Data for "Salt marsh restoration surprise: A subordinate species accumulates and shares nitrogen while outcompeting salt marsh dominants" by Morzaria-Luna & Zedler

We examined the effect of salt marsh halophyte Triglochin concinna on biomass and N accumulation on the 8-species assemblage of common marsh plain halophytes. Initially, we obtained background 15N values of the eight common salt marsh plain species from a restored marsh. Then, in field and greenhouse experiments, we labeled T. concinna plants using 15N enriched fertilizer and incorporated them into the assemblages with the remaining seven species assemblages. As T. concinna biomass decomposed, we expected a loss of the 15N label and uptake by other species. Transfer of N was measured as 15N movement from T. concinna tissues to other species, and evidenced by an increase in δ15N in marsh plain halophytes' tissue relative to background levels. We assessed uptake of 15N by other plants in the species assemblage after plants had grown 14 months in the field and 13 months in the greenhouse, following senescence of T. concinna. Data includes root and shoot biomass for field and greenhouse experiments, 15N values and plot salinity