Performance of seven species in clustered versus uniform plantings in a large-scale high marsh restoration project

Tanner, Karen1 ; Parker, Ingrid1 ; Fountain, Monique2 ; Thomsen, Alexandra2; Wasson, Kerstin1

Published Dec 02, 2024 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kwh70rzd9

Data files

Dec 02, 2024 version files 216.33 KB

README.md
38.24 KB
Tanner_et_al_2024_Data_EAP23-0738.zip
178.10 KB

Abstract

Large-scale restoration projects are an exciting and largely untapped opportunity to use an experimental approach to inform ecosystem management and test ecological theory. This paper takes advantage of a $10M marsh restoration project with long-term monitoring to test the relative importance of facilitation and competition across stress gradients. Clustered plantings have the potential to outperform widely spaced ones, if plants alter conditions in ways that decrease stress for close neighbors. Here, we test whether intraspecific facilitation improves restoration outcomes using a suite of seven high marsh species native to central California salt marshes. We also applied a biochar treatment to test whether soil amendment boosts restoration success. We compared performance of clustered and uniform plantings across the high marsh elevation gradient for three years. There was a strong effect of elevation on plant performance and clear signs of plant stress related to soil conditions. Clustering slightly improved survival of one species out of seven, although clustering did not benefit that species in a follow-up experiment under more stressful conditions. By contrast, clustering had strong negative effects on growth and/or cover of all species tested. The stressors in this system – likely related to compaction and soil salinity – were not mitigated by neighbors or biochar. The prevailing negative effect on seven species from distinct evolutionary lineages lends strong generality to our findings. We therefore conclude that for this and similar high marsh systems, intraspecific facilitation confers no benefits and practitioners should space plants widely to minimize competition. To take full advantage of the learning opportunities provided by large-scale restoration projects, we recommend including experimental treatments and monitoring the response of multiple species across years to refine best practices and inform adaptive management.

README: Performance of seven species in clustered versus uniform plantings in a large-scale high marsh restoration project

https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kwh70rzd9

Overview of the experimental design

In the fall of 2018 we established six blocks at the restored marsh in the high marsh elevation band (~1.95 - 2.20 m North American Vertical Datum of 1988). Each block was subdivided into 10 columns, with 2 columns allocated to each primary species (Distichlis spicata, Extriplex californica, Frankenia salina, Jaumea carnosa, and Spergularia macrotheca); one column in each pair was planted in the Uniform treatment and one in the Clustered treatment (see Appendix S1: Experimental design for more details). We also planted Limonium californicum and Triglochin concinna in “wings” on either side of each block, as transplant stock allowed; wings were installed near the top of blocks because these species tend to occur at the upper edge of the high marsh in this watershed.

We relied on two data collection strategies: surveys on transects across the full elevation gradient in planted columns, and measurement of marked plants at designated “High" elevation (~2.16 m NAVD88) and “Low" elevation (~2.0 m NAVD88) locations (Fig. 1c in main text) where biochar addition treatments were also applied. Soil cores were collected at the High elevation, Low elevation, Upland, and Lower marsh locations to assess soil moisture and soil water potential. Temperature sensors (iButtons) were also installed at High elevation to track temperatures over time in the open and under plant canopies.

Species Key

Native transplants:
D = Distichlis spicata
E = Extriplex californica
F = Frankenia salina
J = Jaumea carnosa
L = Limonium californicum
S = Spergularia macrotheca
T = Triglochin concinna

Exotic species:
See Appendix S1: Table S2 for the full list of species encountered at the restoration site.

This dataset contains the following .csv files.

Transplant survival at 9 weeks (early survival) across the elevation gradient

Data_DRYAD_Q1_early_survival_across_elevation_2019.csv

This file contains data on early (9 weeks after planting) survival for the five primary species (D, E, F, J, S; see species key at top of Readme). Data were collected from individuals crossed by transects in each planting treatment across elevation. See Appendix S1: Section S5.1 for more details.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier for each pin drop (2,4,6)
Species	categorical	Code for transplanted species: D, E, F, J, S (see species key at top of Readme)
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of transplant: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Elevation	numeric	Transplant elevation in North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88)
Alive_at_planting	integer (binary)	Transplant status at planting (1 = alive)
Alive_4_01_2019	integer (binary)	Transplant status on April 1 2019 early survival survey (0 = dead, 1 = alive)

Transplant volume at 14 weeks at High and Low elevation locations

Data_DRYAD_Q2a_plant_volume_in_high_and_low_rows_with_biochar_treatment_May_2019.csv

