Stem and Needle Growth for Whitebark Pine in the Sierra Nevada

These data represent stem growth, needle length growth, and carbon stable isotope ratios from whitebark pine at 27 sites in the Sierra Nevada of California. Values for stem growth were derived from increment cores, processed following standard methods. Needle characteristics were captured for individual trees across all years needles were present on the internodes. Needle length was measured in the lab for three healthy needles per tree and initiation year. For stable carbon isotopes, samples were pulverized in the lab and then were sent to the Analytical Laboratory at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) for weighing and encapsulation. Carbon and nitrogen isotopic values were estimated by the Stable Isotope Facility at UC Davis. These data support the following publication: Dudney, J., Latimer, A.M., van Mantgem, P., Zald, H., Willing, C.E., Nesmith, J.C., Cribbs, J. and Milano, E., 2023. The energy-water limitation threshold explains divergent drought responses in tree growth, needle length, and stable isotope ratios. Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16740