Data supporting: Methodological overview and data-merging approaches in the study of plant-frugivore interactions

Recording species interactions is one of the main challenges in ecological studies. Frugivory has received much attention for decades as a model for mutualisms among free-living species, and a variety of methods have been designed and developed for sampling and monitoring plant–frugivore interactions. The diversity of techniques poses an important challenge when comparing, combining or replicating results from different sources with different methodologies. With the emergence of modern techniques, such as molecular analysis or multimedia remote recorders, issues when combining data from different sources have become especially relevant. We provide an overview of all the techniques used for monitoring endozoochorous primary seed dispersal, focusing on a critical appraisal of the advantages and limitations, as well as the context-dependency nature, of the different methods. We propose five data merging approaches potentially useful to combine frugivory interactions data from different met..., We used two empirical datasets to illustrate data merging approaches, with two different organization levels. Both case studies are focused on plant–frugivore interactions taking place in the Mediterranean shrubland of Doñana National Park, Huelva, Spain. In each case study two sampling methods were used to maximise animal–plant interactions detected.
The first case is an individual-based study on the avian frugivore assemblage of Pistacia lentiscus (Anacardiaceae) in El Puntal area, where monitoring cameras and DNA-barcoding were used to record interactions. Cameras methodology involved placing continuous-monitoring cameras (GoPro Hero® 7 model) facing individual plants. Forty individual plants were filmed for approximately 2 hours in several runs in different days (total of 84.5h). Any avian visitation was recorded as an interaction, yielding a total of 397 visitation records. Cameras were operative from sunrise for 2h and recording was set at maximum resolution. Data resulting from t..., pl_bc.csv - Observation matrix obtained with DNA-barcoding method in El Puntal case study with Pistacia lentiscus individual plants.
pl_cam.csv - Observation matrix obtained with monitoring cameras method in El Puntal case study with Pistacia lentiscus individual plants.
bc_sampling_effort.csv - Sampling effort for DNA-barcoding method in El Puntal case study at Pistacia lentiscus individual plants.
cam_sampling_effort.csv - Sampling effort for monitoring cameras method in El Puntal case study at Pistacia lentiscus individual plants.
----
hr_mn.csv - Observation matrix obtained with mist-netting method in Hato Ratón case study
hr_obs.csv - Observation matrix obtained with focal observations method in Hato Ratón case study