Disentangling the effects of population mixing and propagule amount in rare plant translocations

Genetic diversity and propagule amount have been identified as crucial factors influencing the success of plant translocations. Population mixing, serving as an indicator of higher genetic diversity, might enhance overall plant fitness and resilience, while a higher propagule amount can help buffer against environmental variability. However, mixing populations could potentially reduce individual plant fitness in translocations, possibly due to maladaptation, and a higher propagule amount might lead to higher competition among individuals or attract more pests and pathogens. To better understand the impact of population mixing and propagule amount on the early fitness of translocated plants, we transplanted material from either single or mixed source populations and varied the propagule amount by introducing different quantities of plants into translocation plots for four threatened herbaceous species in Switzerland. We recorded survival, flowering status, and the number of inflorescence..., Four rare and threatened plant species were reintroduced in their historic distribution range in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland. There is one reintroduction per species. At each reintroduction site, individuals of a given species were planted in plots: A full factorial design with six rectangular plots representing all combinations of single and mixed populations and two propagule-amount levels was used. In mixed-population plots, individuals from both source populations per species were mixed. For half of the single-population plots, we used individuals exclusively from the first source population, and for the remaining half, individuals from the second source population. Mixed-population plots are expected to have a greater diversity of genotypes and phenotypes compared with single-population plots. The propagule amount was manipulated by planting four times as many plants in high propagule-amount plots compared to low propagule-amount plots. To maintain a constant propagule densit..., # Disentangling the effects of population mixing and propagule amount in rare plant translocations

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.1c59zw476](10.5061/dryad.1c59zw476)

## Description of the data and file structure

**Disentangling the effects of population mixing and propagule amount in rare plant translocations**

### Files and variables

Two datasets are provided:

PRULAC_CAMCER_dataset_DRYAD.csv is the dataset with the data from the reintroductions of *Prunella laciniata* and *Campanula cervicaria*.

POAREM_CICVIR_dataset_DRYAD.csv is the dataset with the data from the reintroductions of *Poa remota* and *Cicuta virosa*.

**Description of the data and file structure**

PRULAC_CAMCER_dataset_DRYAD.csv dataset contains Nb of columns: 44 Nb of rows: 901. A row corresponds to one reintroduced plant individual.

POAREM_CICVIR_dataset_DRYAD.csv dataset contains Nb of columns: 40 Nb of rows: 1051. A row corresponds to one reintroduced plant individual.

Both datasets share the same structure a...,