DOI: 10.5061/dryad.nzs7h44wk
title: Data from: Density-dependent reproductive success among sympatric dipterocarps during a major mast fruiting event

description: The files hold the data for the paper entitled "Density-dependent
 reproductive success among sympatric dipterocarps during a major mast
 fruiting event", which includes (i) the weight and status of seeds
 collected with seed traps in a Bornean tropical forest during a mast
 fruiting event, and (ii) the results of a seed sowing experiment in
 primary and secondary forests. Study site was the Deramakot and Tangkulap
 Forest Reserves, Sabah, Malaysia (5°14– 30’N, 117°11–36’E).
description: <em><strong>Description for the data
 (i)</strong></em> A 2-ha vegetation plot (100 m × 200 m) was
 established in 2006–2008 in a primary forest in the Deramakot Forest
 Reserve. Within the 2-ha plot, ten seed traps were arranged at 20-m
 intervals along each of the five parallel 200-m lines. Five additional
 traps were installed at the center of the plot (i.e., 15 traps at the
 center line, see Fig S1 of Aoyagi et al., 2018). The seeds captured by the traps was collected
 biweekly (from April 25, 2010 to December 11, 2012). Collected samples
 were oven-dried at 60 ℃. For data from June to September, samples were
 identified to species level, and the status of the seeds was recorded.
 Seed fate was classified as mature seeds, aborted seeds (apparently
 smaller than mature seeds), seeds predated by insects (a seed with an
 insect hole or a seed with dead insect larvae within it), and broken seeds
 predated by unknown predators (possibly arboreal vertebrates). Seeds of
 different species and statuses were weighed separately. From July 13 to
 27, 2010, data on seed production of each species were
 lost. <em><strong>Description for the data
 (ii)</strong></em> We conducted a seed-sowing experiment with and
 without vertebrate exclusion. Dipterocarp seeds, including <em>S.
 multiflora, P. malaanonan, S. atrinervosa, S. macroptera, Dryobalanops
 lanceolata, S. mecistopteryx</em>, and <em>S. parvifolia
 </em>were collected from forests near the primary forest plot three
 days before starting the experiment (September 7–12, 2010). Seeds with
 fungal and insect attacks or those with apparently smaller sizes than
 other conspecific seeds were discarded before the experiment. In addition,
 the seed wings were cut off before the experiment because wings of some
 species are too large to put in cages to exclude
 vertebrates. Because community-level seed density
 significantly influences dipterocarp seed survival, we conducted the
 experiment at three sites with contrasting seed densities: (1) the primary
 forest plot (high seed density; Deramakot), (2) forests within 500-m
 distance from the edge of the primary forest plot, but with no dipterocarp
 seed production at least 50 m around the site (low seed density), and (3)
 the secondary forest plot (low seed density; Tangkulap). Three replicates
 with no canopy damage, and no understory grass or shrubs were selected
 within each site and were at least 50-m apart from each other. Naturally
 growing small seedlings were removed. Cages made of iron wire (60 × 60 ×
 60 cm) with a mesh size of 1×1 cm were used. These cages can exclude
 small-to-medium-sized predators, such as deer and wild boars, but insects
 and pathogens can attack the seeds inside the cages. For each replicate,
 three groups of seeds were sown for each species. Group 1 was protected
 with cages from vertebrate predators throughout the experimental period
 (denoted as Protected)., while group 2 was not protected (denoted as Out).
 Group 3 was protected first, and the cage was removed after 90% of the
 seeds germinated and stood alone (denoted as Cotyledon_out). Thus, the
 impact of small-to-medium-sized predators on the survival rate of
 seed-stage or early cotyledon stages could be quantified by comparing the
 survival rates of groups 1 and 2 or between the survival rates of groups 1
 and 3, respectively. All surviving seeds germinated within 12 days, and
 the established seedlings were re-censused after five (February 14–20,
 2011) and ten months (July 5–16, 2011).