Avalos SLA in 5 species of tropical palms
Description
This dataset examines the relationship between specific leaf area (SLA) and total carbon content in five palm species in Costa Rica, focusing on both canopy and understory species. The study involved leaf samples from 123 individuals, including canopy palms like Euterpe precatoria and Iriartea deltoidea, and understory species such as Prestoea decurrens, Chamaedorea tepejilote, and Asterogyne martiana.
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Study sites and species: Leaf samples were collected from two sites in the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica: Manú Biological Station in Guápiles (520 masl) and Tirimbina Biological Reserve in Heredia (180-220 masl). - Samples were collected between June-September 2022-2023 and April 2023, respectively. - 123 individuals from five palm species were sampled, including the canopy palms *Euterpe precatoria* (45 individuals) and *Iriartea deltoidea* (15 individuals), and the understory species *Prestoea decurrens* (22 individuals), *Chamaedorea tepejilote* (29 individuals), and *Asterogyne martiana* (12 individuals). Measurement of SLA: - Leaf samples were collected from mature, fully expanded leaves, either manually or using a telescopic tree pruner and slingshot. - Samples were stored in paper envelopes and photographed over graph paper in the lab. - ImageJ was used to measure the fresh leaf area. - Fresh and dry weights of each leaf sample were measured using an Ohaus analytical scale. - SLA was expressed in cm2 g-1, with dry weight obtained by oven-drying samples at 50°C for 24 hours. Measurement of carbon content: - Total carbon content per palm (kg) was estimated using allometric equations for each species developed by Avalos et al. (2022b). - Carbon content was measured as the percentage of carbon (% C) of the dry weight per individual palm using an automatic carbon and nitrogen analyzer. Values were converted from natural logarithms back into linear units and expressed in kg of carbon per individual palm. Statistical analysis: - Regression analyses used ln-transformed values of SLA and carbon content, applying an OLS regression. ANCOVA analyses were used with species as the discrete variable related to the continuous variables (sequestered carbon, stem height, and number of fronds) as covariates to determine the effects of SLA and species on palm size. R software was used for all statistical analyses.