Skip to main content
Dryad

Data from: Local context drives infection of grasses by vector-borne generalist viruses

Cite this dataset

Borer, Elizabeth T.; Seabloom, Eric W.; Mitchell, Charles E.; Power, Alison G. (2016). Data from: Local context drives infection of grasses by vector-borne generalist viruses [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.22dt8

Abstract

Host characteristics commonly determine infection risk, but infection can also be mediated by regional- or local-scale variation in the biotic and abiotic environment. Experiments can clarify the relative importance of these factors. We quantified drivers of infection by barley and cereal yellow dwarf viruses (B/CYDV), a group of generalist, vector-borne grass pathogens, at hierarchically nested spatial scales (105–1 m) by planting individuals of six common grass species into five Pacific Coast grassland sites spanning 7° of latitude (> 5000 total hosts) and applying a factorial combination of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer. Infection differed most among experimental blocks (102–103 m scale), suggesting that local factors control infection risk; infection increased with cover of long-lived hosts and phosphorus, but not nitrogen, fertilization. For B/CYDV, local context more strongly predicts infection risk than host species traits or regional context; such spatially nested experiments can clarify the factors underlying variation in infection risk.

Usage notes

Location

Oregon
California