This file contains tree demographic data summarized in the 240 20m by 20m grid cells that make up the 800 m by 120 m (9.6 ha) Scotty Creek ForestGEO permanent forest dynamics plot located in the Northwest Territories, Canada. See "scotty_plot_layout.pdf" for a schematic diagram of the layout of this plot. Note that only data collected in the southern 6 rows of grid cells (indicated by darker grey shading in the schematic diagram) are included in this dataset.

column names are as follows:
quadrat = the name of the 20 m by 20 m grid cell (see "scotty_plot_layout.pdf" for a schematic diagram of the layout of these grid cells)
y_coord = the y-coordinate (in m) of the southwest corner of the associated 20 m by 20 m grid cell (the origin is located at the southwestern corner of the plot).
x_coord = the x-coordinate (in m) of the southwest corner of the associated 20 m by 20 m grid cell (the origin is located at the southwestern corner of the plot).
besp_c1_stems = the number of stems of Betula spp. present in the associated grid cell as of the intial forest census conducted from 2013 to 2014. If the user wishes to convert these values into stem density in m2/ha, simply divide the values by 0.04 ha (which is the area of the grid cell in ha).
lala_c1_stems = the number of stems of Larix laricina present in the associated grid cell as of the intial forest census conducted from 2013 to 2014. If the user wishes to convert these values into stem density in m2/ha, simply divide the values by 0.04 ha (which is the area of the grid cell in ha).
pima_c1_stems = the number of stems of Picea mariana present in the associated grid cell as of the intial forest census conducted from 2013 to 2014. If the user wishes to convert these values into stem density in m2/ha, simply divide the values by 0.04 ha (which is the area of the grid cell in ha).
besp_c1_ba = the area (in m2) of Betula spp. stems present in the associated grid cell as of the initial forest census conducted from 2013 to 2014. If the user wishes to convert these values into basal area in m2/ha, simply divide the values by 0.04 ha (which is the area of the grid cell in ha).
lala_c1_ba = the area (in m2) of Larix laricina stems present in the associated grid cell as of the initial forest census conducted from 2013 to 2014. If the user wishes to convert these values into basal area in m2/ha, simply divide the values by 0.04 ha (which is the area of the grid cell in ha).
pima_c1_ba = the area (in m2) of Picea mariana stemps present in the associated grid cell as of the initial forest census conducted from 2013 to 2014. If the user wishes to convert these values into basal area in m2/ha, simply divide the values by 0.04 ha (which is the area of the grid cell in ha).
besp_deaths = the number of Betula spp. stems that died in the associated grid cell between the initial census (2013/2014) and the first recensus of the plot (2018).
lala_deaths = the number of Larix laricina stems that died in the associated grid cell between the initial census (2013/2014) and the first recensus of the plot (2018).
pima_deaths = the number of Picea mariana stems that died in the associated grid cell between the initial census (2013/2014) and the first recensus of the plot (2018).
besp_recruits = the number of Betula spp. stems that recruited into the associated grid cell (i.e. reached the necessary criterion of >/= 1 cm diameter at breast height) between the initial census (2013/2014) and the first recensus of the plot (2018).
lala_recruits = the number of Larix laricina stems that recruited into the associated grid cell (i.e. reached the necessary criterion of >/= 1 cm diameter at breast height) between the initial census (2013/2014) and the first recensus of the plot (2018).
pima_recruits = the number of Picea mariana stems that recruited into the associated grid cell (i.e. reached the necessary criterion of >/= 1 cm diameter at breast height) between the initial census (2013/2014) and the first recensus of the plot (2018).
besp_c2_stems = the number of stems of Betula spp. present in the associated grid cell as of the forest recensus conducted in 2018. If the user wishes to convert these values into stem density in m2/ha, simply divide the values by 0.04 ha (which is the area of the grid cell in ha).
lala_c2_stems = the number of stems of Larix laricina present in the associated grid cell as of the forest recensus conducted in 2018. If the user wishes to convert these values into stem density in m2/ha, simply divide the values by 0.04 ha (which is the area of the grid cell in ha).
pima_c2_stems = the number of stems of Picea mariana present in the associated grid cell as of the forest recensus conducted in 2018. If the user wishes to convert these values into stem density in m2/ha, simply divide the values by 0.04 ha (which is the area of the grid cell in ha).
besp_c2_ba = the area (in m2) of Betula spp. stems present in the associated grid cell as of the forest recensus conducted in 2018. If the user wishes to convert these values into basal area in m2/ha, simply divide the values by 0.04 ha (which is the area of the grid cell in ha).
lala_c2_ba = the area (in m2) of Larix laricina stems present in the associated grid cell as of the forest recensus conducted in 2018. If the user wishes to convert these values into basal area in m2/ha, simply divide the values by 0.04 ha (which is the area of the grid cell in ha).
pima_c2_ba = the area (in m2) of Picea mariana stems present in the associated grid cell as of the forest recensus conducted in 2018. If the user wishes to convert these values into basal area in m2/ha, simply divide the values by 0.04 ha (which is the area of the grid cell in ha).
spp_richness = the number of different species present in the associated grid cell as of the initial census conducted from 2013 to 2014. 
pc1_avg = the average of four principal component 1 values associated with the corners of the associated grid cell. See paper methods for full description of the mixed principal components analysis we used to generate these values, but briefly, principal component 1 captures a gradient of wet, permafrost-free soils (low values) to well-drained soils underlain by permafrost (high values).
pc2_avg = the average of four principal component 2 values associated with the corners of the associated grid cell. See paper methods for full description of the mixed principal components analysis we used to generate these values, but briefly, principal component 2 captures a gradient of soils with thick organic layers and shallow snowpacks (low values) to soils with thin organic layers and deep snowpacks (high values).
ft_change = the degree of permafrost thaw that occurred within each grid cell between 2012 and 2018 (expressed as three categories). "none" indicates that permafrost was not present in 2012 and remained absent in 2018, "minor_thaw" indicates a minor degree of vertical thaw and/or lateral thaw, and "major_thaw" indicates a minor degree of vertical and/or lateral thaw (see methods section of the paper for full description of this categorization).