Data from: Spatial mid-domain effect overrides climate, soil properties and microbes on a cosmopolitan non-native plant across elevation

Climate warming and anthropogenic activities have led to an increase in
the prevalence of non-native plants in mountainous regions that previously
exhibited limited occurrences. This phenomenon has resulted in detrimental
effects on endemic plants and ecosystem functions. However, the variation
in traits of non-native plants that successfully spread to high
elevations, as well as the underlying drivers of these changes, remains
poorly understood. In this study, we use Erigeron annuus, a cosmopolitan
non-native plant that has invaded high elevations, as our model to explore
its individual biomass pattern along a 1900 m elevation gradient. We also
contrast this pattern with that of the native Artemisia lavandulifolia,
which has the same distribution range as E. annuus. We found that the
biomass of E. annuus displayed a hump-shape pattern along elevation, while
the biomass of the native A. lavandulifolia gradually decreased with
increasing elevation. By evaluating the effects of climate variables, soil
properties, rhizosphere fungal communities, and their spatial mid-domain
effect (i.e., geographic limitation) on plant biomass, we found that the
biomass of E. annuus was primarily influenced by the spatial mid-domain
effect, while the biomass of A. lavandulifolia resulted from a complex
interplay of climatic variables and rhizosphere microbial communities. Our
findings emphasize the importance of a spatial mid-domain effect on the
growth of non-native E. annuus across elevation, indicating that the
impact of E. annuus is probably greatest at mid-elevations and thus, where
management priority should be set. Further investigations considering more
non-native plant species and species’ traits will allow us to scrutinize
this vision.