This file contains growth data for marked plants of the five primary species (D, E, F, J, S; see species key at top of Readme) after 14 weeks at designated "High" and "Low" elevation locations. Maximum diameter and height measurements were used to estimate plant volume in Clustered vs Uniform planting treatments. At Clustered plantings, it was difficult to distinguish one individual from another, so we took the diameter and height measurement for the entire cluster and divided it by the number of plants still alive in that cluster. At Uniform plantings, we randomly selected three out of the 9 plants in each unit to measure and these measurements were averaged before analysis. See Appendix S1: Section S2: Experimental design and Appendix S1: Section S5.2 for more details.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier: each transplant was installed in one of six blocks (1 - 6)
Species	categorical	Code for transplant species: D, E, F, J, S (see key at top of Readme)
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of transplant: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Elevation	categorical	Transplant elevation: H (High) or L (Low) - see Fig. 1c for position of High and Low locations
Treatment	categorical	Biochar treatment: B (Biochar applied) or NB (No biochar applied)
Diameter_05_06_2019	numeric (cm)	Widest diameter of each transplant in centimeters on May 6 2019 survey
Height_05_06_2019	numeric (cm)	Maximum height of each transplant in centimeters on May 6 2019 survey

Data_DRYAD_Q2a_Limonium_volume_in_high_rows_May_2019.csv

This file contains growth data for marked Limonium californicum transplants in Clustered versus Uniform planting treatments installed at High elevation only - see Fig. 1c for position of High location. See Appendix S1: Section S2: Experimental design and Appendix S1: Section S5.2 for more details.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier: each transplant was installed adjacent to one of six blocks (1 - 6)
Species	categorical	Code for transplant species: L (Limonium californicum)
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of transplant: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Elevation	categorical	Transplant elevation: H (High) location only - see Fig. 1c for position of High location
Diameter_05_06_2019	numeric (cm)	Widest diameter of each transplant in centimeters on May 6 2019 survey
Height_05_06_2019	numeric (cm)	Maximum height of each transplant in centimeters on May 6 2019 survey

Data_DRYAD_Q2a_Triglochin_volume_in_high_rows_May_2019.csv

This file contains growth data for marked Triglochin concinna transplants in Clustered versus Uniform planting treatments installed at High elevation only - see Fig. 1c for position of High location. See Appendix S1: Section S2: Experimental design and Appendix S1: Section S5.2 for more details.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier: each transplant was installed adjacent to one of three blocks (1, 4, 6)
Species	categorical	Code for transplant species: T (Triglochin concinna)
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of transplant: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Elevation	categorical	Transplant elevation: H (High) location only - see Fig. 1c for position of High location
Diameter_05_06_2019	numeric (cm)	Widest diameter of each transplant in centimeters on May 6 2019 survey
Height_05_06_2019	numeric (cm)	Maximum height of each transplant in centimeters on May 6 2019 survey

Transplant survival at 18 weeks at High and Low elevation locations

Data_DRYAD_Q2b_survival_in_high_and_low_rows_with_biochar_treatment_June_2019.csv

This file contains survival data at 18 weeks for transplants of the 5 primary species (D, E, F, J, S; see species key at top of Readme) in the Clustered versus Uniform planting treatments at designated "High" and "Low" elevation locations. See Appendix S1: Section S2: Experimental design for more details, and Fig. 1c for position of the High and Low locations. The Total_planted column records the original number of plants in each 9-plant unit (the replicate for this analysis). The original number was always 9, except in rare cases where an individual of the wrong species was planted in a unit (and was subsequently pulled).

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier: each transplant was installed in one of six blocks (1 - 6)
Species	categorical	Code for transplant species: D, E, F, J, S (see species key at top of Readme)
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of transplant: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Elevation	categorical	Transplant elevation: H (High) or L (Low) - see Fig. 1c for position of High and Low locations
Treatment	categorical	Biochar treatment: B (Biochar applied) or NB (No biochar applied)
Total_planted	integer (count)	The original number of plants in each unit (usually 9)
Alive_Jun3	integer (count)	The number of plants still alive in each unit on the June 3 2019 survey
Proportion_Surviving	numeric	The proportion of plants still alive in each unit

