VegVault dataset: linking global paleo-, and neo-vegetation data with functional traits and abiotic drivers

Title data

Mottl, Ondřej ; Gaiser, Franka ; Šímová, Irena ; Flantua, Suzette G. A.:
VegVault dataset: linking global paleo-, and neo-vegetation data with functional traits and abiotic drivers.
In: Scientific Data. Vol. 12 (2025) . - 1923.
ISSN 2052-4463
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-06176-1

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

Understanding the dynamics and persistence of biodiversity patterns over short (contemporary) and long (thousands of years) time scales is crucial for predicting ecosystem changes under global climate and land-use changes. A key challenge is integrating currently scattered ecological data to assess complex vegetation dynamics over time. Here, we present VegVault, an interdisciplinary SQLite database that uniquely integrates paleo- and neo-ecological plot-based vegetation data on a global and millennial scale, directly linking them with functional traits, soil, and climate information. VegVault currently comprises data from BIEN, sPlotOpen, TRY, Neotoma, CHELSA, and WoSIS, providing a comprehensive and ready-to-use resource for researchers across various fields to address questions about past and contemporary biodiversity patterns and their abiotic drivers. To further support the usability of the data, VegVault is complemented by the {vaultkeepr} R package, enabling streamlined data access, extraction, and manipulation. This study introduces the structure, content, and diverse applications of VegVault, emphasizing its potential role in advancing ecological research to improve predictions of biodiversity responses to global climate change.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Refereed:	Yes
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Cultural Studies > Department of Sport Science > Chair Sport Ecology Research Institutions > Central research institutes > Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research- BayCEER
Result of work at the UBT:	Yes
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 550 Earth sciences, geology 500 Science > 560 Fossils, prehistoric life 500 Science > 580 Plants (Botany)
Date Deposited:	15 Jan 2026 07:15
Last Modified:	15 Jan 2026 07:15
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/95751