Germination niche breadth of invasive Iris pseudacorus (L.) suggests continued recruitment from seeds with climate warming

Understanding recruitment processes of invasive species is central to conservation and management strategies. Iris pseudacorus,an emergent macrophyte, has established invasive populations across a broad global range where it reduces biodiversity in wetland ecosystems. Climate warming is altering cues that drive germination, yet studies on the invasion of wetland macrophytes often ignore germination ecology despite its importance to their establishment and spread.

The dataset includes data generated from a series of experiments conducted to improve understanding of the recruitment process of Iris pseudacorus (L.) in its invasive range. We explored germination of seeds from invasive I. pseudacorus populations in California in response to seed coat presence or absence, and environmental factors. Using experimental results in a thermal time model, we derived germination temperature thresholds.

I. pseudacorus seeds did not require cold or warm stratification to germinate. We found germ...