Data from: Seed size predicts global effects of small mammal seed predation on plant recruitment

We conducted a global literature review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether seed size could predict post-dispersal seed predator effects on seed removal and plant recruitment, respectively. Datasets were built using data extracted from published studies focusing on seed predation by small mammals (see Methods for criteria and data extraction protocol). We found that seed size predicted small mammal seed removal rates and their impacts on plant recruitment consistent with optimal foraging theory, with intermediate seed sizes most strongly impacted globally - for both native and exotic plants. However, differences in seed size distributions among ecosystems conditioned seed predation patterns, with relatively larger-seeded species most strongly affected in grasslands (smallest seeds), and relatively smaller-seeded species most strongly affected in tropical forests (largest seeds). Such size-dependent seed predation has profound implications for coexistence among plants because it may enhance or weaken opposing life-history tradeoffs in an ecosystem-specific manner. Our results suggest that seed size may serve as a key life-history trait that can integrate consumer effects to improve understandings of plant coexistence.本研究开展了一项全球性文献综述与元分析（meta-analysis），旨在探究种子大小能否分别预测扩散后种子捕食者对种子移除及植物补充更新的影响。研究所用数据集源自针对小型哺乳动物种子捕食行为的已发表研究中提取的相关数据，筛选标准与数据提取流程详见方法部分。研究发现，种子大小可有效预测小型哺乳动物的种子移除速率及其对植物补充更新的影响，这一结果与最优觅食理论（optimal foraging theory）相符；全球范围内，无论本土植物还是外来植物，中等大小的种子受捕食影响最为显著。不过，不同生态系统的种子大小分布特征会对种子捕食模式产生调控作用：在草原生态系统中，种子相对更大的物种受捕食影响最为显著，而该生态系统内的种子整体偏小；在热带雨林生态系统中，受影响最显著的则是种子相对更小的物种，而该生态系统内的种子整体偏大。这种依赖种子大小的捕食行为对植物群落共存具有深远影响，因为它会以生态系统特异性的方式强化或削弱植物生活史策略间的权衡关系。本研究结果表明，种子大小可作为一项关键的生活史性状，整合消费者的捕食效应，从而加深我们对植物共存机制的理解。