Data: Plant-water relations of the genus Ocotea in Monteverde, Costa Rica

Study Site and Species: This study was conducted in a fragmented tropical pre-montane wet forest on the Pacific slope of the Cordillera de Tilarán mountains near Monteverde, Costa Rica (10.302379, -84.809142) between February and June 2010. We monitored plant-water relations on understory saplings of three evergreen tree species from the genus Ocotea (Lauraceae), including O. monteverdensis, O. whitei, and O. tenera. The terminal height and diameter at breast height of each individual was measured once at the start of the study.

Climate: To characterize climate, bulk precipitation (S-RGB tipping bucket, Onset Corporation, Bourne, MA), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; S-LIA sensor, Onset Corporation, Bourne, MA), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD; S-THB temperature and relative humidity sensor, Onset Corporation, Bourne, MA) were logged at a 20 min interval using a meteorological station (Hobo MicroStation, Onset Corporation, Bourne, MA) set 1.5 m above ground in an open field ~200 m2 in size approximately 500 m from the site (10.3248°, -84.820047°, 1415 m asl).

Soil Moisture: Simultaneous to monthly measurements of plant-water relations, soil moisture was measured (n = 10 observations per month) as a percent across 0-20 cm soil depth (Hydrosense, Campbell Scientific, Logan, UT).

Plant-Water Relations: Pre-dawn (before 06:00) and midday (around 12:00) measurements of leaf water potential were measured using a pressure chamber (SAPS, Soil Moisture, Goleta, CA) on a monthly basis on the same 5 individuals of each species between February and June 2010. In February 2010, water potential measurements were also collected every 2 hrs for a 24-hr period to characterize diurnal patterns. Leaf pressure volume curves and stomatal conductance measurements are also available upon request. 

These data are made available as formatted for PSInet: A global water potential network (https://psinetrcn.github.io/)

Funding was provided by a National Geographic Society Young Explorers Grant to G.R. Goldsmith.