BAAD: a Biomass And Allometry Database for woody plants

Understanding how plants are constructed—i.e., how key size dimensions and the amount of mass invested in different tissues varies among individuals—is essential for modeling plant growth, carbon stocks, and energy fluxes in the terrestrial biosphere. Allocation patterns can differ through ontogeny, but also among coexisting species and among species adapted to different environments. While a variety of models dealing with biomass allocation exist, we lack a synthetic understanding of the underlying processes. This is partly due to the lack of suitable data sets for validating and parameterizing models. To that end, we present the Biomass And Allometry Database (BAAD) for woody plants. The BAAD contains 259 634 measurements collected in 176 different studies, from 21 084 individuals across 678 species. Most of these data come from existing publications. However, raw data were rarely made public at the time of publication. Thus, the BAAD contains data from different studies, transformed into standard units and variable names. The transformations were achieved using a common workflow for all raw data files. Other features that distinguish the BAAD are: (i) measurements were for individual plants rather than stand averages; (ii) individuals spanning a range of sizes were measured; (iii) plants from 0.01–100 m in height were included; and (iv) biomass was estimated directly, i.e., not indirectly via allometric equations (except in very large trees where biomass was estimated from detailed sub‐sampling). We included both wild and artificially grown plants. The data set contains the following size metrics: total leaf area; area of stem cross‐section including sapwood, heartwood, and bark; height of plant and crown base, crown area, and surface area; and the dry mass of leaf, stem, branches, sapwood, heartwood, bark, coarse roots, and fine root tissues. We also report other properties of individuals (age, leaf size, leaf mass per area, wood density, nitrogen content of leaves and wood), as well as information about the growing environment (location, light, experimental treatment, vegetation type) where available. It is our hope that making these data available will improve our ability to understand plant growth, ecosystem dynamics, and carbon cycling in the world\u27s vegetation

BAAD: a Biomass And Allometry Database for woody plants

Understanding how plants are constructed—i.e., how key size dimensions and the amount of mass invested in different tissues varies among individuals—is essential for modeling plant growth, carbon stocks, and energy fluxes in the terrestrial biosphere. Allocation patterns can differ through ontogeny, but also among coexisting species and among species adapted to different environments. While a variety of models dealing with biomass allocation exist, we lack a synthetic understanding of the underlying processes. This is partly due to the lack of suitable data sets for validating and parameterizing models. To that end, we present the Biomass And Allometry Database (BAAD) for woody plants. The BAAD contains 259 634 measurements collected in 176 different studies, from 21 084 individuals across 678 species. Most of these data come from existing publications. However, raw data were rarely made public at the time of publication. Thus, the BAAD contains data from different studies, transformed into standard units and variable names. The transformations were achieved using a common workflow for all raw data files. Other features that distinguish the BAAD are: (i) measurements were for individual plants rather than stand averages; (ii) individuals spanning a range of sizes were measured; (iii) plants from 0.01–100 m in height were included; and (iv) biomass was estimated directly, i.e., not indirectly via allometric equations (except in very large trees where biomass was estimated from detailed sub-sampling). We included both wild and artificially grown plants. The data set contains the following size metrics: total leaf area; area of stem cross-section including sapwood, heartwood, and bark; height of plant and crown base, crown area, and surface area; and the dry mass of leaf, stem, branches, sapwood, heartwood, bark, coarse roots, and fine root tissues. We also report other properties of individuals (age, leaf size, leaf mass per area, wood density, nitrogen content of leaves and wood), as well as information about the growing environment (location, light, experimental treatment, vegetation type) where available. It is our hope that making these data available will improve our ability to understand plant growth, ecosystem dynamics, and carbon cycling in the world\u27s vegetation

Use of motion-activated remote cameras to detect the endangered spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus): results from a pilot study

A survey of the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) was conducted in the Watagan Mountains of New South Wales using baited remote cameras. Nine individuals were detected, of which seven occurred at meat-baited sites and two at sites with a general mammal bait. This confirms the expectation that a meat-based bait increases the ability to detect this species using remote cameras

Health and Safety Management Using Building Information Modelling: Phase Two Report

The construction industry is infamous for having a high number of fatalities around the world. The use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been considered an influential way to improve Work Health and Safety (WHS) outcomes by improving communication, information flow and risk analysis in all phases of an asset's lifecycle. The research "Work Health and Safety Management using Building Information Modelling" is a four-phase study aiming to examine the opportunities to achieve WHS objectives through the application of BIM in major construction projects. This Technical Report presents the outcomes of Phase 2, including the results of an in-depth empirical study and the recommended contents of a Decision Framework. The proposed Decision Framework will support pathways for clients and project team leaders to collaboratively work together and develop high-quality information requirements that clarifies the data management environment expectations for all stakeholders. The tools underpinning the Decision Framework will support the development of high-quality criteria for tendering, evaluation and monitoring, and ultimately, the delivery performance of the primary contract throughout the supply chain

Health and Safety Management Using Building Information Modelling: Phase Three Report

This Technical Report is the culmination of a study involving significant industry liaison and input. The study is part of a worldwide trend to develop better tools for collaborative decision making Page 3 of 128 on construction projects through improved information ecosystems, including ‘guidelines’ to enable public and private sector client organisations who are key industry influencers to lead projects in a new way. The study explored the clients’ role in catalysing a BIM-enabled WHS management ecosystem by incorporating it in procurement strategies and tendering requirements. The resulting Decision Framework provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners to understand how a BIM-enabled WHS management system can best be facilitated during the procurement process and supported throughout the entire project lifecycle. This Technical Report is focused on the third phase of the four-phase study. Phase 3 of the study consisted of a comprehensive nine-step methodology (see details in Figure 1) to include iterative feedback from industry to develop, refine and analyse the potential impact of the content of the Guidelines

