A dominant plant species and insects independently and interactively shape plant community structure and ecosystem function above- and below-ground
Data files
Jan 12, 2026 version files 45.48 MB
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2024_community_RAW_updated.xlsx
102.40 KB
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2024_tms_RAW.xlsx
45.33 MB
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2024_traits_RAW.xlsx
28.59 KB
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README.md
24 KB
Abstract
It is well-established that dominant plant species and insects independently shape community structure and ecosystem function in terrestrial plant communities. Critically, few studies have assessed the combined effects of these two drivers of plant community structure and ecosystem function above- and below-ground or tracked whether their effects change over time. We factorially manipulated the dominant plant species Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod) and insects in an old field at Matthaei Botanical Garden in Ann Arbor, Michigan for three years and quantified their effects on plant diversity, biomass, functional traits, microclimate, and decomposition. Solidago canadensis and insects independently and interactivley shaped plant biomass, the community weighted mean of plant functional traits, soil microclimate, and the estimated decomposition rate of soil organic matter. Overtime, S. canadensis and insects independently and interactively affected the temporal stability of plant biomass but not species richness. Taken together, our results highlight the need to consider the combined effects of dominant plants and insects above- and below-ground, as well as through time, in order to improve our understanding of their role in structuring communities and ecosystems
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.18931zd8x
Description of the data and file structure
We conducted a full factorial experiment where we manipulated the presence of the dominant plant species Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod) and insect herbivores in an old-field ecosystem in Michigan. In May 2021, we established 24 5 × 5 meter plots that were at least one meter apart. In August 2021, within each 5 × 5 meter plot, we manipulated S. canadensis presence in two 1 × 1 meter subplots at two levels: (1) S. canadensis removal and (2) undisturbed control. In S. canadensis removal subplots, we removed S. canadensis stems by clipping all stems at the soil level. In undisturbed control subplots, we did not remove any plant biomass. We additionally established one 1 × 1-meter random biomass removal subplot within each 5 × 5-meter plot, wherein we removed the same amount of plant biomass that we removed in S. canadensis removal subplots, but we removed plants in a non-species-specific manner to account for potential removal induced bias in our results. We maintained biomass removal treatments from August 2021-September 2024. We manipulated insect presence at two levels starting in May 2022: (1) insects reduced and (2) insects present. We reduced insects from May to August in 12 of the 5 × 5 meter plots by spraying lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide every three weeks at a rate of 0.002 L per 1 × 1 meter with a backpack sprayer. In the other 12 5 × 5 meter plots where insects were present, we sprayed an equivalent amount of water at the same time as insecticide applications. We maintained insecticide applications from May 2022-September 2024.
During the 2024 growing season, we measured soil microclimate and estimated the decomposition rate of soil organic matter. To measure soil microclimate, we deployed TOMST TMS-4 data loggers in May 2024 in each subplot that measured soil moisture, soil temperature, and air temperature across the growing season. We downloaded data from TMS-4 data loggers in September 2024. To estimate the decomposition rate of soil organic matter, we followed the Tea Bag Index methodology established by Keuskamp et al. (2013). Our dataset contains the estimated stabilization factor and decomposition rate for a subset of subplots where buried tea bags remained intact at the end of the growing season.
At the end of the growing season in August 2022-2023, we measured plant species richness and aboveground plant biomass in each subplot. In August 2024, we measured plant species richness, species percent cover, aboveground plant biomass, plant functional traits, and light availability in each subplot.
References
Keuskamp, J. A., Dingemans, B. J., Lehtinen, T., Sarneel, J. M., & Hefting, M. M. (2013). Tea Bag Index: a novel approach to collect uniform decomposition data across ecosystems. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 4(11), 1070-1075.
Files and variables
File: 2024_community_RAW_updated.xlsx
Description: This file contains the raw data collected from a dominant species removal and insect reduction experiment in an old field at Matthaei Botanical Garden in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Field work was completed by Julia Eckberg (eckbergj@umich.edu) in August 2022 - 2024 and Naomi Lupovitch in 2024. Lab work (plant biomass drying/weighing, trait processing, tea bag processing, soil analyses) was completed by Julia Eckberg in 2022 - 2024 and Isabelle Relyea in 2024 at the University of Michigan.
