File:

plot scale data_Arnell et al 2020.csv - Data file for analysis of seedling recruitment.


These are the raw data from the seedling recruitment experiment in the publication Arnell, M., Ehrlén J. and Eriksson, O., 2020, 
Local distribution patterns of fleshy-fruited woody plants – examining the orchard hypothesis (DOI: 10.1111/ecog.05359).


Species names are abbreieviated as folows:

Crataegus laevigata 	- "crat"
Frangula alnus 		- "fran"
Juniperus communis 	- "juni"
Lonicera xylosteum	- "loni"
Prunus avium		- "avi"
Prunus spinosa		- "spin"
Prunus padus		- "pad"
Ribes alpinum		- "ribe"
Rubus idaeus		- "rubu"
Sorbus aucuparia	- "sorb"



Columns:

site: 		site ID

plot: 		plot ID

pres_:		pres_(abbreviated species name): precence/absence of fertile individuals of the species (1/0)
		1: precence of fertile individuals
		0: absence of fertile individuals

sr_:		sr_(abbrieviated specis name): total seedling recruitment of the species when adding seeds 

c_:		c_(abbrieviated specis name): total natural seedling recruitment of the species in all 10 control subplots  


Sampling:

The study was carried out in the Tullgarn nature reserve (17°33'45E  58°57'56 N) in the province of Södermanland in Sweden. In the study area we established 15 sites. 
The sites were chosen to cover a range of potential habitats for fleshy-fruited woody species, and included those that were a priori expected as favourable habitats, e.g. forest edges, 
and less favourable habitats, e.g. within forests dominated by coniferous species (Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris). At the 15 sites we established three plots per site 
(45 plots) and at each plot we established subplots for the seedling recruitment experiment.

# precence/absence of fertile individuals
In 50 m radius circles surrounding the three plots at each site, partly overlapping at some sites, we recorded presence/absence of reproductive individuals (displaying flowers 
or fruits) for the species included in the seedling recruitment experiment. 

# seedling recruitment experiment
At each plot, in subplots of 50 × 50 cm, we sowed 50 seeds/species from ten species of the local guild. The species were: Crataegus laevigata, Frangula alnus, Juniperus communis,
Lonicera xylosteum, Prunus avium, Prunus padus, Prunus spinosa, Ribes alpinum, Rubus idaeus and Sorbus aucuparia. The seeds were gathered from fruits collected in the height of 
the fruiting season of each species (mainly July-August, but October for J. communis, S. aucuparia and P. spinosa). We removed the pulp and let the seeds dry in room temperature.
 
The experiment was initiated in the autumn of 2015. In 2016 and 2017, we recorded seedlings on three occasions each year between early June and early September. In 2018, 
we recorded seedlings and small juveniles on one occasion in June. At each occasion, the location of all seedlings was noted and used as identification of individual recruits, 
allowing us to record new seedlings appearing. All recruits were followed throughout the survey period. At all occasions, we also searched for seedlings of the study species 
in 10 control subplots (where no seeds were added) located adjacent to the sowing plots.


Please consult to the original article for full sampling information (DOI: 10.1111/ecog.05359). 

Please contact Matilda Arnell (matilda.arnell@su.se) for information or collaboration. 

Please cite also the original article when using these data (DOI: 10.1111/ecog.05359).