Physiological, morphological and functional traits of encroaching and non-encroaching savanna trees under contrasting CO2 concentrations, water stress, and grass competition, South Africa, 2022
type: Dataset
citation: 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. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.5285/f7b8e72f-9bbe-4a03-8140-fada73e95b8c
description: 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).
date published: 2026-02-04
keywords: Drought
keywords: Elevated CO2
keywords: Functional traits
keywords: Savanna encroachment
keywords: Tree-grass competition
keywords: Woody thickening
keywords: Climate and climate change
creator: Ripley, B.
creator: Simpson, K.
creator: Raubenheimer, S.
creator: Singini, E.
creator: Jones, E.
creator: Burgess, T.
creator: Carkeek, R.
creator: Cramer, M.
creator: Dixon, R.
creator: Field, K.
creator: Hawkins, H.
creator: Nell, R.
creator: Ngqiyaza, N.
creator: Pallett, N.
creator: Reynolds, L.
creator: Telford, E.
creator: Vetter, S.
creator: Lehmann, C.
creator: Osborne, C.
temporal coverage: 2021-12-01/2022-11-30
spatial coverage: bbox0
funding: fund0
license: https://eidc.ac.uk/licences/OGL/plain
publisher: NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
provider: NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
included in data catalog: Environmental Information Data Centre

Climate and climate change
type: DefinedTerm

Environmental Information Data Centre
type: DataCatalog
alternate name: EIDC

NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
type: Organization

geoshape0
type: GeoShape
box: -18.281 -36.315, 52.385 22.594

Ripley, B.
type: Person
family name: Ripley
given name: Brad
affiliation: Rhodes University

Simpson, K.
type: Person
family name: Simpson
given name: Kimberley
affiliation: University of Sheffield

Raubenheimer, S.
type: Person
family name: Raubenheimer
given name: Sarah
affiliation: University of Michigan

Singini, E.
type: Person
family name: Singini
given name: Edith
affiliation: Rhodes University

Jones, E.
type: Person
family name: Jones
given name: Emma
affiliation: Rhodes University

Burgess, T.
type: Person
family name: Burgess
given name: Tebadi
affiliation: Rhodes University

Carkeek, R.
type: Person
family name: Carkeek
given name: Richard
affiliation: Rhodes University

Cramer, M.
type: Person
family name: Cramer
given name: Michael
affiliation: University of Cape Town

Dixon, R.
type: Person
family name: Dixon
given name: Russell
affiliation: Rhodes University

Field, K.
type: Person
family name: Field
given name: Katie
affiliation: University of Sheffield

Hawkins, H.
type: Person
family name: Hawkins
given name: Heidi
affiliation: University of Cape Town

Nell, R.
type: Person
family name: Nell
given name: Rhys
affiliation: Rhodes University

Ngqiyaza, N.
type: Person
family name: Ngqiyaza
given name: Nozuko
affiliation: Rhodes University

Pallett, N.
type: Person
family name: Pallett
given name: Nita
affiliation: Rhodes University

Reynolds, L.
type: Person
family name: Reynolds
given name: Liam
affiliation: Rhodes University

Telford, E.
type: Person
family name: Telford
given name: Elizabeth
affiliation: University of Sheffield

Vetter, S.
type: Person
family name: Vetter
given name: Susanne
affiliation: Rhodes University

Lehmann, C.
type: Person
family name: Lehmann
given name: Caroline
affiliation: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Osborne, C.
type: Person
family name: Osborne
given name: Colin
affiliation: University of Sheffield

Natural Environment Research Council
type: Organization

Rhodes University
type: Organization

University of Sheffield
type: Organization

University of Michigan
type: Organization

University of Cape Town
type: Organization

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
type: Organization