posted on 2024-11-17, 14:59authored byHervé Sauquet, Rachael V Gallagher, Rowan Brownlee, Carl Boettiger, David Coleman, Sophie Yang, Tony Auld, Russell Barrett, Timothy Brodribb, Brendan Choat, Lily Dun, David Ellsworth, Carl Gosper, Lydia Guja, Gregory J Jordan, Tom Le Breton, Andrea Leigh, Patricia Lu-Irving, Belinda Medlyn, Rachael Nolan, Mark Ooi, Karen D Sommerville, Peter Vesk, Matthew White, Ian J Wright, Daniel S Falster
Traits with intuitive names, a clear scope and explicit description are essential for all trait databases. The lack of unified, comprehensive, and machine-readable plant trait definitions limits the utility of trait databases, including reanalysis of data from a single database, or analyses that integrate data across multiple databases. Both can only occur if researchers are confident the trait concepts are consistent within and across sources. Here we describe the AusTraits Plant Dictionary (APD), a new data source of terms that extends the trait definitions included in a recent trait database, AusTraits. The development process of the APD included three steps: review and formalisation of the scope of each trait and the accompanying trait description; addition of trait metadata; and publication in both human and machine-readable forms. Trait definitions include keywords, references, and links to related trait concepts in other databases, enabling integration of AusTraits with other sources. The APD will both improve the usability of AusTraits and foster the integration of trait data across global and regional plant trait databases.