Data_DRYAD_Q2b_survival_in_high_rows_Limonium_June_2019.csv

This file contains survival data at 18 weeks for Limonium californicum transplants in the High elevation location only. See Appendix S1: Section S2: Experimental design for more details, and Fig. 1c for position of the High location. The Total_planted column records the original number of plants in each 9-plant unit (the replicate for this analysis). The original number was always 9 for this species.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier: each transplant was installed adjacent to one of six blocks (1 - 6)
Species	categorical	Code for transplant species: L (Limonium californicum)
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of transplant: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Total_planted	integer (count)	The original number of plants in each unit (9)
AliveJun3	integer (count)	The number of plants still alive in each unit on the June 3 2019 survey
Proportion_Surviving	numeric	The proportion of plants still alive in each unit

Data_DRYAD_Q2b_survival_in_high_rows_Triglochin_June_2019.csv

This file contains survival data at 18 weeks for Triglochin concinna transplants in the High elevation location only. See Appendix S1: Section S2: Experimental design for more details, and Fig. 1c for position of the High location. The Total_planted column records the original number of plants in each 9-plant unit (the replicate for this analysis). The original number was always 9 for this species.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier: each transplant was installed adjacent to one of three blocks (1, 4, 6)
Species	categorical	Code for transplant species: T (Triglochin concinna )
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of transplant: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Total_planted	integer (count)	The original number of plants in each unit (9)
AliveJun3	integer (count)	The number of plants still alive in each unit on the June 3 2019 survey
Proportion_Surviving	numeric	The proportion of plants still alive in each unit

Native transplant cover across the elevation gradient

Data_DRYAD_Q3a_native_cover_2019.csv

This file contains native transplant cover data from a point intercept survey in 2019 for each of the five primary species (D, E, F, J, S); see species key at top of Readme, and Appendix S1: Section S5.3 for more details. In transplant cover analysis for each species and year, we only used data from the Clustered and Uniform columns that were planted with that species. For example, to analyze D (Distichlis spicata) cover using this file, we isolated the rows of data with "D" in the Species planted column.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier for each pin drop (1 - 6)
Species planted	categorical	Code for transplanted species: D, E, F, J, or S (see key at top of Readme)
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of column: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Elevation	numeric	Elevation at each pin drop along a transect in North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88)
D cover	integer (binary)	Distichlis spicata cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
E cover	integer (binary)	Extriplex californica cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
F cover	integer (binary)	Frankenia salina cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
J cover	integer (binary)	Jaumea carnosa cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
S cover	integer (binary)	Spergularia macrotheca cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present

Data_DRYAD_Q3a_native_cover_2020.csv

This file contains native transplant cover data from a point intercept survey in 2020 for each of the five primary species (D, E, F, J, S); see species key at top of Readme, and Appendix S1: Section S5.3 for more details. In transplant cover analysis for each species and year, we only used data from the Clustered and Uniform columns that were planted with that species. For example, to analyze D (Distichlis spicata) cover using this file, we isolated the rows of data with "D" in the Species planted column.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier for each pin drop (1 - 6)
Species planted	categorical	Code for transplanted species: D, E, F, J, or S (see key at top of Readme)
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of column: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Elevation	numeric	Elevation at each pin drop along a transect in North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88)
D cover	integer (binary)	Distichlis spicata cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
E cover	integer (binary)	Extriplex californica cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
F cover	integer (binary)	Frankenia salina cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
J cover	integer (binary)	Jaumea carnosa cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
S cover	integer (binary)	Spergularia macrotheca cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present

Data_DRYAD_Q3a_native_cover_2021.csv

This file contains native transplant cover data from a point intercept survey in 2021 for each of the five primary species (D, E, F, J, S); see species key at top of Readme, and Appendix S1: Section S5.3 for more details. In transplant cover analysis for each species and year, we only used data from the Clustered and Uniform columns that were planted with that species. For example, to analyze D (Distichlis spicata) cover using this file, we isolated the rows of data with "D" in the Species planted column.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier for each pin drop (1 - 6)
Species planted	categorical	Code for transplanted species: D, E, F, J, or S (see key at top of Readme)
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of column: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Elevation	numeric	Elevation at each pin drop along a transect in North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88)
D cover	integer (binary)	Distichlis spicata cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
E cover	integer (binary)	Extriplex californica cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
F cover	integer (binary)	Frankenia salina cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
J cover	integer (binary)	Jaumea carnosa cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
S cover	integer (binary)	Spergularia macrotheca cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present

