StoichLife: A global dataset of plant and animal elemental content

The elemental content of life is a key trait shaping ecology and evolution, yet organismal stoichiometry has largely been studied on a case-by-case basis. This limitation has hindered our ability to identify broad patterns and mechanisms across taxa and ecosystems. To address this, we present StoichLife, a global dataset of 28,049 records from 5,876 species spanning terrestrial, freshwater, and marine realms. Compiled from published and unpublished sources, StoichLife documents elemental content and stoichiometric ratios (%C, %N, %P, C:N, C:P, and N:P) for individual plants and animals. The dataset is standardized and, where available, includes information on taxonomy, habitat, body mass (for animals), geography, and environmental conditions such as temperature, solar radiation, and nutrient availability. By providing an unprecedented breadth of organismal stoichiometry, StoichLife enables the exploration of global patterns, ecological and evolutionary drivers, and context-dependent variations. This resource advances our understanding of the chemical makeup of life and its responses to environmental change, supporting progress in ecological stoichiometry and related fields.

生命的元素组成是塑造生态与进化过程的关键性状，但目前生物个体化学计量学（organismal stoichiometry）的研究多以逐案研究的方式开展。这一局限阻碍了我们识别不同类群与生态系统中普遍模式与内在机制的能力。为解决这一问题，我们推出了StoichLife数据集：该全球数据集涵盖陆地、淡水与海洋三大生境的5876个物种，共计28049条记录。数据集整合了已发表与未发表的数据源，记录了动植物个体的元素含量及化学计量比（%碳（%C）、%氮（%N）、%磷（%P）、碳氮比（C:N）、碳磷比（C:P）与氮磷比（N:P））。所有数据均经过标准化处理，若有可用信息，还包含分类学归属、生境类型、（动物的）体质量、地理分布以及温度、太阳辐射、养分有效性等环境条件相关数据。凭借前所未有的生物个体化学计量学数据覆盖广度，StoichLife可支持研究者探索全球尺度的分布模式、生态与进化驱动因子，以及情境依赖的变异规律。该数据集有助于深化我们对生命化学组成及其对环境变化响应的认知，推动生态化学计量学（ecological stoichiometry）及相关研究领域的发展与进步。