The International Tree-Ring Data Bank (ITRDB) revisited: Data availability and global ecological representativity

摘要: Aim: The International Tree‐Ring Data Bank (ITRDB) is the most comprehensive database of tree growth. To evaluate its usefulness and improve accessibility to broad scientific community, we aimed to: (a) quantify biases, (b) assess how well it represents global forests, (c) develop tools identify priority areas representativity, d) make available corrected database. Location: Worldwide. Time period: Contributed datasets between 1974 2017. Major taxa studied: Trees. Methods: We identified formatting issues in all individual ITRDB. then calculated representativity ITRDB with respect species, spatial coverage, climatic regions, elevations, need for data update, limitations on growth, vascular plant diversity, associated animal diversity. combined these metrics into a Priority Sampling Index (PSI) highlight ways representativity. Results: Our refined dataset provides access network >52 million growth points worldwide. found, however, that dominated by trees from forests low semi‐arid climates, coniferous western North America. Conifers represented 81% even well‐sampled areas, broadleaves were poorly represented. PSI stressed increase diversity terms broadleaf species regions require attention. Great gains will be made increasing research sharing African, Asian, South American forests. Main conclusions: extensive coverage show great promise address macroecological questions. achieve this, have overcome significant gaps A strategic organized group effort required, hope provided here can guide efforts this invaluable database.