Variables:
- Plot: ID of the plot sampled at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. 24 plots total (each 5-m2), divided into 3 blocks (the first number) with 8 plots per block (second number). For example, plot 1.1 is the first plot in the first block. Plots at the field site are delineated with PVC pipe, with a label attached to the pipe at the southwest corner.
- Removal_treatment: Biomass removal treatment that data was collected from within each Plot. “Control” subplots are untouched and all stems of the dominant plant species Solidago canadensis are removed in “SolRemoval” subplots. In “RandomBiomassRemoval” subplots the same amount of plant biomass is removed as in the “SolRemoval” subplots, but species are removed randomly. Subplots are 1-m2. “Control” subplots are in the SE corner, “SolRemoval” subplots are in the NE corner, and “RandomBiomassRemoval” subplots are in the SW corner of each 5-m2 Plot. Removal treatments were maintained throughout the growing season by returning to each subplot every three weeks from May to August and checking for any growing S. canadensis stems. Each subplot is 1-m2.
- Insecticide_treatment: Indicates whether or not a particular Plot was sprayed with insecticide. “Insecticide” indicates that Plot, including each removal treatment subplot within a Plot, was sprayed every three weeks with insecticide from May to August. “No_insecticide” indicates that Plot was not sprayed with insecticide during the growing season.
- Bag_shrub_g: The total biomass (units: grams) of shrub species in each subplot including bag weight. All shrubs were placed in a paper bag after being cut, dried for at least 48 hours and weighed. Plant biomass was collected in a 50x20cm section in the margin of each subplot.
- Shrub_g: The total biomass (units: grams) of shrub species in each subplot. All shrubs were placed in a paper bag after being cut, dried for at least 48 hours and weighed. Plant biomass was collected in a 50x20cm section in the margin of each subplot.
- Bag_forb_g: The total biomass (units: grams) of all forb species (excluding Solidago canadensis in 2023 and 2024) in each subplot including bag weight. All forbs were placed in a paper bag after being cut, dried for at least 48 hours and weighed. Plant biomass was collected in a 50x20cm section in the margin of each subplot. In 2022, S. canadensis was not separated from subdominant forb biomass.
- Forb_g: The total biomass (units: grams) of all forb species (excluding Solidago canadensis in 2023 and 2024) in each subplot. All forbs were placed in a paper bag after being cut, dried for at least 48 hours and weighed. Plant biomass was collected in a 50x20cm section in the margin of each subplot. In 2022, S. canadensis was not separated from subdominant forb biomass.
- Bag_grass_g: The total biomass (units: grams) of grass species in each subplot including bag weight. All grasses were placed in a paper bag after being cut, dried for at least 48 hours and weighed. Plant biomass was collected in a 50x20cm section in the margin of each subplot.
- Grass_g: The total biomass (units: grams) of grass species in each subplot. All grasses were placed in a paper bag after being cut, dried for at least 48 hours and weighed. Plant biomass was collected in a 50x20cm section in the margin of each subplot.
- Bag_solidago_g: The total biomass (units: grams) of Solidago canadensis in each subplot. All S. canadensis stems were placed in a paper bag after being cut, dried for at least 48 hours and weighed. Plant biomass was collected in a 50x20cm section in the margin of each subplot.
- Solidago_g: The total biomass (units: grams) of Solidago canadensis in each subplot. All S. canadensis stems were placed in a paper bag after being cut, dried for at least 48 hours and weighed. Plant biomass was collected in a 50x20cm section in the margin of each subplot.
- Bag_legume_g: The total biomass (units: grams) of legumes in each subplot. All legumes were placed in a paper bag after being cut, dried for at least 48 hours and weighed. Plant biomass was collected in a 50x20cm section in the margin of each subplot.
- legume_g: The total biomass (units: grams) of legumes in each subplot. All legumes were placed in a paper bag after being cut, dried for at least 48 hours and weighed. Plant biomass was collected in a 50x20cm section in the margin of each subplot.
- Total_biomass_g: The total plant biomass (units: grams) of all plant species in each subplot, excluding bag weight. Five empty paper bags were dried, weighed, and an average bag weight was calculated and subtracted from the raw dry biomass value to account for bag weight. This includes S. canadensis biomass.
