Data from: Interspecific functional convergence and divergence and intraspecific negative density dependence underlie the seed-to-seedling transition in tropical trees

The seed-to-seedling transition constitutes a critical bottleneck in the
life history of plants and represents a major determinant of species
composition and abundance. However, we have surprisingly little knowledge
regarding the forces driving this ontogenetic transition. Here we utilize
information regarding organismal function to investigate the strength of
intra- and interspecific negative density dependence during the
seed-to-seedling transition in Puerto Rican tree species. Our analyses
were implemented at individual sites and across an entire 16-ha forest
plot, spanning 6 years. The functional richness of seedling assemblages
was significantly lower than expected given the seed assemblages, but the
functional evenness was significantly higher than expected, indicating the
simultaneous importance of constraints on the overall phenotypic space and
trait differences for successful transitions from seed to seedling. The
results were consistent across years. Within species, we also found
evidence for strong intraspecific negative density dependence, where the
probability of transition was proportionally lower when in a site with
high conspecific density. These results suggest that filtering of similar
phenotypes across species and strong negative density dependence within
and among species are simultaneously driving the structure and dynamics of
tropical tree assemblages during this critical life-history transition.