Data from: The ecology of attraction: Fruit traits and frugivore diversity in Neotropical Piper
Data files
Jan 12, 2026 version files 25.30 KB
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README.md
4.53 KB
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Santana_et_al._Piper_fruit_traits_dryad.xlsx
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Abstract
Fruit traits can benefit plant reproduction by enhancing seed dispersal by mutualistic frugivores (e.g., seed dispersal syndromes), but identifying the role of fruit traits in mediating frugivory is challenging because they can serve multiple functions, and plant-frugivore interactions can vary spatially and are rarely exclusive. We use a community of neotropical Piper to test the hypothesis that fruit trait differences between ecotypes (forest, gap) either augment or constrain the diversity of interacting frugivores, with the broader goal of contributing to an understanding of how habitat, phylogeny, and ecological interactions influence fruit trait variation. Since bats are the primary seed dispersers of Piper in the community studied, we map the traits of Piper species consumed by bats and discuss how these may align with bat sensory modes and abilities to capture and consume fruit. We find differences in fruit traits between Piper ecotypes that are consistent with accessibility by different communities of frugivores. Gap Piper, which exhibits greater frugivore diversity (bats, birds, insects), has a significantly longer fruiting period, and their ripe fruits have a more chemically diverse fruit scent bouquet. Conversely, forest Piper is consumed only by bats, generally produces fruit in short peaks, and their fruit has a less diverse scent bouquet. Additionally, gap Piper fruits tend to be greener, softer, erect, and have smaller seeds, whereas forest Piper fruits span a wider range of colors, are harder and either erect or pendulous, and have larger seeds; however, these differences did not emerge as statistically significant in our analyses. Piper species present in bat diets are characterized by having longer fruiting phenologies, greener fruits, and volatile organic compounds in their fruit scent that have been previously demonstrated to be preferred by Piper specialist bats. Our results suggest that fruit traits in Piper may facilitate or constrain interactions with different frugivore communities across habitats. As most of the Piper species studied produce fruits that are visually inconspicuous, chemically complex, and consumed by bats, this system merits further study at a broader taxonomic scale to evaluate the possibility of a dispersal syndrome.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.c866t1gn4
Description of the data and file structure
Plant and fruit trait data (dimensions, color, and hardness) were collected from 34 species of Piper from field observations and measurements at a site in Costa Rica. These data were complemented with data from the literature on the presence of bat diet and fruit scent. The first column includes species names, and the Cells containing "NA" are empty or missing data.
Files and variables
File: Santana_et_al._Piper_fruit_traits_dryad.xlsx
Description:
| Variable | **Descriptithe onthe ** |
|---|---|
| In bat diet | Presence in the bat diet, from the literature |
| Ecotype | Ecotype based on field observations and herbarium records |
| Fruit type | Fruit morphology, based on field observations |
| Fruiting phenology (months with fruit/year) | Number of months per year in which plants were found with fruit |
| Nsize | Sample size (number of fruits) for fruit dimensions (length, diameter) |
| Fruit length (mm) | Average fruit length excluding the pedicel, in mm |
| Fruit length_SE | Fruit length Standard Error |
| Fruit diameter (mm) | Average fruit diameter at its widest part, in mm |
| Fruit diameter_SE | Fruit diameter Standard Error |
| Nseeds | Number of seeds measured |
| Seed length (mm) | Average seed length, in mm |
| Seed length_SE | Seed length Standard Error |
| Seed width (mm) | Average seed width, in mm |
| Seed width_SE | Seed width Standard Error |
| N hardness | Sample size (number of fruits) for fruit hardness |
| Fruit hardness (Newtons) | Average fruit hardness in Newtons |
| Fruit hardness_SE | Hardnessrdness Standard Error |
| Ncolor | Sample size (number of fruits) for color measurements |
| Color PC1 | PC1 scores of color variables |
| Color PC2 | PC2 scores of color variables |
| Color PC3 | PC3 scores of color variables |
| Color PC4 | PC4 scores of color variables |
| Color PC5 | PC5 scores of color variables |
| Number of VOCs | Number of Volatile Organic Compounds in ripe fruit scent |
| VOC MDS1 | MDS1 scores for Volatile Organic Compounds in ripe fruit scent |
| VOC MDS2 | MDS2 scores for Volatile Organic Compounds in ripe fruit scent |
| VOC MDS3 | MDS3 scores for Volatile Organic Compounds in ripe fruit scent |
| VOC MDS4 | MDS4 scores for Volatile Organic Compounds in ripe fruit scent |
| VOC MDS5 | MDS5 scores for Volatile Organic Compounds in ripe fruit scent |
Code/software
Viewable in any software that can open Excel files
