Data from: Frequency-dependent seed selection: How relative abundance and seed traits jointly mediate foraging preference in scatter-hoarding rodents
Abstract
Scatter‑hoarding rodents act as both seed predators and dispersers, strongly influencing seed fate and plant recruitment. Their foraging decisions are influenced not only by the traits of individual seeds but also by the traits of neighboring seeds. Although the effects of seed traits such as size and chemical defense are well‑established, how the relative frequency of co‑occurring seeds influences these decisions remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a field experiment in a subtropical forest in southwestern China using artificial seeds. A total of 19,200 artificial seeds with different seed size (diameters of 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 cm) or tannin content (0%, 5%, and 10%) were deployed across 240 seed patches. Within each patch, the ratios of paired seeds were set across five levels (9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, and 1:9). We found that large seeds were less likely to be removed or cached as their relative frequency increased when paired with medium or small seeds. Conversely, small seeds showed increased removal with higher relative frequency when paired with large seeds. Similarly, the removal of high‑tannin seeds decreased at higher frequencies when paired with medium‑tannin seeds, whereas medium‑tannin seeds were removed more often as their proportion increased when paired with low‑tannin seeds. In contrast, caching probability was not significantly affected by relative frequency in any tannin‑level pairing. Moreover, relative frequency had no significant effect on seed dispersal distance across all treatments. These results demonstrate that rodent foraging is shaped by both trait‑based and frequency‑dependent selection, and that the strength of frequency effects depends on trait contrast and foraging stage. This study underscores the importance of integrating both relative frequency and trait context into models of rodent–seed interactions to improve predictions of seed dispersal and plant community dynamics.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.g79cnp64s
Description of the data and file structure
A dataset for Frequency-dependent seed selection: How relative abundance and seed traits jointly mediate foraging preference in scatter-hoarding rodents
Files and variables
File: Data.xlsx
Description:
This dataset supports the findings of the study "Frequency-dependent seed selection: How relative abundance and seed traits jointly mediate foraging preference in scatter-hoarding rodents." The study investigated how the relative frequency of co-occurring seeds interacts with seed traits (size and tannin content) to influence the foraging decisions of scatter-hoarding rodents, including seed removal, caching, and dispersal distance.
A field experiment was conducted in a subtropical forest in southwestern China. A total of 19,200 artificial seeds were deployed across 240 seed patches. The artificial seeds varied in two traits:
Seed size: three levels (0.5 cm, 1.5 cm, 2.5 cm diameter)
Tannin content: three levels (0%, 5%, 10%)
Within each patch, two seed types (differing in either size or tannin content) were presented together at five relative abundance ratios (9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 1:9). Each treatment combination was replicated multiple times.
Variables
- Seed size (cm): Diameter of the artificial seed (0.5, 1.5, or 2.5 cm).
- Neighbouring seed size (cm): Diameter of the seeds that co-occur with the target seed within the same release patch. In this paired-design experiment, neighbouring seeds differ in size from the target seed (e.g., large vs. medium, large vs. small, medium vs. small). The relative frequency of neighbouring seeds varies across ratios (9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 1:9) relative to the target seed.
- Tannin content (%): Tannin content in the artificial seed (0%, 5%, or 10%).
- Neighbouring tannin content (%): Tannin concentration in the seeds that co-occur with the target seed within the same release patch. In this paired-design experiment, neighbouring seeds differ in tannin content from the target seed (e.g., high vs. medium, high vs. low, medium vs. low). The relative frequency of neighbouring seeds varies across ratios (9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 1:9) relative to the target seed.
- Relative frequency: Proportion of the target seed type within a release patch, expressed as a ratio (e.g., 9:1 means 90% target seed type and 10% neighbouring seed type). Tested levels: 9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 1:9.
- Removed: Binary outcome (0/1) indicating whether the seed was taken from the release point by a rodent (1 = removed, 0 = left intact at the release point or eaten in situ).
- Cached: Among removed seeds, binary outcome (0/1) indicating whether the seed was scatter‑hoarded (buried or placed on the forest floor intact; 1 = cached, 0 = eaten or missing).
- Dispersal distance: Straight‑line distance (meters) from the original release point to the location where a removed seed was recovered (either cached or eaten). Maximum recorded distance: 17.22 m (size experiment) and 11.79 m (tannin experiment).
- Release points: Numeric ID assigned to each release point, used as a grouping factor (random intercept) in statistical models. Each ID corresponds to an independent foraging patch where a batch of 80 artificial seeds was placed, with release points spaced at least 30 m apart to ensure independence.
- Experimental year: Year in which the trial was conducted (2024 or 2025). Trials took place in November of each year to avoid natural fruiting seasons.
Missing data code: NA