DOI: 10.5061/dryad.244sn
title: Data from: Do large-seeded herbs have a small range size? The seed mass-distribution range trade-off hypothesis

description: We aimed to introduce and test the “seed mass–distribution range
 trade-off” hypothesis, that is, that range size is negatively related to
 seed mass due to the generally better dispersal ability of smaller seeds.
 Studying the effects of environmental factors on the seed mass and range
 size of species, we also aimed to identify habitats where species may be
 at risk and need extra conservation effort to avoid local extinctions. We
 collected data for seed mass, global range size, and indicators for
 environmental factors of the habitat for 1,600 species of the Pannonian
 Ecoregion (Central Europe) from the literature. We tested the relationship
 between species’ seed mass, range size, and indicator values for soil
 moisture, light intensity, and nutrient supply. We found that seed mass is
 negatively correlated with range size; thus, a seed mass–distribution
 range trade-off was validated based on the studied large species pool. We
 found increasing seed mass with decreasing light intensity and increasing
 nutrient availability, but decreasing seed mass with increasing soil
 moisture. Range size increased with increasing soil moisture and nutrient
 supply, but decreased with increasing light intensity. Our results
 supported the hypothesis that there is a trade-off between seed mass and
 distribution range. We found that species of habitats characterized by low
 soil moisture and nutrient values but high light intensity values have
 small range size. This emphasizes that species of dry, infertile habitats,
 such as dry grasslands, could be more vulnerable to habitat fragmentation
 or degradation than species of wet and fertile habitats. The remarkably
 high number of species and the use of global distribution range in our
 study support our understanding of global biogeographic processes and
 patterns that are essential in defining conservation priorities.
description: ECE-2017-06-00864.R1-DryadDistribution, range size category and indicator values for soil moisture (WB), light intensity (LB) and nutrient supply (NB) are based on Horváth et al. (1995). TSW stands for thousand-seed mass. Citations: Csontos, P., Tamás, J. & Balogh, L. (2003). Thousand-seed weight records of species from the flora of Hungary, I. Monocotyledonopsida. Studia Botanica Hungarica, 34, 121-126.; Csontos, P., Tamás, J. & Balogh, L. (2007). Thousand-seed weight records of species from the flora of Hungary, II. Dicotyledonopsida. Studia Botanica Hungarica, 38, 179-189.; Horváth, F., Dobolyi, K., Morschhauser, T., Lőkös, L., Karas, L. & Szerdahelyi, T. (1995). Flóra adatbázis 1.2. Taxon-lista és attribútum állomány. MTA ÖBKI, Vácrátót. [Flora database 1.2, List of taxa and attributes.]; Kleyer, M., Bekker, R. M., Knevel, I. C., Bakker, J. P., Thompson, K., Sonnenschein, M., … Peco, B. (2008). The LEDA Traitbase: a database of life-history traits of Northwest European flora. Journal of Ecology, 96, 1266-1274.; Liu, K., Eastwood, R. J., Flynn, S., Turner, R. M. & Stuppy W. H. (2008). Seed information database. (release 7.1, May 2008) http://www.kew.org/data/sid; Török, P., Miglécz, T., Valkó, O., Tóth, K., Kelemen, A., Albert, Á-J., … Tóthmérész, B. (2013). New thousand-seed weight records of the Pannonian flora and their application in analysing social behaviour types. Acta Botanica Hungarica, 55, 429-472.; Török P., Tóth, E., Tóth, K. Valkó, O., Deák, B., Kelbert, B., … Tóthmérész, B. (2016). New measurements of thousand-seed weights of species in the Pannonian flora. Acta Botanica Hungarica, 58, 187-198.; Schermann, S. (1967). Magismeret I–II. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest.