Thermoregulation traits of montane tree species in common garden plantations at two elevations in the Albertine Rift in Rwanda, 2025

The experiments were designed as common garden plantations with a focus on native tree species from early and late successional stages from Afromontane and transitional rainforests in the Albertine rift in Rwanda. Experimental sites were established during December 2017 and January 2018 spanning high and mid elevations and include a 15.2 °C MAT site (elevation = 2400 m a.s.l., T 99%tile = 23.1 °C; annual precipitation = 2100mm, latitude= 2.515S, longitude= 29.395556E) and 20 °C MAT site (elevation = 1600 m a.s.l., T99%tile = 28.5 °C; annual precipitation = 1700 mm, latitude= 2.475S, longitude= 29.780277E) and a third experimental site at lower elevation not used in this data set. At each experimental site, 1800 trees were planted across 18 plots (6 treatments, 3 replicates per treatment) with 100 trees from 20 different native tropical montane or highland tree species planted, with five replicates per species per plot. Treatments include three water levels (low, mid, high) in factorial combinations with two nutrient levels (unfertilized, fertilized + limed). The water levels mimic the natural precipitation regime at the three experimental sites, and the fertilization treatments compensate for differences in fertility across sites. Unfertilized trees were planted on the native soils found at each experimental location. Further information about each experimental site can be found at https://www.rwandatree.com/
At each experimental site, we collected leaves from eight species from six treatment plots corresponding to the natural precipitation levels of both experimental sites without nutrient fertilization; and leaf samples from 144 juvenile trees for structural and optical leaf traits were collected, and leaf angles were measured from 48 trees.
Data were obtained through field sampling of individual trees, followed by standardized laboratory and field measurements. Leaf structural traits were measured using morphological and physical methods, leaf optical properties were measured using a miniature leaf spectrometer (CI-710, CID Bio-Science), and leaf angle was measured using a smartphone-based application (protractor and compass tools).
The dataset includes detailed metadata describing variables, units, sampling locations, methods, and quality control procedures. Details of sampling locations and protocols, data processing steps, and dataset-specific methodological information are provided in the supporting documentation.

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