Data extracted from population genetic studies of riparian plants

In riparian zones along rivers, plant demography is shaped by hydrologic disturbances, the dendritic structure of the river networks, and asymmetric gene flow due to the prevalence of unidirectional dispersal by hydrochory. Downstream-biased dispersal may lead to the accumulation of genetic diversity in populations situated lower within the catchment area – a phenomenon referred to as ‘downstream increase in intraspecific genetic diversity’ (DIGD). Our study aimed to test if the presence of this pattern in riparian plants depends on the species traits, sampling design, and ecosystem integrity. We extracted data from population genetic studies of riparian plants to analyze factors linked to the pattern.