Data and code for spectral canopy transmittance in diverse tree communities

Light may shape forest function not only as a source of energy or a cause of stress but also as a context cue: plant photoreceptors can detect specific wavelengths of light, and plants use this information to assess their neighborhoods and adjust their patterns of growth and allocation. Here, we examined how the spectral profile of light (350-2200 nm) transmitted through tree canopies differs among communities within three tree diversity experiments on two continents (200 plots each planted with one to 12 tree species). This dataset includes data and metadata on canopy transmittance and leaf area index (LAI) measured on these plots as well as leaf-level transmittance measured for each species in monoculture plots. Data processing code and example analysis code are also provided.