Assisted migration of cloud forest trees: Unearthing the effects of climatic transfer distance

We planted 30 seedlings of 13 shade-tolerant tropical montane cloud forest tree species in eight forest sites (3120 seedlings in total) along an elevation gradient (1250 to 2429 m a.s.l.) in central-eastern Mexico. We recorded sapling survival and relative growth rate in height (RGRh) and diameter (RGRd) after eight years. We tested the survival and growth response for all species together to the effect of Climatic Transfer Distance (CTD; the difference between the historical climate at the seed source and the current climate at translocation sites) in terms of mean annual temperature (CTD_MAT), maximum and minimum annual temperatures (CTD_Tmax and CTD_Tmin), mean annual precipitation (CTD_MAP), and climate moisture deficit (CTD_CMD). We also tested the sapling response to the climatic variables at the translocation site. We found evidence to support the decline, although slight, in tree sapling survival and growth across tree species with increasing CTD, thus supporting the hypothesis ..., A total of eight forest sites were selected to establish the plantings in field common gardens along an elevation gradient (1250 to 2429 m a.s.l.) in Veracruz, Mexico. In each site, a 50 × 55 m plot was delimited, fenced, and 30 seedlings of each of 13 tropical montane cloud forest tree species were transplanted in May-June 2015. Species were distributed at random within each plot and the individuals were planted ~2.6 m apart. A ~1 m radius around each seedling was weeded at planting time, and again after three, six and 12 months. Survival, height, and diameter at the base of all plants were recorded immediately after planting and after 8 years. The relative growth rates in height and diameter (RGRh and RGRd, respectively) were calculated following Hunt (1982). 
To test the climate sensitivity of the young tree stages, we selected the following five climate variables: mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP), mean minimum temperature in the coldest month (Tmin..., , # Data from: Assisted migration of cloud forest trees: Unearthing the effects of climatic transfer distance

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fttdz0916](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fttdz0916)

We planted 30 seedlings of 13 shade-tolerant tropical montane cloud forest tree species in eight forest sites (3120 seedlings in total) along an elevation gradient (1250 to 2550 m a.s.l.) in central-eastern Mexico. We recorded sapling survival and relative growth rate in height (RGRh) and diameter (RGRd) after eight years. We tested the survival and growth response for all species together to the effect of Climatic Transfer Distance (CTD; the difference between the historical climate at the seed source and the current climate at translocation sites) in terms of mean annual temperature (CTD_MAT), maximum and minimum annual temperatures (CTD_Tmax and CTD_Tmin), mean annual precipitation (CTD_MAP), and climate moisture deficit (CTD-CMD). We also tested the sapling response to the climatic variables a...,