- Subdominant_biomass_g: The total subdominant plant biomass (units: grams) of all plant species in each subplot, excluding bag weight. Five empty paper bags were dried, weighed, and an average bag weight was calculated and subtracted from the raw dry biomass value to account for bag weight. This does not include S. canadensis biomass. In 2022, S. canadensis was not separated from subdominant plant biomass so there is no subdominant plant biomass data for that year.
- Above_light_1: First measure of light intensity (units: lux) above the plant growth in each subplot. Light intensity was measured using the Lux Light Meter Pro app for iPhones.
- Above_light_2: Second measure of light intensity (units: lux) above the plant growth in each subplot. Light intensity was measured using the Lux Light Meter Pro app for iPhones.
- Above_light_3: Third measure of light intensity (units: lux) above the plant growth in each subplot. Light intensity was measured using the Lux Light Meter Pro app for iPhones.
- Mean_above_light: Average measure of light intensity (units: lux) above the plant growth in each subplot. Light intensity was measured using the Lux Light Meter Pro app for iPhones.
- Below_light_1: First measure of light intensity (units: lux) within the understory for each subplot. Measurements were taken about 20 cm above the ground.
- Below_light_2: Second measure of light intensity (units: lux) within the understory for each subplot. Measurements were taken about 20 cm above the ground.
- Below_light_3: Third measure of light intensity (units: lux) within the understory for each subplot. Measurements were taken about 20 cm above the ground.
- Mean_below_light: Average measure of light intensity (units: lux) within the understory for each subplot. 3 light intensity measurements were taken at each plot and averaged.
- Light_availability: The proportion of above light that made it into the understory. Calculated by dividing the “mean_above_light” by “mean_below_light” measurements for each subplot.
- August_sub_species_richness: Subdominant (i.e., all plant species except S. canadensis) plant species richness in August.
- Total_species_richness: Plant species richness including S. canadensis in August.
- achmil_cover: Cover of Achillea millefolium (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- apocan_cover: Cover of Apocynum cannabinum (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- ascsyr_cover: Cover of Asclepias syriaca (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- asppla_cover: Cover of Asplenium platyneuron (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- aster4_cover: Cover of Digitalis grandiflora (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- aster5_cover: Cover of an unknown aster species (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- caraca_cover: Cover of Carduus acanthoides (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- carexs_cover: Cover of an unknown Carex sp. (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- cerarv_cover: Cover of Cersium arvense (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- cerfon_cover: Cover of Cerastium fontanum (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- clover_cover: Cover of Trifolium repens (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- corrac_cover: Cover of Cornus racemosa (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- daucar_cover: Cover of Daucus carota (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- dipful_cover: Cover of Dipsacus fullonum (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- erican_cover: Cover of Erigeron canadensis (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- eristr_cover: Cover of Erigeron strigosus (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- eutgra_cover: Cover of Euthamia graminifolia (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- fatgra_cover: Cover of an unidentified grass (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- fesrub_cover: Cover of Festuca rubra (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- fraaln_cover: Cover of Frangula alnus (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- fraame_cover: Cover of Fraxinus americana (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- fravir_cover: Cover of Fragaria virginiana (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- galtri_cover: Cover of Galium triflorum (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- galver_cover: Cover of Galium verum (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- geumac_cover: Cover of Geum macrophyllum (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- geumale_cover: Cover of Geum aleppicum (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- grass5_cover: Cover of an unknown grass species (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- hacvir_cover: Cover of Hackelia virginiana (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- honeys_cover: Cover of Lonicera morrowii (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- hypper_cover: Cover of Hypericum perforatum (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- laccan_cover: Cover of Lactuca canadensis (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- leuvul_cover: Cover of Leucanthemum vulgare (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- linvul_cover: Cover of Linaria vulgaris (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- malspp_cover: Cover of Malus fusca (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- monfis_cover: Cover of Monarda fistulosa (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- moralb_cover: Cover of Morus alba (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- nigdam_cover: Cover of Nigella damascena (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- orivul_cover: Cover of Origanum vulgare (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- pangra_cover: Cover of Panicum dichotomiflorum (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- parqui_cover: Cover of Parthenocissus quinquefolia (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- pillon_cover: Cover of Pilosella longifolia (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- poapra_cover: Cover of Poa pratensis (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- poplar_cover: Cover of Populus sp. (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- potrec_cover: Cover of Potentilla recta (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- pruser_cover: Cover of Prunus serotina (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- ranspp_cover: Cover of an unknown Ranunculus sp. (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- ratpin_cover: Cover of Ratibida pinnata (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- rhacat_cover: Cover of Rhamnus cathartica (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- rosbla_cover: Cover of Rosa blanda (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- rubocc_cover: Cover of Rubus occidentalis (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- rudhir_cover: Cover of Rudbeckia hirta (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- rumace_cover: Cover of Rumex acetosella (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- rumcri_cover: Cover of Rumex crispus (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- solcan_cover: Cover of Solidago canadensis (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- sornut_cover: Cover of Sorghastrum nutans (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- symlat_cover: Cover of Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- symdru_cover: Cover of Symphyotrichum drummondii (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- symmol_cover: Cover of Symphoricarpos mollis (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- symool_cover: Cover of Symphyotrichum oolentangiense (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- symspp_cover: Cover of an unknown Symphyotrichum sp. (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- tanvul_cover: Cover of Tanacetum vulgare (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- taroff_cover: Cover of Taraxacum officinale (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- thapub_cover: Cover of Thalictrum pubescens (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- torili_cover: Cover of an unknown Torilis sp. (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- toxryd_cover: Cover of Toxicodendron rydbergii (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- ulmame_cover: Cover of Ulmus americana (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- verarv_cover: Cover of Veronica arvensis (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- victet_cover: Cover of Vicia tetrasperma (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- vitrip_cover: Cover of Vitis riparia (unit: percent) found in each subplot
- Year: Sampling year.
- Stabalization_factor: the amount of material that was stabilized when estimating decomposition rate using the tea bag index for each subplot.
- Decomposition_rate: estimated decomposition speed determined using methods described by the tea bag index for each subplot. Higher values indicate faster decomposition.
File: 2024_tms_RAW.xlsx
Description: This file contains the raw TOMST TMS-4 soil probe data collected from a dominant species removal and insect reduction experiment in an old field at Matthaei Botanical Garden in Ann Arbor, Michigan. TMS-4 probes were deployed from May - September 2024 and data was downloaded by Julia Eckberg (eckbergj@umich.edu).
Variables:
- Day: Date measurement was taken. “Year.Month.Day”.
- Time: Time of day that measurement was taken. Measurements were taken every 15 minutes every day that soil probes were deployed in the field.
- Soil_temp: Temperature of soil (unit:℃) at 6 cm.
- Surface_temp: Temperature (unit:℃) at 2 cm above the soil.
- Air_temp: Temperature (unit:℃) at 15 cm above the soil.
- Raw_soil_moist: Raw soil moisture values (range ~500-3600). Raw soil moisture values represent uncalibrated readings from the TMS-4 soil moisture sensor, recorded as a unitless index
- TMS_number: Serial number of datalogger from which data were downloaded.
- Plot: ID of the plot sampled at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. 24 plots total (each 5-m2), divided into 3 blocks (the first number) with 8 plots per block (second number). For example, plot 1.1 is the first plot in the first block. Plots at the field site are delineated with PVC pipe, with a label attached to the pipe at the southwest corner.
- Removal_treatment: Biomass removal treatment that data was collected from within each Plot. “Control” subplots are untouched and all stems of the dominant plant species Solidago canadensis are removed in “SolRemoval” subplots. In “RandomBiomassRemoval” subplots the same amount of plant biomass is removed as in the “SolRemoval” subplots, but species are removed randomly. Subplots are 1-m2. “Control” subplots are in the SE corner, “SolRemoval” subplots are in the NE corner, and “RandomBiomassRemoval” subplots are in the SW corner of each 5-m2 Plot. Removal treatments were maintained throughout the growing season by returning to each subplot every three weeks from May to August and checking for any growing S. canadensis stems. Each subplot is 1-m2.
- Insecticide_treatment: Indicates whether or not a particular Plot was sprayed with insecticide. “Insecticide” indicates that Plot, including each removal treatment subplot within a Plot, was sprayed every three weeks with insecticide from May to August. “No_insecticide” indicates that Plot was not sprayed with insecticide during the growing season.
