DOI: 10.5061/dryad.hqbzkh1v4
title: Data from: Successional growth dynamics of woody saplings in tropical dry forest understory

description: Here, we examine relative growth rates (RGR) of woody species
 saplings along a broad successional gradient in a tropical dry forest
 based on height and basal area data gathered over 15 years of vegetation
 monitoring in permanent plots differing in successional age (1-73 years)
 plus a mature forest plot. We used mixed-effects models to examine the
 link between individual size, fallow age, and plant traits, and from this
 link model their relationship with sapling RGR. Overall, growth tended to
 be slow along the successional gradient, with the exception of the initial
 10 years, during which most groups exhibited their highest growth rates.
 The key factors influencing basal area growth were the species'
 successional guild and their affiliation with the Leguminosae family. In
 contrast, growth in height was primarily shaped by successional guild and
 growth form. The widespread decline in sapling growth rates within the
 understory indicates that, in later stages of succession, light
 availability—rather than water—becomes the main limiting factor.
description: # Data from: Successional growth dynamics of woody saplings in tropical
 dry forest understory Díaz-Talamantes, R., González, E.J., Muñoz, R.,
 Enríquez, M., Dávila-Hernández, G., Sandoval-Granillo, V., Lebrija-Trejos,
 E., Meave, J.A. (2025) Biotropica The data come from 17 permanent forest
 plots with different abandonment ages (1-73 years, plus a mature forest
 plot) in Nizanda (16° 39’ 30” N, 95° 00’ 40” W), Oaxaca state, southern
 Mexico. We used annual records of survival (alive/dead), height (cm), and
 basal diameter (cm) of tree, shrub, and liana saplings for the 2003–2018
 period. Page “`Height-based RGR`” contains the estimated height-based
 relative growth rates for the community of woody saplings along with their
 taxonomic, functional and successional identities and functional traits.
 Columns are: * individual ID * year, referring to the year of measurement
 * plot * age, referring to the successional age of the plot * species *
 rgr (cm⋅cm^-1⋅year^-1) * suc, meaning successional guild (mat, mature;
 pion, pioneer) * gf, meaning growth form (shr, shrub; tre, tree) * leg,
 meaning taxonomic identity (leg, legume; noleg, non-legume) * phen,
 meaning leaf phenology (inv, inverted phenology; nor, normal phenology) *
 wd, referring to wood density (g⋅cm^-3) and * ss, referring to seed size
 (mm) Page “`Basal area-based RGR`” contains the estimated basal area-based
 relative growth rates for the community of woody saplings along with their
 taxonomic, functional and successional identities and functional traits.
 Columns are: * individual ID * year, referring to the year of measurement
 * plot * age, referring to the successional age of the plot * species *
 rgr (cm⋅cm^-2⋅year^-1) * suc, meaning successional guild (mat, mature;
 pion, pioneer) * gf, meaning growth form (shr, shrub; tre, tree; vin,
 vine) * leg, meaning taxonomic identity (leg, legume; noleg, non-legume) *
 phen, meaning leaf phenology (inv, inverted phenology; nor, normal
 phenology) * wd, referring to wood density (g⋅cm^-3) and * ss, referring
 to seed size (mm)