Health and Safety Management Using Building Information Modelling: Phase One Report

The construction industry is known as one of the most dangerous industries. Numerous safety incidents, injuries and fatalities could be prevented by improved communication and information flow and analysis in all phases of the asset lifecycle. The use of Building Information Modelling (BIM), a technology enabling the digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a building or infrastructure project offers the means of improving Work Health and Safety (WHS) outcomes in the construction industry. Yet, its application to WHS management, particularly in Australia, has been varied and inconsistent and the extent to which it can improve WHS outcomes in construction is unclear. The project “Work Health and Safety Management using Building Information Modelling” examines the opportunities to achieve WHS objectives through application of BIM in major construction projects. This technical report presents the outcomes of phase one of four phases, and identifies solutions for integrating the WHS aspect in BIM-enabled project planning, design and delivery. Specifically, this includes understanding how and to what extent BIM is used and can be used for WHS management, including different options of implementation and the associated barriers, enablers, limitations and consequences for WHS risk reduction for the industry, the government and the regulator. The outcomes of phase one provide the theoretical and practical context for phase two, which aims to identify preferred procurement models and best practices to evaluate WHS management in BIM-enabled project proposals and develop recommendations for government clients

The temperature optima for tree seedling photosynthesis and growth depend on water inputs

Understanding how tree growth is affected by rising temperature is a key to predicting the fate of forests in future warmer climates. Increasing temperature has direct effects on plant physiology but there are also indirect effects of increased water limitation because evaporative demand increases with temperature in many systems. In this study, we experimentally resolved the direct and indirect effects of temperature on the response of growth and photosynthesis of the widely distributed species Eucalyptus tereticornis. We grew E. tereticornis in an array of six growth temperatures from 18 to 35.5°C, spanning the climatic distribution of the species, with two watering treatments: i) water inputs increasing with temperature to match plant demand at all temperatures (Wincr), isolating the direct effect of temperature; and ii) water inputs constant for all temperatures, matching demand for coolest grown plants (Wconst), such that water limitation increased with growth temperature. We found that constant water inputs resulted in a reduction of temperature optima for both photosynthesis and growth by ~ 3°C compared to increasing water inputs. Water limitation particularly reduced the total amount of leaf area displayed at Topt and intermediate growth temperatures. The reduction in photosynthesis could be attributed to lower leaf water potential and consequent stomatal closure. The reduction in growth was a result of decreased photosynthesis, reduced total leaf area display and a reduction in specific leaf area. Water availability had no effect on the response of stem and root respiration to warming, but we observed lower leaf respiration rates under constant water inputs compared to increasing water inputs at higher growth temperatures. Overall this study demonstrates that the indirect effect of increasing water limitation strongly modifies the potential response of tree growth to rising global temperatures

Construction work health and safety management using building information modelling

The high rates of fatalities and injuries in the construction industry highlight the importance of work health and safety (WHS). Building information modelling (BIM) could significantly improve WHS management in construction, but integration has been limited. The chapter explores the application of BIM for WHS management and the rationale for market leaders’ role to catalyse a BIM-enabled WHS management ecosystem through procurement strategies and tendering proficiency. An international comparative analysis of BIM WHS is presented along with a BIM drivers and barriers critique, including a clustering into seven areas of market, perceptions and attitudes, leadership, supply chain integration and collaborative practice, procurement strategies and tendering proficiency, decision tools, and technical functionality. A focussed decision framework is outlined. The findings provide insights for researchers and practitioners to understand how a BIM-enabled WHS management system can be facilitated and supported through the project lifecycle

No evidence of homeostatic regulation of leaf temperature in Eucalyptus parramattensis trees : integration of CO2 flux and oxygen isotope methodologies

Thermoregulation of leaf temperature (Tleaf) may foster metabolic homeostasis in plants, but the degree to which Tleaf is moderated, and under what environmental contexts, is a topic of debate. Isotopic studies inferred the temperature of photosynthetic carbon assimilation to be a constant value of c. 20°C; by contrast, leaf biophysical theory suggests a strong dependence of Tleaf on environmental drivers. Can this apparent disparity be reconciled? We continuously measured Tleaf and whole-crown net CO2 uptake for Eucalyptus parramattensis trees growing in field conditions in whole-tree chambers under ambient and +3°C warming conditions, and calculated assimilation-weighted leaf temperature (TL-AW) across 265 d, varying in air temperature (Tair) from −1 to 45°C. We compared these data to TL-AW derived from wood cellulose δ18O. Tleaf exhibited substantial variation driven by Tair, light intensity, and vapor pressure deficit, and Tleaf was strongly linearly correlated with Tair with a slope of c. 1.0. TL-AW values calculated from cellulose δ18O vs crown fluxes were remarkably consistent; both varied seasonally and in response to the warming treatment, tracking variation in Tair. The leaves studied here were nearly poikilothermic, with no evidence of thermoregulation of Tleaf towards a homeostatic value. Importantly, this work supports the use of cellulose δ18O to infer TL-AW, but does not support the concept of strong homeothermic regulation of Tleaf