10.5061/DRYAD.2VK77
Bogdziewicz, Michal
Wilkes University
Crone, Elizabeth E.
Harvard University
Steele, Michael A.
Wilkes University
Zwolak, Rafał
Department of Systematic Zoology; Faculty of Biology; Adam Mickiewicz
University; Umultowska 89 61-614 Poznań Poland
Data from: Effects of nitrogen deposition on reproduction in a masting
tree: benefits of higher seed production are trumped by negative biotic
interactions
Dryad
dataset
2017
predator satiation
Peromyscus sp.
Curculio sp.
Quercus rubra
nitrogen fertilization
seed predation
mast seeding
Weevils
reproductive ecology
2017-09-15T00:00:00Z
2017-09-15T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12673
386855 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Relatively little is known about the effects of anthropogenic
environmental changes on reproductive ecology of trees. Yet, recruitment
is a primary determinant of the long-term dynamics of plant populations in
changing environments. We used the Long-Term Ecological Research site at
Harvard Forest to evaluate the effects of chronic (over 25 years) nitrogen
fertilization on reproductive ecology of red oaks (Quercus rubra). Oaks
growing in fertilized plots produced 4–9 times more acorns than control
trees. However, nitrogen deposition simultaneously affected oaks’ biotic
interactions. It increased pre-dispersal seed predation by insects
(primarily weevils, Curculio spp.) on fertilized plots, most likely as the
result of the disruption of predator satiation. In addition, infestation
by weevils was more likely to result in embryo destruction in fertilized
than in control acorns. Furthermore, the proportion of acorns dispersed
and cached by rodents decreased on fertilized plots. Finally, germination
of fertilized acorns was lower than control acorns, even after controlling
for the effects of weevils and rodents. Inclusion of the altered biotic
interactions reversed the final picture of the effects of long-term
nitrogen fertilization on oak reproduction: the positive effects on acorn
quantity were trumped by the nitrogen-mediated changes in biotic
interactions. Synthesis. Our results stress the importance of considering
indirect effects and consumer interactions when evaluating the effects of
environmental change on plant population dynamics. Long-term nitrogen
fertilization has a strong potential to decrease the recruitment of
masting trees. Given the ubiquitous increase in the anthropogenic nitrogen
deposition, processes similar to those found in our system might operate
in others, resulting in a widespread alteration in trees’ recruitment
dynamics.
rodent_dispersalSeed tracking experiment data. plot - site identifier;
station - seed station ID; seed - acorn ID; weight - acorn mass; harvest -
binomial variable, acorn harvested (1) or not (0); similar with columns:
removed, found, eaten, cached, surface (i.e. found on surface); distance -
removal distance [cm]weevil_abundWeevil abundance dataset (no. of weevil
larvae per acorns, divided into bottom and apical part of the acorn). year
- year of the data collection; treat - tree ID; treat - nitrogen treatment
(con - control, ln - low N, hn - high N); weight - acorn mass; height and
width - acorn dimensions; part - acorn part (bottom and top); weev - no.
of weevils; prev - acorn infested (1) or not (0); prod - estimate of acorn
production be the treeweevil_prevWeevil prevalence, embryo depredation and
cotyledon predation dataset. year - year of the data collection; treeid -
tree ID; treat - nitrogen treatment (con - control, ln - low N, hn - high
N); weight - acorn mass; height and width - acorn dimensions; totwe -
total no. of weevils in the acorn; prev - acorn infested (0) or not (1);
embryo - acorn survived (1) or not (0); cotyl - percent of depredated
cotyledon; prod - estimated acorn production by the tree
Eastern USA