DOI: 10.5061/dryad.j9kd51cgc
title: Genet dynamics and its variation among genets of a clonal plant Convallaria keiskei

description: In clonal plant populations, a number of genetically identical ramets form
 a genet. While coexisting ramets potentially perform independently, their
 behaviours not only depend on ages and sizes but are also constrained by
 genetic background. In this study, genet dynamics and its variability
 among neighbouring genets were investigated based on the ramet demography
 of each genet in Convallaria keiskei. Genet dynamics were first formulated
 as a matrix model with the two components of clonal growth (clonal
 reproduction) and survival-transitions between ramet size classes. Then, a
 statistical estimation of the matrix elements was established using three
 datasets: aboveground demographic censuses, belowground directional
 rhizomatous connections and genetic identification of ramets. Finally,
 genet growth rates reflecting both the changes of clonal growth and ramet
 size growth were estimated and compared for fundamental demographic
 elements among genets. Over three years of aboveground annual censuses of
 a 28 × 2 m plot, 2,021 ramets were identified as belonging to 28
 genotypes. Belowground excavation detected 515 clonal fragments. Genet
 growth rate of three dominant genets varied with medians of 1.13, 1.02 and
 1.05; 95% credible intervals of the posterior distributions did not
 overlap between the genet with the largest median and the others. The
 variation was caused primarily by differences in clonal growth rather than
 survival-transitions between size classes. Clonal growth by branching was
 rarer than at the tips but contributed to the maintenance of the genet.
 Therefore, both clonal growth frequencies and connecting patterns of
 ramets caused the variation of genet dynamics and established genets
 persist for a long time through the positive growth rates, which would
 contribute to maintaining a population. We also conclude that fundamental
 demographic elements relating to clonal growth traits (the features of
 individual genets) strongly impact genet dynamics.
description: In 2005, a long rectangular plot (28 × 2
 m) was established for the present study within the original plot
 (coordinates<em> X </em>= 20–48, <em>Y
 </em>= 50–52 in Araki et
 al. 2007). Fifty-six 1 × 1 m subplots were also laid out in the plot.
 Aboveground demographic censuses were performed in June and July from 2005
 to 2007. In the first year, all aerial shoots observed in the 28 × 2 m
 plot were carefully marked and mapped. For each shoot, the number of
 leaves was counted and the length of the longest leaf (leaf size) was
 measured. The fate of leaves and successive changes in leaf number and
 size at marked shoots were recorded and re-measured until
 2007. Leaf tissues of
 all ramets appearing in 2005 and newly emerging in 2006 and 2007 within
 the 28 × 2 m plot were collected after they were measured. Genotypes were
 detected by six microsatellite markers.
description: <em>Data
 description</em> 
 Birth year: The first year
 when ramets were identified. "2005" means 2005 or earlier. For
 some ramets, the year was adjusted by below-ground
 information. Genotype: e-1, e-2, e-3, and e-4 show dominant
 genotypes; 1001-3007 are minor genotypes; "-" means genotypes
 were unidentified. Leaf no: "-" means an unemerged ramet
 after it was identified once or the ramet was not
 born. Leaf size: "-" means that the size
 couldn't be measured. 
 <em>Additional
 information</em> For belowground information, we show the summary
 data as an Appendix of the manuscript. The raw data is available by
 contacting the corresponding author.