Functional traits and drought strategy predict leaf thermal tolerance

Heat stress imposes an important physiological constraint on native plant species – one that will only worsen with human-caused climate change. Indeed, rising temperatures have already contributed to large-scale plant mortality events across the globe. These impacts may be especially severe in cities, where the urban heat island effect amplifies climate warming. Understanding how plant species will respond physiologically to rising temperatures and how these responses differ among plant functional groups is critical for predicting future biodiversity scenarios and making informed land management decisions. In this study, we evaluated the effects of elevated temperatures on a functionally and taxonomically diverse group of woody native plant species in a restored urban nature preserve in southern California using measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence as an indicator of leaf thermotolerance. Our aim was to determine if species’ traits and drought strategies could serve as useful predic..., In this study, we evaluated the effects of elevated temperatures on a functionally and taxonomically diverse group of woody native plant species in a restored urban nature preserve in southern California using measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence as an indicator of leaf thermotolerance. Our aim was to determine if species’ traits and drought strategies could serve as useful predictors of thermotolerance., , # Functional traits and drought strategy predict leaf thermal tolerance

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.xsj3tx9n7](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.xsj3tx9n7)

Data include leaf functional trait values and thermotolerance thresholds for nine native woody plant species from southern California. Aslo included in climate data for the study site.

## Description of the data and file structure

Data are included in separate .csv files for (1) climate data for the study site; (2) chlorophyll fluorescence data; and (3) leaf functional trait data.

Files, explanation, abbreviations, and units:

* **annual\_temps.csv**: annual mean (tmean), minimum (tmin), and maximum (tmax) temperatures (degrees C) for the study site from 1895 to 2022
* **annual\_temp\_anomalies.csv**: annual temperature anomalies (deviation from average temperatures in degrees C) from 1895 to 2022
* **daily\_climate\_data.csv**: daily climate data from 1981 to 2022, including precipitation (ppt; mm) and daily mean (tmean), minimu...