Data from: The duration of high spring light for understory plants: contrasting responses to spatial and temporal temperature variation

This dataset contains leaf phenology observations of canopy and two
understory spring herbs (Trillium erectum and Erythronium americanum)
derived from automated camera imagery collected between 2017 and 2023 from
10 sites in Mont St. Joseph, Québec, Canada. Additionally, it
contains mean monthly temperatures estimated for each site-year
combination using data from in situ climate stations at the base
of the mountain. The data were used to investigate how spatial and
inter-annual climate variation affect the duration of the high light
period for spring understory herbaceous plants. For both
understory species and the tree canopy, leaf phenology was sensitive to
spatial and temporal variation in spring temperature; earlier leaf
expansion occurred at warmer sites and in warmer years. Temporal variation
in spring temperature had a stronger effect on understory than canopy
phenology, such that warmer temperatures were associated with an increase
in the duration of high spring light, especially at high elevation. Across
the spatial (elevational) temperature gradient, temperature sensitivity of
one understory species (T. erectum) was weaker than for the canopy. Thus,
the combination of warmer conditions and different canopy tree species at
low elevation was associated with a shorter duration of high spring light.