DOI: 10.5061/dryad.nk98sf86v
title: Data from: Seed germination strategies reveal naturalization potential: Global insights from European herbaceous species

description: This dataset includes primary seed germination records for 1,146
 herbaceous species native to temperate Europe, derived from 18,596
 laboratory tests. For each seed lot, the dataset reports the number of
 seeds tested, the number of germinated seeds, and the conditions under
 which each test was conducted: temperature, alternating temperature, cold
 and warm stratification, light, and seed scarification. For each species,
 the dataset also provides biogeographic information on global
 naturalization occurrence and extent, and on the number of regions where
 naturalization has been reported in each of three macroclimatic zones:
 temperate, tropical dry, and tropical humid regions. Information on seed
 origin, seed lot identifier, contributor, and country of collection, and
 the country where each test was carried out, is also provided. The dataset
 allowed us to test whether seed germination traits, in terms of their
 responses to different germination cues, are related to the naturalization
 success of native European temperate herbs outside their native range.
 Using these data, we found that naturalized species show higher
 germinability, germinate at lower temperatures, and respond strongly to
 seed scarification compared to species that have not become naturalized
 outside their native range, and that these traits are also positively
 related to the geographic extent of naturalization.
description: # Seed Germination and Global Naturalization Dataset This dataset contains
 primary seed germination records for **1,146 herbaceous plant species
 native to temperate Europe**, compiled from **18,596 laboratory
 germination tests**. For each seed lot, the dataset reports the number of
 seeds tested, the number of germinated seeds, and the environmental
 conditions applied during each test, including mean temperature,
 alternating vs. constant temperature regimes, light vs. darkness, and the
 application of cold stratification, warm stratification, or seed
 scarification. Seed germination data are combined with global
 naturalization data (naturalization occurrence and geographic extent) with
 the aim of evaluating whether the naturalization success of native
 European herbaceous species is related to their germination responses to
 key environmental cues, in different macroclimatic zones. Using this
 dataset, we found that species that have become naturalized globally
 exhibit higher germinability, germinate at lower temperatures, and respond
 more strongly to seed scarification than species that have not
 naturalized. These traits are also positively related to the geographic
 extent of naturalization in temperate, tropical dry, and tropical humid
 regions worldwide. ## Description of the data and file structure The
 dataset is provided as an **Excel file .xlsx** in which **each row
 corresponds to a single germination test for a given species and seed
 lot**. The file **Gioria_et_al_JEcol_211125_f.xlsx** includes three
 categories of information: ### 1. Germination test data Variables describe
 the experimental conditions under which each laboratory test was
 performed: * number of seeds tested * number of germinated seeds * mean
 temperature (degrees Celsius) * alternating temperature regime (yes/no) *
 light conditions (light/darkness) * cold stratification (yes/no) * warm
 stratification (yes/no) * seed scarification (yes/no) These variables
 allow to quantify species' responses to temperature and
 dormancy-breaking treatments. ### 2. Seed lot metadata These variables
 describe the origin of each seed lot: * unique seedlot identifier (GUID) *
 contributor to SeedArc * country of seed collection * country where the
 germination test was conducted This information ensures full traceability
 and reproducibility of seed origins and conditions. ### 3. Global
 naturalization data Species are linked to naturalization metrics derived
 from global databases, including: * naturalization occurrence
 (presence/absence worldwideglobally) * naturalization extent (number of
 regions where the species is naturalized) ### 4. Naturalization data by
 macroclimatic zone of naturalization * number of naturalized regions in
 each of three macroclimatic zones: * temperate regions * tropical dry
 regions * tropical humid regions These data (points 3 and 4) allow users
 to test relationships among germination traits, global naturalization
 success, and macroclimatic conditions. ### File structure and usage
 Dataset: **Gioria_et_al_JEcol_211125_f.xlsx** * The dataset includes **one
 Excel file** containing the data and the associated metadata * Binary
 variables are coded as `0` (no/absent) and `1` (yes/present) * Species
 names follow the standardized taxonomy used in the SeedArc database * The
 dataset can be used for comparative analyses of germination traits and for
 evaluating how germination traits influence the successful establishment
 and naturalization of herbaceous species outside their native range. ##
 Sharing / Access information ### Links to other publicly accessible
 locations of the data * GloNAF global naturalized alien flora database:
 [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17105725](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17105725) ### Data were derived from the following sources * Fernández-Pascual, E., et al. (2023). *SeedArc, a global archive of primary seed germination data.* New Phytologist, 240(2), 466–470. * Davis, A. J. S., et al. (2025). *Global Naturalized Alien Flora (GloNAF).* Zenodo dataset.[https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17105725](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17105725) * Gioria, M., et al. (in press). *Seed germination strategies reveal naturalization potential: Global insights from European herbaceous species.* Journal of Ecology.