Data from: A single early-life herbivory event increases nodule investment in African savanna woody legumes
Data files
Sep 16, 2026 version files 41.20 KB
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Legume_herbivory_2026_metadata.csv
1.38 KB
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Legume_herbivory_2026.csv
17.18 KB
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Legume_herbivory_2026.R
18.18 KB
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README.md
4.47 KB
Abstract
This dataset contains the data and code supporting the manuscript A single early-life herbivory event increases nodule investment in African savanna woody legumes. The dataset includes measurements from a controlled clipping experiment conducted on three African savanna woody legume species (Senegalia nigrescens, Vachellia exuvialis, and Vachellia sieberiana) to investigate how a single early-life herbivory event influences plant biomass allocation, root traits, nodulation, and nitrogen-related traits.
The dataset contains:
- raw experimental data, including treatment information, species identity, experimental identifiers, and plant-level measurements;
- measurements of root traits, aboveground and belowground biomass, nodule presence, nodule number, nodule biomass, and nodule mass fraction;
- leaf isotope and elemental measurements, including leaf δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C, carbon concentration, nitrogen concentration, and C ratio;
- metadata describing all variables, units, and data types;
- R code used for data processing, statistical analyses, and figure generation.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.x95x69q1r
Description of the data and file structure
This dataset contains plant biomass, root trait, and nodulation measurements from a controlled experiment investigating the effects of early-life herbivory on African savanna woody legumes. Plants were subjected to simulated herbivory treatments during early development, and subsequent changes in aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, root morphology, and rhizobial nodule investment were quantified. The dataset includes the raw measurements and derived traits used in the statistical analyses presented in “A single early-life herbivory event increases nodule investment in African savanna woody legumes”
Files and variables
File: Legume_herbivory_2026.csv
Description: Individual plant-level measurements from a controlled experiment investigating the effects of early-life herbivory on African savanna woody legumes. Each row represents a single plant/sample.
Variables
Experimental identifiers and treatment variables
ID_Number: Unique identifier for each plant/sample (integer).
plot_no: Experimental plot identifier (categorical variable).
treatment: Original herbivory treatment, including clipping timing (categorical variable).
clipped: Binary herbivory treatment indicating whether plants were clipped or unclipped (categorical variable).
plot_rep: Replicate plot number within treatment (integer).
matrix_no: Experimental matrix or position identifier (categorical variable).
species_code: Abbreviated species identifier (categorical variable).
species: Plant species name (categorical variable).
Root and biomass measurements
root_diam_0: Root diameter at the initial measurement (mm).
root_diam_30: Root diameter after 30 days (mm).
root_tip_no: Number of root tips per plant (count).
fine_root_weight: Fine-root dry biomass (g).
Course_root_wt: Coarse-root dry biomass (g).
AG_wt: Aboveground dry biomass (g).
BG_wt: Belowground dry biomass (g).
Total_wt: Total plant dry biomass (g).
Nodule measurements
nodules: Presence or absence of nodules (0 = absent, 1 = present).
nodule_count: Number of nodules per plant (count).
nodule_wt: Total dry nodule biomass per plant (g).
Isotope and elemental measurements
delta15N: Leaf nitrogen isotope composition (‰).
delta13C: Leaf carbon isotope composition (‰).
N: Leaf nitrogen concentration (%).
C: Leaf carbon concentration (%).
CN_ratio: Leaf carbon:nitrogen ratio
Derived variables
ratio: Root:shoot biomass ratio.
NMF: Nodule mass fraction ((nodule biomass/belowground biomass) x 100)
File: Legume_herbivory_2026_metadata.csv
Description:
Metadata file describing all variables contained within the dataset, including variable definitions, data types, and units of measurement.
File: Legume_herbivory_2026.R
Description:
R analysis script containing the workflow used to import, process, analyse, and visualise the dataset. The script includes data cleaning, calculation of derived variables, statistical analyses, and generation of figures associated with the manuscript.
Missing values
Missing values are represented as NA.
Code/software
The analysis script (Legume_Herbivory_2026.R) is provided with this dataset and contains the workflow used to import, process, analyse, and visualise the data. The script includes data cleaning, calculation of derived variables, statistical analyses, and generation of figures associated with the manuscript.
The script was written in R version [insert version]. Required R packages and their versions are provided within the script and/or in the accompanying session information file (sessionInfo.txt).
The raw data file (Legume_Herbivory_2026.csv) and metadata file (Legume_Herbivory_2026_metadata.csv) are required inputs for running the analysis workflow.
Access information
The data included in this dataset were generated as part of the experimental study described in “A single early-life herbivory event increases nodule investment in African savanna woody legumes”.
No external datasets were used in the generation of these data.
The dataset is made publicly available through Dryad under the associated DOI upon publication.