Global Root Trait (GRooT) Database

Our principal objective with GRooT is to contribute towards the inclusion of root traits in large-scale comparative studies and global models by offering standardized and curated data of key root traits.

GRooT includes 38 root traits, 38,276 species-by-site mean values based on 114,222 trait records. GRooT includes more than 1,000 species with data on the following nine traits: root mass fraction, root carbon and nitrogen concentration, lateral spread, root mycorrhizal colonization intensity, mean root diameter, root tissue density, specific root length, and maximum rooting depth.

Data use guidelines and availability

GRooTFullVersion.csv: Root trait data at the highest resolution available, information to filter data by entities, meta-data, and error risk scores

GRooTAggregateSpeciesVersion.csv: Root trait species values

R script: code to calculate error risk and species values. Customizable (by error risk, entities or covariables)

Data are publicly available but should be referenced by citing the corresponding data paper:

Guerrero-Ramirez N, Mommer L, Freschet GT, Iversen CM, McCormack M.L, Kattge J, Poorter H, van der Plas F, Bergmann J, Kuyper TW, York LM, Bruelheide H, Laughlin DC, Meier IC, Roumet C, Semchenko M, Sweeney CJ, van Ruijven J, Valverde-Barrantes OJ, Aubin I, Catford JA, Manning P, Martin A, Milla R, Minden V, Pausas JG, Smith SW, Soudzilovskaia NA, Ammer C, Butterfield B, Craine J, Cornelissen JHC, de Vries FT, Isaac ME, Kramer K, König C, Lamb EG, Onipchenko VG, Peñuelas J, Reich PB, Rillig MC, Sack L, Shipley B, Tedersoo L, Valladares F, van Bodegom P, Weigelt P, Wright JP, Weigelt A. 2020. Global Root Traits (GRooT) Database. Global Ecology and Biogeography. doi.org/10.1111/geb.13179

We suggest citing the original data sources whose contributed a substantial proportion to the analysis. Also, we encourage to contact and collaborate with data contributors.

For more information, contact me to: kirana1015@gmail.com.