Exotic cover across the elevation gradient

Data_DRYAD_Q3b_exotic_cover_2019.csv

This file contains exotic cover data from a point intercept survey in 2019 - see Appendix S1: Section S5.3 for more details on surveys, and Table S2 for more details on taxa. Where possible, taxa were identified to the species level; in some cases, the life stage of the plant only allowed identification to genus (identified by the suffix “sp”). In these cases, we assume individuals represent the same species. We were unable to identify two exotic annual taxa to the genus level; however, these plants could be readily distinguished from each other and other species present, allowing us to track them as “Unknown 1” and “Unknown 3.” Exotic cover was analyzed separately for columns planted with each of the five primary species (D, E, F, J, S) in the Clustered versus Uniform pattern. For example, to analyze exotic cover in block columns planted with D (Distichlis spicata), we isolated the rows of data with "D" in the Species planted column.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier for each pin drop (1 - 6)
Species planted	categorical	Code for transplanted species: D, E, F, J, or S (see key at top of Readme)
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of column: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Elevation	numeric	Elevation at each pin drop along a transect in North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88)
Ap	integer (binary)	Atriplex prostrata cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
As	integer (binary)	Atriplex semibaccata cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Bh	integer (binary)	Bromus hordeaceus cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Bm	integer (binary)	Bromus madritensis cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Bn	integer (binary)	Brassica nigra cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Cm	integer (binary)	Conium maculatum cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Cot	integer (binary)	Cotula coronopifolia cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Cp	integer (binary)	Carduus pycnocephalus cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Cv	integer (binary)	Cirsium vulgare cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Er	integer (binary)	Erodium sp cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Em	integer (binary)	Euphorbia maculata cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Eri	integer (binary)	Erigeron sp cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Fm	integer (binary)	Festuca myuros cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Fp	integer (binary)	Festuca perennis cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Hb	integer (binary)	Hordeum brachyantherum cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
He	integer (binary)	Helminthotheca echioides cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
La	integer (binary)	Lysimachia arvensis cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Md	integer (binary)	Matricaria discoidea cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Med	integer (binary)	Medicago sp cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Mi	integer (binary)	Melilotus indicus cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Mo	integer (binary)	Melilotus officinalis cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Pin	integer (binary)	Parapholis incurva cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Pm	integer (binary)	Polypogon monspeliensis cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Ps	integer (binary)	Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Ra	integer (binary)	Raphanus sp cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Ru	integer (binary)	Rumex sp cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Sa	integer (binary)	Sonchus asper cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
St	integer (binary)	Stipa sp cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Sym	integer (binary)	Silybum marianum cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
U1	integer (binary)	Unknown 1 cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
U3	integer (binary)	Unknown 3 cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Exotic_hits	integer	The total unique exotic species hit on each pin drop, summed across the columns above

Data_DRYAD_Q3b_exotic_cover_2020.csv

This file contains exotic cover data from a point intercept survey in 2020 - see Appendix S1: Section S5.3 for more details on surveys, and Table S2 for more details on taxa. Taxa identified in this year were a subset of those observed in 2019; to speed the data collection process, survey teams collected data on specific taxa of management interest but otherwise lumped exotic species into the categories "Exotic grass" or "Exotic forb". Exotic cover was analyzed separately for columns planted with each of the five primary species (D, E, F, J, S) in the Clustered versus Uniform pattern. For example, to analyze exotic cover in block columns planted with D (Distichlis spicata), we isolated the rows of data with "D" in the Species planted column.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier for each pin drop (1 - 6)
Species planted	categorical	Code for transplanted species: D, E, F, J, or S (see key at top of Readme)
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of column: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Elevation	numeric	Elevation at each pin drop along a transect in North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88)
Ap	integer (binary)	Atriplex prostrata cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Pm	integer (binary)	Polypogon monspeliensis cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Pin	integer (binary)	Parapholis incurva cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Cot	integer (binary)	Cotula coronopifolia cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Exotic.grass	integer (binary)	Exotic grass cover value at each pin drop: 0 = absent, and 1 = present
Exotic.forb	integer (binary)	Exotic forb cover value at each pin drop: 0 = absent, and 1 = present
Exotic_hits	integer	The total unique exotic species hit on each pin drop, summed across the columns above

