Seasonal and latitudinal variation in seagrass mechanical traits across Europe: the influence of local nutrient status and morphometric plasticity

Description of the dataset per column.

Site
Numbers refer to the studied site:
1= Cadiz bay, Spain
2= upstream, Mondego estuary, Portugal
3= downstream, Mondego estuary, Portugal
4= Santander, Spain
5= Bidasoa estuary, France
6= Germanan, Arcachon bay, France
7= Hautebelle, Arcachon bay, France
8= Noirmoutier, France
9= St-Jacut-de-la-mer, France
10= Oostdijk, Oosterschelde, Netherlands
11= Dortsman, Oosterschelde, Netherlands
12= Sylt, Germany

Season
Peak = samples taken at the peak of the growing season (dates vary per site, see Table 1 in manuscript)
End = samples taken at the end of the growing season (dates vary per site, see Table 1 in manuscript)

Sample
Numbers from 1 to 5 refer to the seagrass sample (n=5) collected at each site and each season.

Replicate
Numbers from 1 to 5 refer to the replicate leaf number used for the mechanical measurements (i.e. 5 leaves per sample were used for the mechanical measurements).

Latitude
Refers to the latitude per site.

C in leaves
In percent (%); refers to the C content as measured for each seagrass sample.

N in leaves
In percent (%); refers to the N content as measured for each seagrass sample.

C:N-ratio
Dimensionless; refers to the C/N ratio calculated from the C an N in leaves measurements.

Leaf length
In millimetres; Leaf length measured on each leaf replicate used for the mechanical measurements.
Leaf width
In millimetres; Leaf width measured on each leaf replicate used for the mechanical measurements.

Leaf thickness
In millimetres; Leaf thickness measured on each leaf replicate used for the mechanical measurements.

CA
In mm2; Cross-sectional area calculated for each leaf replicate as the product between leaf width and thickness.

Volume
In mm3; Calculated for each leaf replicate as the product between leaf leangth, width and thickness

Breaking stress
In Newton (N); Force needed to break each leaf replicate as measured with the tensometer (custom made electric actuator with a rated capacity of 5 kN and an accuracy of 0.01 mm of displacement; Instron universal testing machine).

Extension
In millimetres; Maximum extension of each leaf replicate before breakage as measured with the tensometer (custom made electric actuator with a rated capacity of 5 kN and an accuracy of 0.01 mm of displacement; Instron universal testing machine).

Strength
In N.mm-2; Tensile strength calculated for each leaf replicate as the ratio between the measured breaking stress and CA.

Stiffness
In N.mm-2; Calculated from the measured initial leaf length, CA, breaking stress and Extension.

Extensibility
In percent (%); calculated as ratio between each leaf replicate extension and initial leaf length.


Notes: empty cells are missing values (i.e. missing sample).

