READ ME File For 'Volatile components of trees varying in susceptibility to grey squirrel damage'

Dataset DOI: doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/PG/D229b

ReadMe Author: Alexandra Ash, University of Southampton 0000-0002-2647-7945

This dataset supports the thesis entitled 
AWARDED BY: University of Southampton
DATE OF AWARD: 2026

Date of data collection: February to May 2024

Information about geographic location of data collection: Sherborne, Dorset

Licence:
This dataset is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).

You are free to share and adapt the data as long as appropriate credit is given.  

Related projects/Funders:
CFP2513

Centre for Forest Protection (CFP)

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DATA & FILE OVERVIEW
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This dataset contains data on tree and chemical characteristics of trees damaged by grey squirrels.


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METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION
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Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: physical tree data was collected using a variety of methods to measure tree DBH, height, damage and crown density. VOCs were collected from tree foliage via headspace sampling and extracts analysed by GC-MS. VOC data was generated from GC-MS results.

Methods for processing the data: Tidyverse was used to organise data. 

People involved with sample collection, processing, analysis and/or submission: Alexandra Ash, Julie Herniman, John Langley. C Patrick Doncaster


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DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION 
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Number of variables: 25

Number of cases/rows: 814

Variable list, defining any abbreviations, units of measure, codes or symbols used:
CULTIVAR = cultivar name of tree sampled 
DBH = diameter at breast height (in cm)
DAMAGE = damage by squirrels (0 - 3)
LOC.1 = presence of damage at base of tree (0/1)
LOC.2 = presence of damage on main stem of tree (0/1)
LOC.3 = presence of damage in canopy of tree (0/1)
EDGE = was tree edge tree (0/1)
DEAD = was tree dead (0/1)
CROWN.DEN = crown density (percentage)
TOP = top height (in m)
TIMBER = timber height (in m)
TREE_ID = individual tree id 
PEAK_NO = GC-MS peak number
DATABASE_RESULT = database result for peak 
COMPOUND = identified compound 
SIMILARITY = similarity score to database result
AREA = area under the GC peak
PERCENTAGE_AREA = percentage area of peak out of total area
NO_C_BEFORE = the number of the carbon before the peak (from alkane standard)
RT_UNKNOWN_PEAK = retention time of the unknown peak
RT_PEAK_BEFORE = retention time of the peak before
KI = the calculated kovat's index 
NIST_KI = matched Kovat's index for the compound from NIST's online database 
IDENTIFIED = was compound identified or not (0/1)


Date that the file was created: July, 2024