Dispersal-related plant traits are associated with range size in the Atlantic Forest

Aim: The efficiency of animal-mediated seed dispersal is threatened by declines of animal populations, especially in tropical forests. We hypothesise that large-seeded plants with animal-mediated dispersal tend to have limited geographic ranges and face an increased risk of extinction due to the potential decline in seed dispersal by large-bodied fruit-eating and seed-dispersing animals (frugivores)
Location: Atlantic Forest, Brazil, South America
Taxon: Angiosperms
Methods: First, we collected dispersal-related trait (dispersal syndrome, fruit size, seed size), growth form (tree, climber, other) and preferred vegetation type (open, closed) data for 1,052 Atlantic Forest plant species. Next, we integrated these with occurrence records, extinction risk assessments, and phylogenetic trees. Finally, we performed phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) regressions to test the direct and interactive effects of dispersal-related traits and vegetation type on geographical range size.
Res..., Species list and traits
We followed the Brazil Flora Group (2021) to obtain a list of accepted plant species in the Atlantic Forest. We limited our selection to angiosperms native to the Atlantic Forest, resulting in a list of 14,771 species. For those species, we assembled data on nine functional traits: fruit length, fruit width, seed length, seed width, fruit type, fruit colour, growth form, plant height and dispersal syndrome (Fig. 1), as well as information on their vegetation type. We obtained trait information through a literature survey (see Appendix 1 for references) and took measurements from specimens in two Brazilian herbaria: The Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro Herbarium (RB) and The Museum of Biology Mello Leitão Herbarium (MBML). We conducted our literature search using Web of Science, with the following keyword search criteria: ‘dispersal syndrome OR dispersal traits OR seed dispersal OR floristic composition OR phenology AND Atlantic Forest OR Brazil’. We restricted ..., , # Data from: Dispersal-related plant traits are associated with range size in the Atlantic Forest

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2fqz612wm](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2fqz612wm)

Phylogeny, trait data, range size and extinction risk estimates of plant species in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. See data description on how the data were obtained and assembled.

## Description of the data and file structure

Three data files are uploaded: the phylogeny, and two Excel files, one with trait data (raw and processed for analyses) and one with range size and extinction risk estimates.

## Sharing/Access information

Data was derived from the following sources,:

Alberti, L. F., Hirt, J. A. N., Junior, D. B. F. M., Steckel, M., Tombini, C. S., & Longhi, S. J. (2000). Ciência e Natura. Ciência e Natura, 22(22), 145–160. [https://doi.org/10.5902/2179460X27116](https://doi.org/10.5902/2179460X27116)

Alves-Costa, C. P., & Eterovick, P. C. (2007). Seed dispersal services by coatis (Nasua ...