- Notes: Any additional details related to the data.
- VWC: Calibrated soil volumetric water content (units:%), derived from raw soil moisture sensor readings from TOMST TMS-4 dataloggers. The values were calculated using TOMST’s standard sand soil calibration.
File: 2024_traits_RAW.xlsx
Description: This file contains the raw functional trait measurements collected from a dominant species removal and insect reduction experiment in an old field at Matthaei Botanical Garden in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Field work was completed by Julia Eckberg (eckbergj@umich.edu) in August 2024. Lab work (leaf scanning, weighing, and drying) was completed by Julia Eckberg.
Variables
- Date: date (day.month.year) of initial data collection in the field.
- Plot: ID of the plot sampled at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. 24 plots total (each 5-m2), divided into 3 blocks (the first number) with 8 plots per block (second number). For example, plot 1.1 is the first plot in the first block. Plots at the field site are delineated with PVC pipe, with a label attached to the pipe at the southwest corner.
- Removal_treatment: Biomass removal treatment that data was collected from within each plot. “Control” subplots are untouched and all stems of the dominant plant species Solidago canadensis are removed in “SolRemoval” subplots. Subplots are 1-m2. “Control” subplots are in the SE corner and “SolRemoval” subplots are in the NE corner of each 5-m2 plot.
- Insecticide_treatment: Indicates whether or not a particular Plot was sprayed with insecticide. “Insecticide” indicates that Plot, including each removal treatment subplot within a Plot, was sprayed every three weeks with insecticide from May to August. “No_insecticide” indicates that Plot was not sprayed with insecticide during the growing season.
- Taxon: Species code of the focal plant species for which we collected trait data. “Poapra_cover” is measurements of Poa pratensis, “Vitrip_cover” is measurements from Vitis riparia. “Parqui_cover” is measurements from Parthenocissus quinquefolia. “Solcan_cover” is measurements from Solidago canadensis. “Monfis_cover” is measurements from Monarda fistulosa. “Hypper_cover” is measurements from Hypericum perforatum. “Rubocc_cover” is measurements from Rubus occidentalis. “Rhacat_cover” is measurements from Rhamnus cathartica. “Galver_cover” is measurements from Galium verum. “Orivul_cover” is measurements from Origanum vulgare. “Pillon_cover” is measurements from Pilosella longifolia. “Eutgra_cover” is measurements from Euthamia graminifolia. “Toxryd_cover” is measurements from Toxicodendron rydbergii. “Corrac_cover” is measurements from Cornus racemosa.
- Individual_nr: At least three individuals of each species were collected in each subplot. This column indicates the individual with which the trait data is associated.
- Total_leaf_area_cm2: Total leaf area for all of the associated leaves scanned. Calculated using imageJ in R.
- Mean_leaf_area_cm2: Mean leaf area for an individual plant. Calculated by dividing the “total_leaf_area_cm2” column by the total number of leaves scanned. This was done manually.
- Plant_height_cm: Plant height measured in centimeters in the field. Measured to the tallest photosynthetically active tissue.
- Wet_mass_g: Leaf mass measured in grams using a lab scale.
- Mean_wet_mass_g: Mean leaf mass calculated by dividing total wet mass by the total number of leaves weighed. Units: grams.
- Bagged_dry_mass_g: Leaf dry mass measured in grams using a lab scale. Includes weight of envelope in which leaf material was stored.
- Dry_mass_g: Leaf dry mass measured in grams with envelope weight subtracted.
- Mean_dry_mass_g: Mean leaf dry mass calculated by dividing total dry mass by the total number of leaves weighed. Units: grams.
- SLA: Specific leaf area (SLA), calculated by dividing “dry_mass_g” column by “total_leaf_area_cm2” column.
- LDMC: Leaf dry matter content (LDMC), calculated by dividing “dry_mass_g” by “wet_mass_g”.
Code/software
We used R version 4.1.3 to view, organize, and analyze our data. We used the "FD" package to calculate trait community weighted means and "ggplot2" package to visualize data.
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
- None
Data was derived from the following sources:
- NA