Data from: Latitudinal pattern of flowering synchrony in an invasive wind-pollinated plant

Flowering synchrony can play an important role in plants’ reproductive
success, which is essential for the successful establishment and spread of
invasive plants. Although flowering synchrony has been found to be closely
related to climatic factors, the effects of variation in such factors
along latitudinal gradients on flowering synchrony, and the role of
flowering synchrony in the reproductive success of invading populations
remain largely unexplored. In a two-year field study, we examined the
latitudinal variation of flowering phenology, especially flowering
synchrony, in the invasive plant, Spartina alterniflora, along coastal
China, and its relationship with population seed set across three climatic
zones. We found that first flowering date was delayed, and flowering
synchrony increased with increasing latitude. Flowering synchrony was
negatively related to temperature during flowering season but not to soil
properties or precipitation, suggesting that climate has shaped the
latitudinal pattern of flowering synchrony. Moreover, a positive
correlation between flowering synchrony and seed set across latitudes
indicates the possible role of flowering synchrony in the latitudinal
pattern of sexual reproduction in S. alterniflora. These results suggest
that, in addition to the effects of climate on the growth of invasive
species, climatic factors can play an important role in the invasion
success of alien plants by regulating the flowering synchrony and thus the
reproductive success of invasive plants.