Data from: Spatial mid-domain effect overrides climate, soil properties and microbes on a cosmopolitan non-native plant across elevation
Data files
Apr 17, 2025 version files 53.41 KB
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meta-data.xlsx
51.98 KB
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README.md
1.43 KB
Abstract
Climate warming and anthropogenic activities have led to an increase in the prevalence of non-native plants in mountainous regions that previously exhibited limited occurrences. This phenomenon has resulted in detrimental effects on endemic plants and ecosystem functions. However, the variation in traits of non-native plants that successfully spread to high elevations, as well as the underlying drivers of these changes, remains poorly understood. In this study, we use Erigeron annuus, a cosmopolitan non-native plant that has invaded high elevations, as our model to explore its individual biomass pattern along a 1900 m elevation gradient. We also contrast this pattern with that of the native Artemisia lavandulifolia, which has the same distribution range as E. annuus. We found that the biomass of E. annuus displayed a hump-shape pattern along elevation, while the biomass of the native A. lavandulifolia gradually decreased with increasing elevation. By evaluating the effects of climate variables, soil properties, rhizosphere fungal communities, and their spatial mid-domain effect (i.e., geographic limitation) on plant biomass, we found that the biomass of E. annuus was primarily influenced by the spatial mid-domain effect, while the biomass of A. lavandulifolia resulted from a complex interplay of climatic variables and rhizosphere microbial communities. Our findings emphasize the importance of a spatial mid-domain effect on the growth of non-native E. annuus across elevation, indicating that the impact of E. annuus is probably greatest at mid-elevations and thus, where management priority should be set. Further investigations considering more non-native plant species and species’ traits will allow us to scrutinize this vision.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.80gb5mm1d
Description of the data and file structure
Biomass of E. annuus showed a hump-shaped pattern with elevation, while A. lavandulifolia biomass declined. E. annuus was mainly influenced by spatial mid-domain effects, whereas A. lavandulifolia biomass was shaped by climate and rhizosphere microbes.
Metadata:
plant biomass, climate variables and soil properties for a cosmopolitan non-native plant across elevation analysis.
File: meta-data.xlsx
Description: raw data for a cosmopolitan non-native plant across elevation study.
Variables
- Elevation: the elevation (m) of each sampling plot.
- Plant: the name of host plant. EA = Erigeron annuus; AL = Artemisia lavandulifolia.
- Biomass: above-ground biomass of plant in each sampling plot (g).
- MAT: mean annual temperature of each sampling plot (ºC).
- MAP: mean annual precipitation of each sampling plot (mm).
- N: soil total nitrogen content of rhizosphere soil in each sampling plot (%).
- C: soil total carbon content of rhizosphere soil in each sampling plot (%).
- CN: soil total carbon content to soil total nitrogen content ratio of rhizosphere soil in each sampling plot (%).
- pH: soil pH content of rhizosphere soil in each sampling plot.
