Data from: Use of alpha, beta, and gamma diversity measures to characterize seed dispersal by animals

Seed dispersal shapes ecological and evolutionary dynamics of plant populations. Here, we extend classical diversity measures to study the impact of disperser behavior on seed dispersal. We begin by extending our previous diversity structure approach, which partitioned seed source diversity within and among dispersal sites, into the more general framework of traditional diversity measures. This statistical approach allows an assessment of the extent to which foraging behavior shapes α and γ diversity, as well as the divergence in seed sources among dispersal sites, which we call δ. We also introduce tests to facilitate comparisons of diversity among dispersal sites and seed vectors and to compare overall diversity among sampled systems. We then apply these tools to investigate the diversity blend of parentage resulting from seed dispersal by two avian seed vectors with very different social and foraging behaviors: (1) acorn woodpeckers, transporting Quercus agrifolia acorns, and (2) long-wattled umbrellabirds, transporting Oenocarpus bataua palm nuts. Using these diversity and divergence measures, we test the hypothesis that different foraging behaviors generate distinctive diversity partitions for the two focal tree species. This approach provides a new tool for assessment of the impact of dispersal agents on the seed source structure of plant populations, which can be extended to include the impact of virtually any propagule vector for a range of systems.

种子扩散塑造植物种群的生态与进化动态。本研究将经典多样性测度方法加以拓展，用以探讨扩散者行为对种子扩散过程的影响。我们首先将此前的多样性结构方法——该方法将种子来源多样性划分为扩散位点内部与扩散位点间的组分——拓展至传统多样性测度的更通用框架中。该统计方法可用于评估觅食行为对α多样性与γ多样性的塑造程度，以及扩散位点间种子来源的分化程度，我们将该分化程度记为δ。本研究还引入了一系列检验方法，以方便对不同扩散位点、不同种子传播媒介间的多样性，以及不同采样系统间的整体多样性进行比较。随后，我们将这些工具应用于两种社会行为与觅食行为差异显著的鸟类种子传播媒介所介导的种子扩散所产生的亲本谱系多样性混合模式的研究：(1) 橡子啄木鸟，传播加利福尼亚栎（Quercus agrifolia）的橡子；(2) 长耳垂伞鸟，传播南美油棕（Oenocarpus bataua）的棕榈坚果。借助上述多样性与分化测度方法，我们验证如下假说：不同的觅食行为会为两种目标树种生成具有特异性的多样性组分模式。该方法为评估传播媒介对植物种群种子来源结构的影响提供了全新工具，且可拓展应用于各类生态系统中几乎所有繁殖体传播媒介的相关研究。