Physiological, morphological and functional traits of encroaching and non-encroaching savanna trees under contrasting CO2 concentrations, water stress, and grass competition, South Africa, 2022
https://doi.org/10.5285/f7b8e72f-9bbe-4a03-8140-fada73e95b8c
Cite this dataset as:
Ripley, B.; Simpson, K.; Raubenheimer, S.; Singini, E.; Jones, E.; Burgess, T.; Carkeek, R.; Cramer, M.; Dixon, R.; Field, K.; Hawkins, H.; Nell, R.; Ngqiyaza, N.; Pallett, N.; Reynolds, L.; Telford, E.; Vetter, S.; Lehmann, C.; Osborne, C. (2026). Physiological, morphological and functional traits of encroaching and non-encroaching savanna trees under contrasting CO2 concentrations, water stress, and grass competition, South Africa, 2022. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/f7b8e72f-9bbe-4a03-8140-fada73e95b8c
Download/Access
This dataset is under embargo and will be made available by 4 January 2027 at the latest Find out more »
This dataset provides physiological, morphological, and functional trait measurements for twelve African savanna tree species belonging to the Vachellia and Senegalia genera (Fabaceae family). The data encompasses six species classified as encroaching (increasing in density in African savannas) and six non-encroaching species, facilitating comparative analysis of traits facilitating encroachment ability. The variables capture sapling responses to a factorial combination of environmental conditions, specifically atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, water availability, and interspecific grass competition.
The dataset details plant performance under elevated CO2 versus ambient CO2 and contrasts well-watered and water-limited conditions. Furthermore, the data includes comparative metrics for trees grown with and without competition from the grass species Themeda triandra. All measurements were derived from saplings grown for 11 months in large pots containing local savanna soil within open-top chambers (Rhodes University Elevated CO2 Facility, Makhanda, South Africa), culminating in physiological assessments and destructive harvesting for morphological analysis.
The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (Grant NE/T000759/1).
The dataset details plant performance under elevated CO2 versus ambient CO2 and contrasts well-watered and water-limited conditions. Furthermore, the data includes comparative metrics for trees grown with and without competition from the grass species Themeda triandra. All measurements were derived from saplings grown for 11 months in large pots containing local savanna soil within open-top chambers (Rhodes University Elevated CO2 Facility, Makhanda, South Africa), culminating in physiological assessments and destructive harvesting for morphological analysis.
The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (Grant NE/T000759/1).
Publication date: 2026-02-04
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Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
WGS 84
Temporal information
Temporal extent
2021-12-01 to 2022-11-30
Provenance & quality
Data Generation Process
The data were generated through a controlled split-plot experiment conducted at the Rhodes University Elevated CO2 Facility (RUECF) in Makhanda, South Africa.
Experimental Setup and Environmental Monitoring
Data generation began with the establishment of pots in sixteen open-top chambers (OTCs) designed to impose specific environmental treatments. These treatments included manipulated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (ambient vs. elevated to ~550 ppm), water availability (automated daily irrigation vs. ambient rainfall), and interspecific competition (pots containing established Themeda triandra grass swards vs. bare soil).
Cultivation of Biological Material
The biological data component originated from twelve indigenous legume species (Vachellia and Senegalia spp.) selected based on their encroachment status. Seeds were heat-shocked to break dormancy, germinated and transplanted into the experimental OTCs. These saplings were grown under the assigned factorial treatment conditions for a period of 11 months (December 2021 - November 2022).
Data Acquisition
Final data collection was performed in two stages. In the month preceding harvest, physiological trait data were captured in situ. Subsequently, the experiment concluded with the destructive harvesting of all individuals. Morphological and functional trait data were then generated through the physical measurement and analysis of the harvested biomass.
The data were generated through a controlled split-plot experiment conducted at the Rhodes University Elevated CO2 Facility (RUECF) in Makhanda, South Africa.
Experimental Setup and Environmental Monitoring
Data generation began with the establishment of pots in sixteen open-top chambers (OTCs) designed to impose specific environmental treatments. These treatments included manipulated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (ambient vs. elevated to ~550 ppm), water availability (automated daily irrigation vs. ambient rainfall), and interspecific competition (pots containing established Themeda triandra grass swards vs. bare soil).
Cultivation of Biological Material
The biological data component originated from twelve indigenous legume species (Vachellia and Senegalia spp.) selected based on their encroachment status. Seeds were heat-shocked to break dormancy, germinated and transplanted into the experimental OTCs. These saplings were grown under the assigned factorial treatment conditions for a period of 11 months (December 2021 - November 2022).
Data Acquisition
Final data collection was performed in two stages. In the month preceding harvest, physiological trait data were captured in situ. Subsequently, the experiment concluded with the destructive harvesting of all individuals. Morphological and functional trait data were then generated through the physical measurement and analysis of the harvested biomass.
Licensing and constraints
This dataset is under embargo and will be made available by 4 January 2027 at the latest Find out more »
This dataset will be available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
Cite this dataset as:
Ripley, B.; Simpson, K.; Raubenheimer, S.; Singini, E.; Jones, E.; Burgess, T.; Carkeek, R.; Cramer, M.; Dixon, R.; Field, K.; Hawkins, H.; Nell, R.; Ngqiyaza, N.; Pallett, N.; Reynolds, L.; Telford, E.; Vetter, S.; Lehmann, C.; Osborne, C. (2026). Physiological, morphological and functional traits of encroaching and non-encroaching savanna trees under contrasting CO2 concentrations, water stress, and grass competition, South Africa, 2022. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/f7b8e72f-9bbe-4a03-8140-fada73e95b8c
Correspondence/contact details
Authors
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4546-2618
Jones, E.
Rhodes University
Burgess, T.
Rhodes University
Carkeek, R.
Rhodes University
Dixon, R.
Rhodes University
Ngqiyaza, N.
Rhodes University
Pallett, N.
Rhodes University
Reynolds, L.
Rhodes University
Other contacts
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Rights holder
University of Sheffield
Rights holder
Rhodes University
Rights holder
University of Edinburgh