IAI-Data-CRN_012_DIRZO_PLANTDIV: Variation in florisitc diversity in tropical and temperate ecosystems

This component of the CRN explores the variation in florisitc
diversity in tropical and temperate ecosystems located on the
northernost distribution of the Neotropics. Sampling protocol is based
on a modification of the method originally proposed by Al Gentry to
carry out standardized surveys of plant diversity at the scale of 0.1
ha. Data are available for a range of tropical sites ranging from dry
forest to hyper-wet forests, as well as for mono-dominated to mixed
temperate forests. Our team has sampled a total of 35 independent
sites (10 trandomly located transects of 50X2m per site) throughout
Mexico (a total of 350 transects). All plants with diameter at breast
height (DBH) of at least 1cm have been recorded and identification is
nearly complete. All sites are georeferenced. Soil samples were
collected from each site too. For each sampling site, climatic data
are available from in situ or near-by weather stations. Data are
amenable for search of relationships between environmental variables
(edaphic, climatic, geographic) and plant diversity (species, life
forms). Critical drivers of plant diversity can be explored with the
data set. In addition, form all tropical sites, foliar material of the
most common, and shared species across sites was also collected for
ecophysiological analysis. Samples will be shipped to Drs. Sala and
Austin's lab for analysis.