Data_DRYAD_Q3b_exotic_cover_2021.csv

This file contains exotic cover data from a point intercept survey in 2021 - see Appendix S1: Section S5.3 for more details on surveys, and Table S2 for more details on taxa. Taxa identified in this year were a subset of those observed in 2019; to speed the data collection process, survey teams collected data on specific taxa of management interest but otherwise lumped exotic species into the categories "Exotic grass" or "Exotic forb". Exotic cover was analyzed separately for columns planted with each of the five primary species (D, E, F, J, S) in the Clustered versus Uniform pattern. For example, to analyze exotic cover in block columns planted with D (Distichlis spicata), we isolated the rows of data with "D" in the Species planted column.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier for each pin drop (1 - 6)
Species planted	categorical	Code for transplanted species: D, E, F, J, or S (see key at top of Readme)
Pattern	categorical	Planting treatment of column: C (Clustered, 10 cm spacing) or U (Uniform, 50 cm spacing)
Elevation	numeric	Elevation at each pin drop along a transect in North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88)
Ap	integer (binary)	Atriplex prostrata cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Pm	integer (binary)	Polypogon monspeliensis cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Pin	integer (binary)	Parapholis incurva cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Cot	integer (binary)	Cotula coronopifolia cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Bn or Ra	integer (binary)	Brassica nigra or Raphanus sp cover value at each pin drop: 0 = species absent, and 1 = species present
Exotic.grass	integer (binary)	Exotic grass cover value at each pin drop: 0 = absent, and 1 = present
Exotic.forb	integer (binary)	Exotic forb cover value at each pin drop: 0 = absent, and 1 = present
Exotic_hits	integer	The total unique exotic species hit on each pin drop, summed across the columns above

Soil data

Data_DRYAD_Q4_Q5_soil_iButton_temperatures_over_time.csv

This file contains data on soil temperatures near solar noon in the open and under the canopy of each of the five primary species (D, E, F, J, S) from May 2019 to Jan 2020. See Appendix S1: Section S5.5 for more details.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier: each unit was installed at one of six blocks (1 - 6)
Location	categorical	Location of each iButton unit (in open soil or under the canopy of a particular species: D, E, F, J, S)
iButton unit ID	categorical	Unique identifier for each iButton unit
Month	categorical	Month each measurement was recorded
Day	categorical	Day each measurement was recorded
Year	categorical	Year each measurement was recorded: "19" (2019) or "20" (2020)
Time	categorical	Time of day each measurement was recorded
Temp_C	numeric (degrees)	Temperature in degrees Celsius (C)

Data_DRYAD_Q4_Q5_open_cores_soil_moisture_over_time.csv

This dataset tracks soil moisture over time (May 2019 - Jan 2020) in soil cores collected from the open. No soil cores were collected in November. See Appendix S1: Section S5.4 and Appendix S1: Table S3 for more details.

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier: each core was taken at one of six blocks (1 - 6)
Core type	categorical	Identifier for where each core was taken: always "O" (open soil) in this dataset
Location	categorical	Location where core was taken: Lower marsh, H (High), L (Low), Upland - see Fig.1c
May_moisture_pct	numeric	Percent moisture by weight of each core collected in May
Jun_moisture_pct	numeric	Percent moisture by weight of each core collected in June
Jul_moisture_pct	numeric	Percent moisture by weight of each core collected in July
Aug_moisture_pct	numeric	Percent moisture by weight of each core collected in August
Sep_moisture_pct	numeric	Percent moisture by weight of each core collected in September
Oct_moisture_pct	numeric	Percent moisture by weight of each core collected in October
Dec_moisture_pct	numeric	Percent moisture by weight of each core collected in December
Jan_moisture_pct	numeric	Percent moisture by weight of each core collected in January

Data_DRYAD_Q5_soil_cores_in_open_and_canopy_across_elevation_Sept_2019.csv

This dataset contains: soil water potential (MPa) of soil cores collected under summertime drought conditions near the end of the dry season (Sep 2019), the weight weight of cores (g), and the weight of cores (g) after drying. Cores were collected in the open and under the canopy of each of the five primary species (D, E, F, J, S). With one exception, cores were collected at the Upland location, where extra transplants had been installed for this destructive sampling. Cores under Frankenia salina were collected from the High elevation location instead because limited transplant stock prevented us from planting this species at the Upland location. See Appendix S1: Section S5.6 for more details (cores classified as having "light" cover were dropped from this dataset and are not included here).

variables	units	description
Block	categorical	Planted block identifier: each core was taken in one of six blocks (1 - 6)
Location	categorical	Location where each core was taken: O (Open soil) or D, E, F, J, S (under canopy of that species)
Core type	categorical	Identifier for cores taken in the open (O) versus under canopy (C)
Canopy assessment	categorical	Assessment of cover for cores collected under plants; data associated with light cover are not included
Mpa_Sep_25	numeric (MPa)	Soil water potential measurement in megapascals
Wet_weight_Sep	numeric (g)	Wet weight of each core in grams
Dry_weight_Sep	numeric (g)	Dry weight of each core in grams