Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.rv15dv4pk

Description of the data and file structure

1. Dataset title: Data from: Seed Encapsulation Improves Early Recruitment in Seed-Based Restoration: Evidence from Partitioned Germination Outcomes in a Temperate Forest
   
   Authors : Ghassen Chaieb and Lauchlan H. Fraser
   
   Associated manuscript: Chaieb, G. & Fraser, L. H. Seed Encapsulation Improves Early Recruitment in Seed-Based Restoration: Evidence from Partitioned Germination Outcomes in a Temperate Forest. Ecological Solutions and Evidence.
   File included: Chaieb_Fraser_seed_capsule_data.csv
2. Dataset overview
   This dataset contains capsule-level data used to evaluate early recruitment outcomes of encapsulated seeds in a degraded temperate forest. The dataset includes species identity, capsule type, observed field outcome, local vegetation covariates, and binary response variables derived from the observed outcome classes. These binary variables were used to model functional success, strict success, predation, survival, and functional survival.
   The dataset contains 5,000 rows and 13 columns. Each row represents one capsule-level observation from the field experiment.
3. Species codes
   • FDC: Pseudotsuga menziesii
   • PY: Pinus ponderosa
4. Capsule type codes
   • Spherical: pelleted capsule treatment
   • Cube: pod treatment
     
     Note: The CSV file uses the physical-shape labels Spherical and Cube. In the manuscript, these correspond to the treatment names Pelleted and Pods, respectively.
5. Outcome categories
   The manuscript classified field outcomes into four categories:
   • Germinated: emergence of a visible seedling.
   • Germinated_Predated: germination followed by predation.
   • Seed_Predated: capsule or seed predated before successful seedling establishment.
   • No_Response: no visible activity or surviving seedling.
     
     In the CSV file, these categories are coded using simplified labels:
     Germination: corresponds to Germinated in the manuscript.
     Predation_survival: corresponds to Germinated_Predated where predation was observed but the seedling survived.
     Predation_non_survival: corresponds to predation associated with non-survival.
     no_survival: corresponds to no surviving seedling without observed predation.
6. Variable descriptions

• Site: Field stratum identifier. Values are site1, site2, site3, and site4.
• Plot: Plot identifier within each field stratum. Values are Plot 1, Plot2, Plot3, Plot4, and Plot5.
• Species: Species code. FDC = Pseudotsuga menziesii; PY = Pinus ponderosa.
• Type: Capsule type code. Spherical = pelleted capsule treatment; Cube = pod treatment.
• Outcome: Observed field outcome category for each capsule.
• number_of_trees: Number of existing trees recorded for the corresponding sampling unit.
• shrub_cover: Shrub cover recorded for the corresponding sampling unit.
• success_bin: Binary functional success variable. 1 = Germination or Predation_survival; 0 = Predation_non_survival or no_survival.
• strict_success_bin: Binary strict success variable. 1 = Germination only; 0 = Predation_survival, Predation_non_survival, or no_survival.
• predation_bin: Binary predation variable. 1 = Predation_survival or Predation_non_survival; 0 = Germination or no_survival.
• survival: Binary survival variable. 1 = Germination only; 0 = Predation_survival, Predation_non_survival, or no_survival.
• functional_survival: Binary functional survival variable. 1 = Germination or Predation_survival; 0 = Predation_non_survival or no_survival.
• Species_Type: Combined species-by-capsule-type grouping variable. Values are FDC.Cube, FDC.Spherical, PY.Cube, and PY.Spherical.

7. Binary variable coding

• Germination
  • success_bin = 1
  • strict_success_bin = 1
  • predation_bin = 0
  • survival = 1
  • functional_survival = 1
• Predation_survival
  • success_bin = 1
  • strict_success_bin = 0
  • predation_bin = 1
  • survival = 0
  • functional_survival = 1
• Predation_non_survival
  • success_bin = 0
  • strict_success_bin = 0
  • predation_bin = 1
  • survival = 0
  • functional_survival = 0
• no_survival
  • success_bin = 0
  • strict_success_bin = 0
  • predation_bin = 0
  • survival = 0
  • functional_survival = 0

8. Missing values

The dataset contains no missing values.

9. Notes on reuse

The categorical variables should be treated as factors in statistical analyses. Binary response variables are coded as 0 and 1 and can be used in binomial models. The Species_Type variable is a combined grouping variable derived from Species and Type.

The treatment names in the manuscript are Pelleted and Pods. The corresponding CSV values are Spherical and Cube, respectively. Users should therefore interpret Spherical as Pelleted and Cube as Pods.

Code/software

The data file is provided as a CSV file and can be opened using standard spreadsheet software or statistical software such as R, Python, Excel, or LibreOffice. The analyses reported in the associated manuscript were conducted in R version 4.3.2 using packages including lme4, car, survival, and plspm. No code files are included in this Dryad submission.

Access information

Other publicly accessible locations of the data

The data are not available from any other public repository at the time of submission.

Data sources

The data were generated from the field experiment described in the associated manuscript. The dataset was not derived from another published dataset or external data source.