Data from: Evidence of a component Allee effect driven by predispersal seed predation in a plant (Pedicularis rex, Orobanchaceae)

A small or sparse population may suffer a reduction in fitness due to
Allee effects. Here we explored effects of plant density on pollination,
reproduction and predation in the alpine herb Pedicularis rex over two
years. We did not detect a significant difference in pollination rate or
fecundity (fruit set and initial seed set) before predation between sparse
and dense patches in either year, indicating no pollination-driven Allee
effect. However, dense patches experienced significantly fewer attacks by
predispersal seed predators in both years, resulting in a significantly
decreased realized fecundity (final seed set) and suggesting a component
Allee effect driven by predispersal seed predation. Predation-driven Allee
effects have been predicted by many models and demonstrated for a range of
animals, but there is scant evidence for such effects in plants. Our study
provides strong evidence of a component Allee effect driven by predation
in a plant species.