Mapping the root systems of individual trees in a natural community using genotyping-by-sequencing.

The architecture of root systems is an important driver of plant fitness, competition and ecosystem processes. However, the methodological difficulty of mapping roots hampers the study of these processes. Existing approaches to match individual plants to belowground samples are low throughput and species specific.

Data of plant diversity, spectral reflectance at specie level and satellite spectral variables from the largest dry forest nucleus in South America.

The use of satellite remote sensing makes it possible to acquire useful information about the environment, since it presents tools capable of assisting the practical search of information related to species richness. Here we present data on richness and Shannon index from phytosociological researches, vegetation indices and individual bands spectral reflectance from satellite images and leaf-level spectral reflectance from eight Caatinga species. For further interpretation of the data presented in this article, please see the research article "Predicting plant species richness with satellite images in the largest dry forest nucleus in South America" [1].