Insect seed and cone predation reduces reproductive potential of treeline conifers across northern Canada ...

• Main Authors: Brehaut, Lucas, Goodwin, Katie, Reid, Kirsten, Crofts, Anna, Danby, Ryan, Mamet, Steven, Brown, Carissa
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Dryad 2022
• Subjects: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences; boreal forest; black spruce; white spruce; insect granivory; reproductive potential; Seed availability; seed predation; Subarctic; Canada; Newfoundland; Yukon; Tundra
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.79cnp5hz3; https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.79cnp5hz3

Aim: Altitudinal and latitudinal treeline ecotones have not consistently responded to climate warming the in direction and/or magnitude as predicted by climate alone, suggesting that non-climatic mechanisms (e.g., biotic interactions) are also mediating treeline range dynamics. Through a collaborative research approach, we assessed environmental conditions associated with insect cone granivory and how this biotic interaction may govern the reproductive potential, and therefore range dynamics, of spruce-dominated treelines across northern Canada. Location: Ten boreal forest treelines, tundra and alpine, from Yukon to Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Taxa: White spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), Black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), Strobilomyia spp., Megastigmus spp. Methods: Treeline sites were assessed for presence and magnitude of pre-seed dispersal granivory by insects, and viability of available seed was determined. We quantified stand density metrics, organic layer depth, and understory ...