DOI: 10.5061/dryad.ksn02v7kc
title: Data from: Fruit-quality tradeoffs generate asymmetry in plant reliance on mutualistic frugivores

description: Seed dispersal is a fundamental ecological process influencing the
 evolution of plant life-history strategies. In fleshy-fruited plants
 dispersed by mutualistic frugivores, variation in fruit traits among
 closely related species may shape the temporal and spatial dynamics of
 dispersal events critical to population success. Here, we test a tradeoff
 model for dispersal strategies, inspired by Grime’s triangle of
 life-history tradeoffs, that links fruit quality and seed traits (e.g.,
 nutrients, chemical defenses, seed dormancy) to plant reliance on
 frugivore-mediated dispersal. The model predicts that species producing
 nutrient-rich, rewarding fruits benefit from frequent frugivory
 interactions, leading to enhanced seed deposition and seedling recruitment
 across broader spatial and temporal scales. Conversely, species investing
 in chemically defended fruits or seed dormancy are expected to rely less
 on frugivores and more on vegetative reproduction or persistent seed
 banks. We experimentally evaluated this model using three Solanum species
 (Solanaceae) with distinct fruit traits and seed dormancy levels. For each
 species, we documented frugivory interactions and conducted a
 seed-addition experiment in the field mimicking frugivore dispersal to
 assess how the spatial and temporal patterns of seed deposition by
 frugivores affect seedling emergence. Our results show that the Solanum
 species with sugar-rich fruits experienced higher frugivory rates and
 greater seedling emergence under seed-addition treatments mimicking
 frugivore dispersal. In contrast, species investing more in pulp defenses
 or seed dormancy engaged in fewer frugivory interactions and had lower
 seedling emergence in seed addition treatments mimicking dispersal by
 frugivores. Altogether, our findings show that differences in fruit traits
 and quality can mediate tradeoffs among dispersal strategies, leading to
 interspecific variation in how strongly plant species may rely on
 frugivory mutualisms for recruitment.
description: # Data from: Fruit-quality tradeoffs generate asymmetry in plant reliance
 on mutualistic frugivores Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.ksn02v7kc](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.ksn02v7kc) ##
 Description of the data and file structure This repository contains all
 data and codes of the manuscript "Fruit-quality tradeoffs generate
 asymmetry in plant reliance on mutualistic frugivores" by Messeder
 JVS & Carlo TA published in Oikos. Our objectives consisted of: 1.
 Sample frugivory interactions in the field for three *Solanum* species
 (*S. americanum*, *S. carolinense*, and *S. dulcamara*) and compare
 visitation rates and fruit removal rates among them. 2. Perform a seed
 germination experiment under laboratory conditions to evaluate the
 germination profile of the three species while quantifying the proportions
 of dormant and embryoless seeds. 3. Conduct a seed addition experiment in
 the field to evaluate the effects of seed density and gradual seed
 deposition (emulating frugivore dispersal) on the emergence rates for each
 Solanum species. 4. Quantify in the field the occurrence, density, and
 spatial distribution of adult individuals of each species in open areas
 and along fence lines and forest edges to evaluate if dispersal by
 frugivores can be reflected in the distribution patterns of adults For
 details on research questions, hypotheses, sampling design, and details on
 analytical approach, please refer to the original manuscript. This
 repository contains 6 CSV datasets, one R script file of the analyses and
 figures, and one READ_ME file. ### Files and variables #### File:
 Frugivory_Data.csv **Description:** Dataset used to compare visitation
 rate and fruit removal rate among sampled species. ##### Variables *
 species: plant species used in this study * individual_loc: code
 indicating the number and location of each sampled plant individual *
 sampling_effort_days: number of days in which each individual was sampled
 with a camera trap * visits: total number of frugivory visits each
 individual received * fruits_removed: total number of fruits removed by
 frugivores in each individual * avgPulpMass: average mass of edible pulp *
 crop_size: fruit crop size * seeds_removed: number of seeds removed ####
 File: Frug_Reg_Data.csv **Description:** Dataset used to evaluate the
 relationship between fruits removed per visit and visitation rate between
 *S. americanum* and *S. dulcamara*. ##### Variables * species: plant
 species used in this study * frugivore: frugivore species visiting the
 plant species * totVisit: total number of frugivory visits *
 totFRemoval: total number of fruits removed * visits_day: visitation rate
 (visits per day) * fruits_visit: fruits removed per visit *
 effort: sampling effort in days #### File: Fruit_trait_Data.csv
 **Description:** Dataset used to calculate the summary statistics of the
 measured morphological fruit traits for each species ##### Variables *
 species: plant species used in this study * Fruit_length_mm: Fruit length
 in mm * Fruit_width_mm: Fruit width in mm * Fresh_mass_g: Fruit fresh mass
 in g * Hardness_kgcm2: Force measured to perforate a fruit in kg/cm2 *
 Seeds/Fruit: number of seeds per fruit * Seed_width_mm: Seed length in mm
 * Seed_length_mm: Seed width in mm #### File: Germination_Data.csv
 **Description:** Dataset used to evaluate the proportion of germinable,
 dormant, embryoless, and non-viable seeds across plant species. #####
 Variables * species: plant species used in this study * Temperature: the
 temperature used in the germination experiment * germ_cat: germination
 profile category (germinable, dormant, embryoless, and non-viable) *
 count: number of seeds in each category #### File:
 Individual_density_Data.csv **Description:** Dataset used to compare the
 density of adults of each species between open areas and fence lines and
 edges. ##### Variables * Transect: sampling transect number *
 Habitat: habitat in which the transect was sampled (open or fence) *
 Species: plant species used in this study * Nind: number of individuals in
 the transect * Transect_area: total area of the transect in m2 #### File:
 Seed_addition_Data.csv **Description:** Dataset used to evaluate the
 effects of seed density and gradual seed deposition (emulating frugivore
 dispersal) on the emergence rates for each *Solanum* species. #####
 Variables * Area: replication area of the experiment * Species: plant
 species used in this study * Flag_code_(patch_ID): code of the seed
 addition patch * Block: block of seed addition patches * Tempo: tempo
 treatment of seeds added all at once (no) or gradual addition (yes) *
 Density: density of seeds added * Emergence_success: number of seedlings
 emerged * Emergence_failure: number of seedlings that did not emerged *
 Seeds_added: number of seeds added #### File: Analyses.R
 **Description:** Annotated R script containing all codes related to data
 analyses and results figures of the paper. ## Code/software All
 statistical analyses were conducted in R 4.4.1 (R Core Team 2024). Please
 see the "Analyses.R" file containing the annotated R script with
 all codes related to data analyses and results figures of the paper.