Data from: Roads shape seed dispersal by rodents and carnivores at forest edges
Data files
Aug 20, 2025 version files 152.20 KB
-
2025_Craveiro_etal.xlsx
148.52 KB
-
README.md
3.68 KB
Abstract
The influence of road networks on seed dispersal remains poorly understood. We conducted a field experiment in Mediterranean oak woodlands of southern Portugal to assess how road type (paved vs. unpaved) and road-forest context (edge vs. non-edge) shape seed dispersal by rodents and carnivores. Using labeled acorns and seed mimics, we tracked dispersal distances, number of dispersals, road crossings, and dispersal directions. Rodents dispersed seeds farther in forest edges and along paved roadsides, predominantly moving them parallel to roads, but rarely across—although crossings were more frequent on unpaved roads. In contrast, carnivores mediated long-distance dispersal, primarily perpendicular to roads, and although seed road crossings were rare, carnivore-dispersed seeds crossed roads—especially unpaved ones—nine times more frequently than rodent-dispersed seeds. Shrub cover increased rodent-mediated dispersal events, heavier acorns traveled farther, and water patches decreased carnivore-mediated dispersal events near roads. These findings highlight the dual role of roads as barriers and of roadsides as corridors for seed dispersal, with implications for forest regeneration and habitat connectivity. Roadside management should prioritize moderate shrub cover along paved roads to support rodent dispersal while balancing ecological benefits with potential trade-offs. Unpaved roads, in turn, should be managed as functional corridors for carnivores, enhancing connectivity between fragmented forests. By integrating species-specific dispersal processes into road planning, landscapes can be designed to minimize road barrier effects while promoting natural regeneration in human-modified forests.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.v9s4mw77m
Description of the data and file structure
Authors: João Craveiro, Miguel N Bugalho, Pedro Gonçalves Vaz
This dataset supports the published article titled "Roads shape seed dispersal by rodents and carnivores at forest edges." Detailed information regarding the objectives, study design, and data collection methods can be found in the published manuscript.
File Description
The Excel file contains two worksheets:
1. RodentData
This sheet provides the final data used in regression analyses for the rodent-mediated seed dispersal – distance and number of dispersals; as explained in subsection 2.4.1 of the article. The columns are:
site.id: Road-section identifier
station.id: Seed-supply station identifier
acorn.id: Acorn identifier
context: Road-forest context
roadtype: Road type
roadeffect: Road effect category
dispdist.m: Acorn dispersal distance (m)
dispnumber: Number of acorn dispersal events per station
distroad.m: Final distance of acorn deposition from the road (m)
cross.yn: Whether the acorn crossed a road (yes/no)
weight.g: Acorn weight (g)
rodent.ha: Rodent density in the section (individuals ha⁻¹)
acornavailability: Mean number of acorns available on trees near the station
microsite: Microsite of acorn deposition
grasscover: Percentage of grass cover near the station
shrubcover: Percentage of shrub cover near the station
tree.ha: Oak tree density near the station (trees ha⁻¹)
dispersalangle.deg: Angular deviation of acorn dispersal from the road (°).
2. CarnivoreData
This sheet provides the final data used in regression analyses for the carnivore-mediated seed dispersal – distance and number of dispersals; as explained in subsection 2.4.2 of the article. The columns are:
site.id: Road section identifier
context: Road–forest context
roadtype: Road type
species: Carnivore species that deposited the scat corresponding to the dispersal event
disp.id: Dispersal‐event identifier
dispdist.m: Seed dispersal distance (m)
dispnumber: Number of dispersal events per site
cross.yn: Whether the dispersal event crossed a road (yes/no)
distroad.m: Distance from seed deposition to the road (m)
carnivore.kai: Carnivore abundance at the site (Kilometric Abundance Index)
stream.m: Total length of watercourses at the site (m)
waterpatch.n: Number of water patches at the site
waterpatch.ha: Total area of water patches at the site (ha)
tree.ha: Oak tree density at the site (trees ha⁻¹)
dispersalangle.deg: Angular deviation of the dispersal event from the road (°).
Contact
For questions or additional information, please contact the corresponding author:
Pedro Gonçalves Vaz – pjvaz@fc.ul.pt (or zasvaz@gmail.com)
Files and variables
File: 2025_Craveiro_etal.xlsx
Description:
This dataset contains data on seed dispersal by small rodents and mesocarnivores. The dataset was collected in the Alentejo, southern Portugal and it was used to assess how road-forest context (edge vs. non-edge) and road type (paved vs. unpaved) may influence seed dispersal. The file includes two tabs, each referring to the regressions described above.
Code/software
The data provided can be opened with any standard spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, or Google Sheets. However, all analyses were conducted in R (version 4.1.1), a free and open-source statistical computing environment available at https://www.r-project.org.