Data from: Local context drives infection of grasses by vector-borne generalist viruses
Data files
Nov 01, 2016 version files 1.33 MB
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BigFert-Biomass.csv
10.52 KB
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BigFert-Cover.csv
232.90 KB
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BigFert-Data-Descriptions.csv
8.40 KB
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BigFert-Infection-Coordinates-Weight.csv
546.84 KB
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BigFert-Plant-Survival.csv
529.64 KB
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BigFert-Soils.csv
2.96 KB
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.