Data_Limoselle1

We measured functional and performance traits on <i>L. australis</i> plants at the clone and ramet levels to (i) determine the ramet responses to temperature × plant-plant interaction and (ii) assess the influence of potential modifications of the decomposition process on plant growth. At the ramet level, we measured the height, SLA, LDMC, LCC, LNC, and leaf C:N ratio to characterize resource acquisition and conservation strategies, as these traits are known to respond to temperature and plant–plant interaction and to be effect traits for the litter decay rate.In addition, the total dry mass of the ramet (<i>i.e.</i>, sum of the biomasses of stems, leaves, roots, and one clonal internode) was measured as a proxy of its performance. At the clone level, the total dry mass and number of ramets were measured as proxies of clone performance.Moreover, to determine the effects of temperature on litter decay rate, five replicates of litterbags with the same litter characteristics were placed at each of the three tested temperatures (13°C, 18°C, and 23°C). To estimate the timing of experiment termination, we placed three additional pots (standard) containing litter bags with random characteristics at each temperature and monitored the loss of mass from these bags over time. We calculated the litter decay rate "k" for each litter bag following an exponential decay model.