Pathogen incidence on tree and liana seedlings along a chronosequence of tropical forest recovery in Panama
Data files
Oct 13, 2025 version files 340.57 KB
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Biotropica_SuccessionalPathogenIncidence.xlsx
338.98 KB
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README.md
1.59 KB
Abstract
To assess how pathogen incidence affects plant community assembly during tropical forest recovery, we recorded foliar fungal pathogen incidence on 6,010 seedlings (5-200 cm tall) of 176 tree and 71 liana species along a chronosequence of ten forest sites in Panama ranging in age from 9 to 129 years. We used this dataset to test the hypotheses that pathogen incidence (1) increases with forest successional age, (2) increases with local species seedling abundance, (3) is greater for liana than tree seedlings, and (4) varies with tree species’ life-history strategy.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.b2rbnzstq
Description of the data and file structure
Files and variables
File: Biotropica_SuccessionalPathogenIncidence.xlsx
Description:
Variables
ForestSite = name of the 1-ha forest plot in which a seedling was sampled
SPP = species identification hexacode
FoliarP = pathogen incidence as presence-absence data with 1= a plant showing pathogen damage and 0 = a plant showing no signs of pathogen damage
Date = Sampling date
PC1score = species' location on the growth-survival trade-off axis (Rüger et al., 2020, 10.1126/science.aaz4797; available only for a subset of individuals)
PC2score = species' location on the stature-recruitment trade-off axis (Rüger et al., 2020, 10.1126/science.aaz4797; available only for a subset of individuals)
PFT_L = plant-functional type (fast, slow, intermediate, SLB = short-lived breeder, LLP = long-lived pioneer, liana)
ForestAge = estimated forest recovery age since agricultural abandonment in years
UniquePlot = seedling location as the combined information of 1-ha forest plot and 1 m2 seedling plot in which a seedling was sampled
StandNLeaves = standardized number of leaves (single-leaved species) or leaflets (compound-leaved species)
conspec_density = number of conspecific seedlings in the 1 m2 seedling plot
density = number of woody seedlings in the 1 m2 seedling plot
Code/software
Windows Excel
Pathogen incidence was scored at the plant level by visual inspection. A plant was scored as infected with foliar pathogens if one or more of its leaves showed necrotic lesions, black or orange rust spots, auras around missing leaf area, and/or a white powdery surface.