Data from: Seed and seedling traits suggest ontogenetic coordination in the functional recruitment niche for dryland restoration species
Data files
Jan 29, 2025 version files 165.56 KB
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GerminationTime_by_Temp.csv
25.64 KB
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metadata.csv
7.14 KB
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README.md
6.32 KB
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Root_Elongation_Rates.csv
27.77 KB
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Script_Analysis.R
65.15 KB
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Script_Germination_Temp_Metrics.R
9.12 KB
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Script_RER_Temp_Metrics.R
8.47 KB
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Species_trait_estimates_final.csv
15.96 KB
Abstract
Plant recruitment is shaped by functioning across seed and seedling stages. Because seed morphology and germination directly influence seedling exposure to resources and the environment, these two stages may be linked through trait synergies and tradeoffs that coordinate functioning through early ontogeny. However, the wide range of traits impacting environmental response at each ontogenetic stage is rarely explored in tandem to understand the potential dimensionality of the functional recruitment niche. We explored covariation among 13 seed and seedling traits linked to stress tolerance, rate of germination or growth, light response, temperature response, and other functions for 49 species found in semi-arid rangelands. Using phylogenetically informed ordination and cluster analysis, we asked how trait covariation across multiple ontogenetic stages and functions shapes the dimensionality of the functional recruitment niche. The first two trait dimensions identified at separate seed and seedling stages aligned, providing some basis for ontogenetic coordination during recruitment. Morphological traits reflecting size-related stress tolerance (i.e. seed and seedling mass) formed the strongest foundation for coordination across stages, sharing ties with traits reflecting seedling light response (specific leaf area), growth rate (root elongation), and seed temperature response (e.g., germination minimum temperature). We also observed an unexpected tradeoff in how seeds and seedlings may avoid risk (through dormancy) or tolerate risk (through root investment), respectively. In contrast, seed light response, seed germination rate, and seedling minimum temperature thresholds were not tightly linked to analogous functions at other stages. Their independence could expand the dimensionality of the recruitment niche depending on the functional significance of these traits in the field. Synthesis. Seed and seedling stages are characterized by multiple, independent dimensions of functioning, but ontogenetic coordination may moderate increasing dimensionality of the functional recruitment niche as a wider breadth of traits are explored together. At the same time, physiological traits linked to environmental response appear less connected to other traits and could complexify spatiotemporal recruitment dynamics. Both the independent and coordinated aspects of functioning observed here deserve exploration across a broader range of species, traits, and environments to understand the full dimensionality of the functional recruitment niche.
README: Seed and seedling traits suggest ontogenetic coordination in the functional recruitment niche for dryland restoration species
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.b5mkkwhpt
Description of the data and file structure
This study used seed germination and seedling growth experiments to estimate seed and seedling traits for 49 plant species occurring naturally in cold deserts of the Western US.
Files and variables
File: metadata.csv
Description: Contains information on the variables stored in each data file associated with the study
Variables
- file: the specific data file being described
- variable: the specific column being described
- description: a basic description of the variable captured by each column
- type: the type of data represented by each variable (character, numeric, etc.)
- units: the unit of the variable, if applicable
- notes: details about how the variable was collected
File: GerminationTime_by_Temp.csv
Description: Contains data on the average time to germination for multiple seedlot subpopulations (5% to 100%) at each of three temperatures (6C, 12C, 18C), across 49 unique species. These data are used to estimate germination minimum temperature and germination thermal time -- two traits included in the paper's analyses.
Variables
- Please see metadata.csv for a description of each variable
File: Species_trait_estimates_final.csv
Description: Contains all seed and seedling trait estimates (species' means) used in statistical analysis.
Variables
- Please see metadata.csv for a description of each variable
File: Root_Elongation_Rates.csv
Description: Contains data on root elongation rate for each seedling replicate at each of three temperatures (6C, 12C, 18C), across 49 unique species. These data are used to estimate minimum temperature for root elongation and thermal time for root elongation-- two traits included in the paper's analyses.
Variables
- Please see metadata.csv for a description of each variable
Missing data: mentioned as NA
File: Script_Germination_Temp_Metrics.R
Description: This R script contains code used to generate estimates of germination minimum temperature and thermal time estimates, two seed traits used in the paper's analyses.
File: Script_Analysis.R
Description: This script contains all statistical analyses supporting the inferences described in the paper.
File: Script_RER_Temp_Metrics.R
Description: This script contains code used to generate estimates of RER minimum temperature and RER thermal time, two seedling traits used in the paper's analyses.
Plant Species
This table shows n=49 study species included in the dataset.
- species: Six-digit species identifier used in some tables and figures in the associated manuscript
- species_name: Full genus and species name of each plant species
species | species_name |
---|---|
ACHMIL | Achillea millefolium |
ACHHYM | Achnatherum hymenoides |
AGOGRA | Agoseris grandiflora |
AGRCRI | Agropyron cristatum |
ARIPUR | Aristida purpurea |
ARTTRI | Artemisia tridentata subsp. wyomingensis |
ASCTUB | Asclepias tuberosa |
ATRCAN | Atriplex canescens |
BAIMUL | Baileya multiradiata |
BALSAG | Balsamorhiza sagittata |
BOUCUR | Bouteloua curtipendula |
BOUERI | Bouteloua eriopoda |
BOUGRA | Bouteloua gracilis |
BROTEC | Bromus tectorum |
CHADOU | Chaenactis douglasii |
CLELUT | Cleome lutea |
CLESER | Cleome serrulata |
CREACU | Crepis acuminata |
CREINT | Crepis intermedia |
DALCAN | Dalea candida |
DALORN | Dalea ornata |
DALSEA | Dalea searlsiae |
ELYELY | Elymus elymoides |
ELYTRA | Elymus trachycaulus |
ERIPUM | Erigeron pumilus |
ERISPE | Erigeron speciosus |
ERIUMB | Eriogonum umbellatum |
HEDBOR | Hedysarum boreale |
HELMUL | Heliomeris multiflora |
HESCOM | Hesperostipa comata |
KRALAN | Krascheninnikovia lanata |
LEYCIN | Leymus cinereus |
LEYTRI | Leymus triticoides |
LINLEW | Linum lewisii |
LOMDIS | Lomatium dissectum |
LOMMAC | Lomatium macrocarpum |
LUPARG | Lupinus argenteus |
MACCAN | Machaeranthera canescens |
PASSMI | Pascopyrum smithii |
PENPAL | Penstemon palmeri |
PHAHAS | Phacelia hastata |
PLEJAM | Pleuraphis jamesii |
POASEC | Poa secunda |
PSESPI | Pseudoroegneria spicata |
SENCOV | Senna covesii |
SPHGRO | Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia |
SPHMUN | Sphaeralcea munroana |
SPOAIR | Sporobolus airoides |
SPOCRY | Sporobolus cryptandrus |
Code/software
All analyses were performed in the free and open statistical software, R.
R is required to view code (.R files) and perform analyses.
R Core Team (2024). _R: A Language and Environment for Statistical
Computing_. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria.
<https://www.R-project.org/>.
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
- Summary figures and tables produced by these data and code can be found in Appendix A of the published paper (online supporting information).