This documentation contains guidance for the content and format of leaf-level gas exchange data and metadata. The reporting format comprises defined variable names and units for data tables, a methods metadata template, and instrument details template and guidance on inclusion of other related data and metadata.

The ESS-DIVE leaf-level gas exchange data and metadata reporting format has been developed to meet the needs of the community for a unified reporting format. This initial effort covers the most common variables and provides templates for metadata reporting. Additional reporting requirements have been developed for seven common data types:

• Survey
• Response of photosynthesis to intercellular CO₂ concentration (ACi curves)
• Photosynthetic parameters derived from ACi curves
• Vcmax from one point
• Response of photosynthesis to irradiance (AQ curves)
• Photosynthetic parameters derived from AQ curves
• Dark adapted respiration

For a full description of the reporting format, refer to our upcoming paper, “A reporting format for leaf-level gas exchange data and metadata”, Ecological Informatics (accepted).

Instructions for how to use this reporting format:

• Leaf-level gas exchange reporting format instructions

Other documents to get started:

• Methods metadata template: Download spreadsheet template for recording experiment and methods metadata.
• Instrument details template: Download spreadsheet template to record instrument details.

This leaf-level gas exchange data reporting format is evolving and growing to meet the needs of the community. Feedback and new contributions are welcome, and can be made by submitting an issue or feedback.

The issue templates we use are modeled from that provided by Darwin Core: Darwin Core maintenance group, Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) (2014). Darwin Core. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.592792

The leaf-level gas exchange data and metadata reporting format is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CCby4).

Funding for the development of ESS-DIVE's leaf-level gas exchange data and metadata reporting format was provided by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Biological and Environmental Research Program, Earth and Environmental Systems Sciences Division, Data Management.

The format was developed with input and feedback of over 80 subject experts, including data collectors, data scientists, data users (empiricists and modelers), and instrument manufacturers. Thank you all.

For further description of the reporting format, and the development process, refer to:

Ely et al (2021). A reporting format for leaf-level gas exchange data and metadata. Ecological Informatics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101232

Ely K.S., Rogers A, Crystal-Ornelas R (2020): ESS-DIVE reporting format for leaf-level gas exchange data and metadata. Environmental Systems Science Data Infrastructure for a Virtual Ecosystem. doi:10.15485/1659484