DOI: 10.5061/dryad.3ffbg79rp
title: Data from: Seed dispersal mode and habitat connectivity underpin variation in carbon stocking between Brazilian biomes

description: In tropical forests, about 60 to 80% of woody plant species depend on
 animal-plant interactions for dispersal. The dependence on animal species
 for dispersal makes this interaction very fragile in the face of
 anthropogenic changes in land use. Disrupting seed dispersal processes,
 principally zoochoric dispersal, could significantly alter the long-term
 carbon storage potential of tropical forests. An important question is how
 landscape structure changes tree carbon stocks in different types of
 tropical vegetation and how variation is mediated by the dispersal mode of
 animal (zoochoric) or abiotic (non-zoochoric) seeds. We focused on tree
 plots at 126 sites in Brazil spanning four types of forest and savanna
 vegetation, and calculated carbon stored in zoochoric, non-zoochoric, and
 large frugivore-dispersed species. Our results showed that carbon stocks
 in zoochoric species and non-zoochoric species differ significantly among
 vegetation types, with rainforests having higher stocks in zoochoric
 species and semideciduous seasonally dry tropical forests having higher
 values in non-zoochoric species. A greater area of native vegetation
 promotes higher proportions of carbon stocks dispersed by large frugivore
 species, whereas a higher mean shape index reduces this proportion.
 Synthesis: This study highlights that seed-dispersal type underpins the
 variation in carbon stocks between vegetation types and that the
 maintenance of habitat of large dispersers and connectivity are key for
 retaining carbon stocks in zoochoric species, particularly in rainforest
 and cerrado sensu stricto.
description: # Seed dispersal mode and habitat connectivity underpin variation in
 carbon stocking between Brazilian biomes
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3ffbg79rp](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3ffbg79rp) In tropical forests, about 60 to 80% of woody plant species depend on animal-plant interactions for dispersal. The dependence on animal species for dispersal makes this interaction very fragile in the face of anthropogenic changes in land use. Disrupting seed dispersal processes, principally zoochoric dispersal, could significantly alter the long-term carbon storage potential of tropical forests. An important question is how landscape structure changes tree carbon stocks in different types of tropical vegetation and how variation is mediated by the dispersal mode of animal (zoochoric) or abiotic (non-zoochoric) seeds. We focused on tree plots at 126 sites in Brazil spanning four types of forest and savanna vegetation, and calculated carbon stored in zoochoric, non-zoochoric, and large frugivore-dispersed species. Our results showed that carbon stocks in zoochoric species and non-zoochoric species differ significantly among vegetation types, with rainforests having higher stocks in zoochoric species and semideciduous seasonally dry tropical forests having higher values in non-zoochoric species. A greater area of native vegetation promotes higher proportions of carbon stocks dispersed by large frugivore species, whereas a higher mean shape index reduces this proportion. This study highlights that seed-dispersal type underpins the variation in carbon stocks between vegetation types and that the maintenance of habitat of large dispersers and connectivity are key for retaining carbon stocks in zoochoric species, particularly in rainforest and cerrado sensu stricto.  ## Description of the data and file structure The file provided contains the data used for the analyses carried out in the manuscript. It contains information on the area sampled (code for the area sampled, acronym for the area sampled and UTM coordinates), vegetation types and landscape-related variables (distance to nearest neighbour (m), mean shape index, edge density (m/ha), mean patch size (ha), number of patches, native vegetation area (ha)). It also contains information on carbon stored in non-zoochoric species, carbon stored in species dispersed by animals and carbon stored in species dispersed by large frugivores.