Thermoregulation and thermotolerance traits in montane tree species in common garden plantations in the Colombian Andes, 2024
https://doi.org/10.5285/23a59d77-6f2c-4c48-ac13-77ee7b21fcee
Download/Access
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence
By accessing or using this dataset, you agree to the terms of the relevant licence agreement(s). You will ensure that this dataset is cited in any publication that describes research in which the data have been used.
This dataset compiles leaf-level functional trait measurements collected along a tropical elevational gradient in the Colombian Andes across three common garden plantations with contrasting mean annual temperatures (MAT) (13.7 °C, 22.1 °C, and 25.5 °C). Experimental sites have been named after their MAT. Sampling included 15 dominant tree species at the 13.7 °C site, 10 species at the 22.1 °C site, and 4 species at the 25.5 °C site. Sampling at the 25.5°C site was done only for a limited type of measurements.
The dataset includes:
High-resolution leaf thermocouple measurements and leaf level PAR data (1-minute resolution).
Leaf temperature, relative humidity and air temperature (10-minute resolution).
Leaf angle measurements (pitch, roll, azimuth, and vertical angle).
Leaf optical properties (reflectance, transmittance, and absorptance).
Minimum leaf conductance (gmin) and leaf area.
Leaf thermotolerance traits, including T50, maximum fluorescence (Fm), variable fluorescence (Fv), and PSII efficiency metrics (Fv/Fm and Fv/F₀).
Measurement campaigns were conducted between January-February 2024 and April 2025.Together, these data provide a comprehensive characterization of leaf thermoregulation and tolerance traits across contrasting tropical montane environments, supporting research on plant ecophysiology, climate adaptation, and ecosystem responses to environmental stress.
The dataset includes:
High-resolution leaf thermocouple measurements and leaf level PAR data (1-minute resolution).
Leaf temperature, relative humidity and air temperature (10-minute resolution).
Leaf angle measurements (pitch, roll, azimuth, and vertical angle).
Leaf optical properties (reflectance, transmittance, and absorptance).
Minimum leaf conductance (gmin) and leaf area.
Leaf thermotolerance traits, including T50, maximum fluorescence (Fm), variable fluorescence (Fv), and PSII efficiency metrics (Fv/Fm and Fv/F₀).
Measurement campaigns were conducted between January-February 2024 and April 2025.Together, these data provide a comprehensive characterization of leaf thermoregulation and tolerance traits across contrasting tropical montane environments, supporting research on plant ecophysiology, climate adaptation, and ecosystem responses to environmental stress.
Publication date: 2026-06-12
1 download
172 views
Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
WGS 84
Spatial resolution
100 metres
Temporal information
Temporal extent
2024-01-01 to 2025-04-30
Provenance & quality
Experimental sites were established between December 2018 January 2019, spanning an elevation gradient in the Colombian Andes and are characterized as follows: 13.7°C MAT site (99th percentile temperature, T99 = 21°C; annual precipitation = 2774 mm; elevation = 2452 m.a.s.l., latitude = 5.513235 N and longitude = -75.67725 W ), 22.1°C MAT site (T99 = 33 °C; annual precipitation = 2045 mm; elevation = 1326 m.a.s.l.; latitude = 5.641699 N and longitude = -75.685982 W), and 25.5 °C MAT site (T99 = 38 °C; annual precipitation = 2298 mm; elevation = 736 m.a.s.l.; latitud e= 5,844349 N and longitude = -75.71034 W).
At each experimental site, 360 juvenile trees (1-2 years old) from 15 dominant Andean species (11 montane and 4 lowland species) were planted. All trees were planted in common soils originating from a high-elevation site and were regularly irrigated; however, only 10 and 4 species remained at the 22.1 and 25.5 °C sites, respectively.
Data were obtained through field sampling of individual trees, followed by standardized laboratory and field measurements. Leaf optical properties were measured using a miniature leaf spectrometer (CI-710, CID Bio-Science), and leaf area was quantified using an image-based analysis application (Petiole Pro). Leaf angle was measured using a smartphone-based application (protractor and compass tools). Physiological traits related to thermotolerance, thermoregulation, and temperature limits were assessed using controlled experimental protocols.
Details of sampling locations and protocols, data processing steps, and dataset-specific methodological information are provided in the supporting documentation. Further information about each experimental site is available at: https://andeantreewarming.wordpress.com
At each experimental site, 360 juvenile trees (1-2 years old) from 15 dominant Andean species (11 montane and 4 lowland species) were planted. All trees were planted in common soils originating from a high-elevation site and were regularly irrigated; however, only 10 and 4 species remained at the 22.1 and 25.5 °C sites, respectively.
Data were obtained through field sampling of individual trees, followed by standardized laboratory and field measurements. Leaf optical properties were measured using a miniature leaf spectrometer (CI-710, CID Bio-Science), and leaf area was quantified using an image-based analysis application (Petiole Pro). Leaf angle was measured using a smartphone-based application (protractor and compass tools). Physiological traits related to thermotolerance, thermoregulation, and temperature limits were assessed using controlled experimental protocols.
Details of sampling locations and protocols, data processing steps, and dataset-specific methodological information are provided in the supporting documentation. Further information about each experimental site is available at: https://andeantreewarming.wordpress.com
Licensing and constraints
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
Cite this dataset as:
Restrepo, Z.; Gonzalez-Caro, S.; Taylor, T.C.; Fuaset, S.; Lara Rivera, V.; Montoya, J.F.; Patiño, M.C.; Pérez, J.; Mercado, L.M. (2026). Thermoregulation and thermotolerance traits in montane tree species in common garden plantations in the Colombian Andes, 2024. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/23a59d77-6f2c-4c48-ac13-77ee7b21fcee
Related
Correspondence/contact details
Other contacts
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Rights holder
University of Exeter
Rights holder
Corporación COL-TREE
Additional metadata
Keywords
Funding
Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/X001172/1