Data from: Fruit-quality tradeoffs generate asymmetry in plant reliance on mutualistic frugivores
Data files
Feb 17, 2026 version files 48.34 KB
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Analyses.R
16.18 KB
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Frug_Reg_Data.csv
1.30 KB
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Frugivory_Data.csv
785 B
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Fruit_trait_Data.csv
4.40 KB
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Germination_Data.csv
1.19 KB
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Individual_density_Data.csv
4.16 KB
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README.md
5.22 KB
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Seed_addition_Data.csv
15.10 KB
Abstract
Seed dispersal is a fundamental ecological process influencing the evolution of plant life-history strategies. In fleshy-fruited plants dispersed by mutualistic frugivores, variation in fruit traits among closely related species may shape the temporal and spatial dynamics of dispersal events critical to population success. Here, we test a tradeoff model for dispersal strategies, inspired by Grime’s triangle of life-history tradeoffs, that links fruit quality and seed traits (e.g., nutrients, chemical defenses, seed dormancy) to plant reliance on frugivore-mediated dispersal. The model predicts that species producing nutrient-rich, rewarding fruits benefit from frequent frugivory interactions, leading to enhanced seed deposition and seedling recruitment across broader spatial and temporal scales. Conversely, species investing in chemically defended fruits or seed dormancy are expected to rely less on frugivores and more on vegetative reproduction or persistent seed banks. We experimentally evaluated this model using three Solanum species (Solanaceae) with distinct fruit traits and seed dormancy levels. For each species, we documented frugivory interactions and conducted a seed-addition experiment in the field mimicking frugivore dispersal to assess how the spatial and temporal patterns of seed deposition by frugivores affect seedling emergence. Our results show that the Solanum species with sugar-rich fruits experienced higher frugivory rates and greater seedling emergence under seed-addition treatments mimicking frugivore dispersal. In contrast, species investing more in pulp defenses or seed dormancy engaged in fewer frugivory interactions and had lower seedling emergence in seed addition treatments mimicking dispersal by frugivores. Altogether, our findings show that differences in fruit traits and quality can mediate tradeoffs among dispersal strategies, leading to interspecific variation in how strongly plant species may rely on frugivory mutualisms for recruitment.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.ksn02v7kc
Description of the data and file structure
This repository contains all data and codes of the manuscript "Fruit-quality tradeoffs generate asymmetry in plant reliance on mutualistic frugivores" by Messeder JVS & Carlo TA published in Oikos.
Our objectives consisted of:
- Sample frugivory interactions in the field for three Solanum species (S. americanum, S. carolinense, and S. dulcamara) and compare visitation rates and fruit removal rates among them.
- Perform a seed germination experiment under laboratory conditions to evaluate the germination profile of the three species while quantifying the proportions of dormant and embryoless seeds.
- Conduct a seed addition experiment in the field to evaluate the effects of seed density and gradual seed deposition (emulating frugivore dispersal) on the emergence rates for each Solanum species.
- Quantify in the field the occurrence, density, and spatial distribution of adult individuals of each species in open areas and along fence lines and forest edges to evaluate if dispersal by frugivores can be reflected in the distribution patterns of adults
For details on research questions, hypotheses, sampling design, and details on analytical approach, please refer to the original manuscript.
This repository contains 6 CSV datasets, one R script file of the analyses and figures, and one READ_ME file.
Files and variables
File: Frugivory_Data.csv
Description: Dataset used to compare visitation rate and fruit removal rate among sampled species.
Variables
- species: plant species used in this study
- individual_loc: code indicating the number and location of each sampled plant individual
- sampling_effort_days: number of days in which each individual was sampled with a camera trap
- visits: total number of frugivory visits each individual received
- fruits_removed: total number of fruits removed by frugivores in each individual
- avgPulpMass: average mass of edible pulp
- crop_size: fruit crop size
- seeds_removed: number of seeds removed
File: Frug_Reg_Data.csv
Description: Dataset used to evaluate the relationship between fruits removed per visit and visitation rate between S. americanum and S. dulcamara.
Variables
- species: plant species used in this study
- frugivore: frugivore species visiting the plant species
- totVisit: total number of frugivory visits
- totFRemoval: total number of fruits removed
- visits_day: visitation rate (visits per day)
- fruits_visit: fruits removed per visit
- effort: sampling effort in days
File: Fruit_trait_Data.csv
Description: Dataset used to calculate the summary statistics of the measured morphological fruit traits for each species
Variables
- species: plant species used in this study
- Fruit_length_mm: Fruit length in mm
- Fruit_width_mm: Fruit width in mm
- Fresh_mass_g: Fruit fresh mass in g
- Hardness_kgcm2: Force measured to perforate a fruit in kg/cm2
- Seeds/Fruit: number of seeds per fruit
- Seed_width_mm: Seed length in mm
- Seed_length_mm: Seed width in mm
File: Germination_Data.csv
Description: Dataset used to evaluate the proportion of germinable, dormant, embryoless, and non-viable seeds across plant species.
Variables
- species: plant species used in this study
- Temperature: the temperature used in the germination experiment
- germ_cat: germination profile category (germinable, dormant, embryoless, and non-viable)
- count: number of seeds in each category
File: Individual_density_Data.csv
Description: Dataset used to compare the density of adults of each species between open areas and fence lines and edges.
Variables
- Transect: sampling transect number
- Habitat: habitat in which the transect was sampled (open or fence)
- Species: plant species used in this study
- Nind: number of individuals in the transect
- Transect_area: total area of the transect in m2
File: Seed_addition_Data.csv
Description: Dataset used to evaluate the effects of seed density and gradual seed deposition (emulating frugivore dispersal) on the emergence rates for each Solanum species.
Variables
- Area: replication area of the experiment
- Species: plant species used in this study
- Flag_code_(patch_ID): code of the seed addition patch
- Block: block of seed addition patches
- Tempo: tempo treatment of seeds added all at once (no) or gradual addition (yes)
- Density: density of seeds added
- Emergence_success: number of seedlings emerged
- Emergence_failure: number of seedlings that did not emerged
- Seeds_added: number of seeds added
File: Analyses.R
Description: Annotated R script containing all codes related to data analyses and results figures of the paper.
Code/software
All statistical analyses were conducted in R 4.4.1 (R Core Team 2024). Please see the "Analyses.R" file containing the annotated R script with all codes related to data analyses and results figures of the paper.