2. Cells with a dot and no numbers denote variables not provided in the report.

3. Reports of macrophyte communities marked with one arterisk (*) provide variables including both the above- and belowground compartments. Reports marked with two arterisks (**) provide variables including only the belowground compartment, whereas reports having no arterisk provide variables referred only to the aboveground compartment.

4. In the reports marked with the symbol ¶, plant detrital mass (DM) and decomposition rate (k) refer only to leaves. In these reports, the values of autotrophic biomass (B), net primary production (NPP), plant turnover rate (PTR) and detrital production (DP) for the leaf compartment are provided in parentheses. Values not encompassed by parentheses, other than DM and k, refer to the aboveground compartment (references with no asterisk) or include both the above- and belowground compartments (references with one asterisk). Values of B, NPP, PTR and DP for the leaf compartment in the reports marked with ¶ have been used to derive the relationships and plots between k and PTR, k and NPP, DM and PTR, DM and NPP, and DM and DP across all the communities compiled. Values not encompassed by parentheses have been used to derive the rest of relationships and plots.

5. There are some minor, unimportant changes in the statistical results and plots derived from the data set provided here in relation to the results summarised in Table 1 and plots in the paper. This is due to some minor corrections (elimination of some repetitions and some reports of brackish marshes mistaken by reports of freshwater macrophyte meadows) made in the data set when preparing it for inclusion in the web address. Unfortunately, these small errors were unnoticed when producing the plots and statistical results presented in the paper. Yet, the changes entailed by the corrections made are negligible, since the statistical results and plots published in the paper are virtually identical to those obtained from the final data set provided here. Therefore, the significance of all the statistical analyses, patterns and conclusions presented in the paper remain unaltered by the modifications made in the data set.

6. To download the data set, click the "download data file" option.  It will transfer a binary copy of the Excel file into the "Downloads" folder specified by your Internet browser software. To open this file, open Excel and locate the file from the Excel "File->Open File" menu option.

Please Email jcebrian@disl.org with any questions.