocks in total. Each block consisted of 9 4-tree row plots.
plot: Plot within block. Each plot consisted of 4 trees of a single ‘seed source’.
source: Full source ID.
state: Seed source state of origin.
tree: Tree number within plot (nested as Block[Plot[Tree]]]).
rowB: Alternative row ID, includes border rows.
colB: Alternative column ID, includes border columns.
nr_collect: nr data collection flag.
Order: Order of spreadsheet rows for data organization purposes.
0 yr_height(cm): Height of seedling at time of planting in centimeters.
1 yr_height(cm): Height of tree at 1 year after planting in centimeters.
2 yr_height(cm): Height of tree at 2 years after planting in centimeters.
3 yr_height(cm): Height of tree at 3 years after planting in centimeters.
4 yr_height(cm): Height of tree at 4 years after planting in centimeters.
5 yr_height(cm): Height of tree at 5 years after planting in centimeters.
20yr_height(ft): Height of tree at 20 years after planting in feet.
2022_height(ft): Height of tree at 40 years (measured at the end of 2022 growing season) in feet.
20 yr crown class: 20-year crown class code. See the explanation of crown class codes below.
40 yr crown class: 40-year crown class code. See the explanation of crown class codes below.
3yr_d1f(mm?): Diameter measurement at 1 foot height. It is assumed to be in millimeters, but it is not clear in the records.
11yr_dbh(in): 11-year diameter at breast height.
20yr_dbh(in): 20-year diameter at breast height.
2021_dbh: 2021 (28 year) diameter at breast height.
2022_dbh: 2022 (40 year, measured at the end of the growing season) diameter at breast height.
DNA_collected: 2021 leaf tissue collection for DNA sequencing.
2021_sprout: Flag noting basal sprouts from top-killed trees. Notes made in 2021 survey.
2021_comments: 2021 general comments.
Neighbors: number of living neighbor trees in 2022 (orthogonal and diagonal).
2022_mortality: Notes on 2022 observed tree mortality.
Crown Class Codes:
D = Dominant
C = Co-dominant
I = Intermediate
S = Suppressed
X = Removed/Missing(intentionally removed via stand thinning at year 12)
H = Mortality(standing snag, recent mortality est. <5 years)
M = Mortality(tree is missing or mostly decomposed but was not removed intentionally via thinning)
Section 2, Form score (col AH-AU)
Columns AH through AU are Tree form Scores. ‘ATM Pick’ and ‘CDN Pick’ are top-performing trees selected qualitatively by scorers. This scoring system is based on selection criteria developed by Purdue University Forestry and used internally by the Indiana DNR Division of Forestry for seed orchard tree selection.
2022fork_height: Height of the first fork. A fork is a point on the tree where the main stem deviates more than 10°, or a codominant stem is present.
2022_fork%: Lowest fork height as a percentage of total height.
Fork_score: Based on fork %. See below.
Over 70% - 10
65-69% - 9
60-64% - 8
55-59% - 7
50-54% - 6
45-49% - 5
40-44% - 4
35-39% - 3
30-34% - 2
25-29% - 1
<25% - 0
Crook_<14: Count deviations of central stem below 14 feet. See below.
# of Crooks Points assigned
0 10
1 10
2 9
3 7
4 4
5 0
Crook_<14-20: Count deviations of central stem between 14 and 20 feet. See below.
# of Crooks Points assigned
0 10
1 9
2 7
3 5
4 3
5 0
Crook_>20: Count deviations of central stem above 20 feet. See below.
# of Crooks Points assigned
0 10
1 7
2 4
3 1
4 0
5 0
Epicormic: Qualitative 0-5 score based on the number and size of epicormic branching.
DBH_score: Diameter at breast height score. See below.
DBH (inches) Points assigned
>22 10
20-22 9
18-20 8
16-18 7
14-16 6
12-14 5
10-12 4
8-10 3
6-8 2
4-6 1
<4 0
Height_score: Total tree height score. See below.
Height(feet) Points assigned
>120 10
110 9
100 8
90 7
80 6
70 5
60 4
50 3
40 2
30 1
<30 0
Defect: Note of any additional defects, such as sweep or non-round trunk cross-section.
Total_Score: Sum of weighted scores (Fork Score, Epicormic, DBH Score, and Height Score all *2)
Rank_by_score: Ranking of all trees from highest to lowest
AMT_pick: Qualitative pick for superior tree size and form by AMT
CDN_pick: Qualitative pick for superior tree size and form by CDN
Section 3, Phenology scores (col AV-DO, DP-EJ)
Columns AV through DO are Spring leaf budburst values. Columns DP-EJ are Fall leaf senescence values. All dates should be self-explanatory.
For an explanation of the spring budburst score values, see the following publications:
Thomas AM, Coggeshall MV, O’Connor PA, Nelson CD. Climate Adaptation in White Oak (Quercus alba, L.): A Forty-Year Study of Growth and Phenology. Forests. 2024; 15(3):520. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15030520
and
Cole EF, Sheldon BC. The shifting phenological landscape: Within- and between-species variation in leaf emergence in a mixed-deciduous woodland. Ecology and Evolution. 2017;7(4):1135-1147. doi:10.1002/ece3.2718
Fall senescence values are as follows:
Color: Estimated percentage of marcescent leaves as viewed through binoculars.
Drop: Estimated percentage of senescent leaves as viewed through binoculars.
Sum: The total estimate of canopy leaves that are either marcescent or senescent.
Part 4, dendrochronology data (col EK-KN)
Column IDs are referenced below. Column names should be self-explanatory.
EK to FW: Yearly ring-width measurements of increment cores collected from trees near breast height aligned East-West.
FX: The total length of the increment cores collected from trees near breast height aligned East-West.
FY to HK: Yearly ring-width measurements of increment cores collected from trees near breast height aligned North-South.
HL: The total length of the increment cores collected from trees near breast height aligned North-South.
HM to KN: Several trees had duplicate cores collected. These columns contain measurement data from these duplicate cores.
Data were collected as described in Thomas AM, Coggeshall MV, O’Connor PA, Nelson CD. Climate Adaptation in White Oak (Quercus alba, L.): A Forty-Year Study of Growth and Phenology. Forests. 2024; 15(3):520. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15030520.
Briefly, tree height, DBH, and phenological measurements were collected at the Starve-Hollow State Recreation Area by study authors throughout the 40-year study. Increment cores were collected in 2023 and mounted for precision measurement using a Velmex TA measurement system.
Contact Austin M. Thomas at austin.thomas@uky.edu or austin.thomas2@usda.gov for additional information.