Data for: Shifts in plant-invertebrate interactions between wild and ex-situ conservation populations of a critically endangered tree

Ex-situ conservation is an effective approach to prevent the extinction of endangered species. Biotic interactions (eg herbivory and pollination) are critical to ex-situ conservation success, including plant establishment, survival, and reproduction. However, shifts in biotic interactions between wild and ex-situ populations are still poorly understood.  We compared herbivory and pollination characteristics between the only wild population (WP) and three ex-situ populations (LP, local population, nearby WP; NP, north population, ca. 850 km; and SP, south population, ca. 750 km) of a critically endangered tree species (Sinojackia huangmeiensis) to explore the latitudinal changes in plant-invertebrate interactions.  Larvae of the Limacodidae family were the dominant herbivores in WP, LP, and NP, while the only herbivore observed in SP was a snail. Compared to WP, the leaf herbivory rate was unchanged in LP but decreased in NP and SP. Leaf defense traits (total phenols, tannins, leaf thick..., , , # Data for: Shifts in plant-invertebrate interactions between wild and ex-situ conservation populations of a critically endangered tree

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.vhhmgqp28](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.vhhmgqp28)

## Description of the data and file structure

The data in this file includes leaf herbivory rate, total phenols, tannins, leaf thickness, leaf dry matter content, pollinator visiting frequency, number of flowers per branch, fruit mass, number of fruits per branch, and fruit set.

All these variables are observed or measured from one wild and three ex-situ conservation populations of an endangered tree species endemic to central China.

There are four populations.

WP: Wild population

LP: Local ex-situ population

NP: North ex-situ population

SP: South ex-situ population

The sample sizes of different variables of each population are varied. The sample size of leaf herbivory rate, total phenols, tannins, leaf thickness, and leaf dry matter content is 15. The sample si...