Dataset Article "Species composition shapes canopy microclimate and foliar traits without modifying photosynthetic thermal acclimation in a beech-oak ecotone", Deluigi et al.

**Article: "Species Species composition shapes canopy microclimate and foliar traits without modifying photosynthetic thermal acclimation in a beech-oak ecotone"** Authors: **Janisse Deluigi**, Charlotte Grossiord, Alvaro Poretti, Lorenz Walthert, Christoph Bachofen The study was conducted along a south-exposed elevational gradient ranging from 770 to 860 m a.s.l. in a central alpine valley (46°10`14``N, 7°10`01``E, Saillon, Switzerland). Along the elevational gradient, we selected three forest stands characterized by high coverage of mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and downy oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.) trees, with are naturally distributed in three species combinations: one pure beech stand (i.e., at least 80% of the basal area) at 860 m a.s.l. , one mixed beech-oak stand (i.e., similar relative abundances of the two species – at least 40% of the basal area each – and minimal presence of other tree species) at 785 m a.s.l., and one pure oak stand (i.e., at least 80% of the basal area) at 770 m a.s.l. An additional forest clearing of around 0.04 ha next to the pure oak stand was selected as reference for conditions outside the forest (i.e., clearing or gap). At each