Root Trait Inventory

In total, the observations in FRED 3.0 encompass more than 330 root traits. To better understand the breadth and depth of these traits, we have grouped them into eight categories: root anatomy, architecture, chemistry, dynamics, morphology, physiology, and the whole-root system, as well as microbial associations. These root trait categories, along with others, are described and mapped in relation to one-another here.

Each observation in FRED is based on a single trait measurement made by an investigator on fine roots taken from a defined species or plant community at a specific location, date, and time. Many observations are plot or treatment means, and we include measures of variation and sample size where available (statistical data are not shown here). In some cases, multiple trait observations were taken from one collection of fine roots, but no sample has observations of all fine-root traits (most samples are associated with one or a few traits).

Use the search box to see whether FRED 3.0 has a particular root trait of interest, or choose combinations from the Trait Category and Trait Type boxes below and click the "Filter" button to view subsets of the data.