Leaf functional traits predict timing of nutrient resorption and carbon depletion in deciduous subarctic plants

Resorption of key elements promotes their conservation in plants in nutrient-poor ecosystems. In seasonal environments, the timing of resorption is expected to influence resorption efficiency and plant fitness due to the trade-off between maximizing photosynthetic carbon gain by late resorption and minimizing frost risks and nutrient loss by early resorption. Here, we hypothesize that (1) these alternative strategies with respect to the timing of element resorption both occur among summergreen species; (2) deciduous woody plants favour delayed resorption while herbaceous species benefit from gradual, early-onset resorption; (3) this pattern is part of a more general relationship in which species with conservative resource economic traits have more delayed resorption.
We measured nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) contents of mature, senescing and senesced leaves of 22 predominant plant species across four types of ecosystems in a subarctic region. We then calculated timing of r..., , , # Data from: Leaf functional traits predict timing of nutrient resorption and carbon depletion in deciduous subarctic plants

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

This dataset consists of two data files and R code for analysis. The data files contain the data of leaf nutrients and traits for 22 predominant plant species during leaf senscence in a subarctic region (Abisko, Sweden).

## Description of the data and file structure

### File list

File 1: Hu_et_al_2024_Data_analysis.R
File 2: Hu_et_al_2024_Raw_leaf_nutrients.csv
File 3: Hu_et_al_2024_Resorption_timing_and_traits.csv

### File description

File 1: Hu_et_al_2024_Data_analysis.R
Description: This file includes all the R script used to perform data analysis in this study.

File 2: Hu_et_al_2024_Raw_leaf_nutrients.csv
Description: This file includes all the raw data used in this study. They are leaf mass per area, leaf carbon content, leaf nitrogen content and leaf phosphorus content...