Data from: Whole-seedling trait adjustments of mountain birch under contrasting environmental conditions

This dataset is associated with an article researching how functional
traits of mountain birch (Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii) seedlings
are influenced by warming in the context of different soil properties and
presence of a neighbour, Empetrum nigrum subsp. hermaphroditum. All
functional traits (shoot height, root/shoot ratio, total leaf area,
specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, N content per leaf area, C/N
ratio in leaves, stems and roots, root/shoot ratio, fine root proportion
in the root system, main root length, CO2 assimilation rate and
mycorrhizal colonisation of roots) were measured on mountain birch
seedlings grown in a pot experiment for 12 weeks. The majority of the
values were calculated as means from three sub-replicates (physical pots),
with some exceptions (please see the article, including its supporting
information, for more details on the used methods and design of the
experiment). The results of the study revealed that warming significantly
increased seedling growth, and growth rates were positively associated
with several above- and belowground traits indicating resource
acquisition. Growth rates were not correlated with leaf traits such as
specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content. Soil origin and the
presence of neighbour did not affect the growth rate responses to warming,
although seedlings grown in high-elevation soils generally grew faster and
had higher CO2 assimilation rates. These seedlings also expressed traits
commonly associated with conservative growth strategy.