Dataset: Primary producer amino acid nitrogen isotope values from published literature to examine beta variability in trophic position estimates

This dataset represents information from a meta-analysis of primary producer amino acid δ¹⁵N data that were published in Ramirez et al. (2021) [https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13678].  

This meta-analysis fulfills a pressing need to comprehensively evaluate relevant sources of β value variability and its contribution to the uncertainty in trophic position compound specific isotope analysis (TPCSIA). We first synthesized all published primary producer AA δ15N data to investigate ecologically relevant sources of variability (e.g. taxonomy, tissue type, habitat type, mode of photosynthesis). We then reviewed the biogeochemical mechanisms underpinning AA δ15N and β value variability. 

Amino acids: alanine ,arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, and valine

Environmental system: bacteria, freshwater, marine, or terrestrial

Vascularization: vascular, or non-vascular

Phylum/Division: Brypohyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta, Euryarchaeota, Haptophyta, Magnoliophyta, Myzozoa, Ochrophyta, Pinophyta, Polypodiophyta, Proteobacteria, Rhodophyta, or Unknown

Stem Class: herbaceous, woody, or semi-woody

Life Cycle: annual, biennial, or perennial

Taxonomic Group: Cactus, Chemoautotroph, Cyanobacteria, Eukaryotic microalgae, Fern, Forb, Grass, Ice algae, Leaf litter, Macroalgae, Macrophyte, Moss, POM, Seagrass, Shrub, Tree, or Vine

Respiration type: C3, C4, or CAM (Crassulacean acid metabolism)

Tissue type: flower, fruit, leaf, paddle, rachis, seed, shoot, whole, or wood

Cultivation type: culture, farm, filtered water, natural, sediment trap, or suburb