Ant presence increases fruit set and traits of the distylous pericarpial nectary-bearing Declieuxia fruticosa (Rubiaceae) in the Brazilian savana

This dataset supports a study investigating the effects of ant presence on the reproductive success of the distylous plant Declieuxia fruticosa (Rubiaceae). The species produces pericarpal nectaries (PNs) that attract ants, which may act as plant bodyguards by deterring herbivores, while potentially interfering with floral visitors and pollination. To test the net effects of these interactions on plant fitness, a field experiment was conducted in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The dataset includes: (1) fruit production (number of fruits per branch) under control and ant-exclusion treatments, (2) fruit morphological traits (length, width, height, and weight), (3) timing of pollen availability and stigma receptivity, and (4) observational data on floral visitors and herbivores. These data were obtained from standardized experimental and observational protocols across both floral morphotypes (longistylous and brevistylous). All values are accompanied by metadata describing sampling design, units, and treatment categories. The dataset is intended to facilitate future meta-analyses and comparative studies on plant–ant interactions, multitrophic dynamics, and reproductive ecology in tropical systems.