# Early- and late-flowering forbs and recruitment limitation [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.8sf7m0cw7](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.8sf7m0cw7) Data sets from Deever et al. (2023). Please see article for details on data collection and analysis. Two data sets are included, deeveretal2.csv and deeveretal.csv. ### Description of file deeveretal.csv: The first data set (deeveretal.csv) measures abundance of each forb species (hits) as well as all other species in the plot. Variables: * Date: Date of sampling over three years (2019, 2020, 2021) * Site: Eaton, Granada, or Langeson Wildlife Management Areas (blocks) * Col: column (plot location) * Row: row (plot location) * Mix: subplot forb addition treatments of early species (Mpas is *Pulsatilla patens* or pasque flower, Phl is *Phlox pilosa*, and WB or wood betony *Pedicularis canadensis*, which was dropped in analyses due to no establishment); late species (Si is silky aster *Symphyotrichum sericeus*, Gold is *Solidago nemoralis,* and NE is *Symphyotrichum nova-angliae*, or New England aster); the three early species combined (keeping density constant) E3; the late species combined (keeping density constant) L3; or all six species (E+L). * SorT: forbs added as seeds (S) or transplants (T) in subplots * Mow: Mowing or No Mowing of main plots, * Rep: Replicate number of main plot, * Seeded: Species was a target forb (P), seeded in the restoration seed mix (Y) or was a native (VN) or exotic (VE) volunteer (i.e., not in the seed mix) * Species: Taxon * GrassForb: Grass (G) or forb (F) * Hits: Cover or abundance - hits on a point intercept pin, with all hits combined for each plot. ### Description of file deeveretal2.csv: The data set deeveretal2.csv includes data on number of individuals and forb biomass per plot as follows: Variables: * Ref: Sample number * Col: column (plot location) * Row: row (plot location) * Mix: subplot forb addition treatments of early species (Mpas is *Pulsatilla patens* or pasque flower, Phl is *Phlox pilosa*, and WB or wood betony *Pedicularis canadensis*, which was dropped in analyses due to no establishment); late species (Si is silky aster *Symphyotrichum sericeus*, Gold is *Solidago nemoralis,* and NE is *Symphyotrichum nova-angliae*, or New England aster); the three early species combined (keeping density constant) E3; the late species combined (keeping density constant) L3; or all six species (E+L). * SorT: forbs added as seeds (S) or transplants (T) in subplots * Spp: Forb species identity * Mow: Mowing or No Mowing of main plots, * Time: Date of sampling over three years (2019, 2020, 2021) * Rep: Replicate number of main plot, * N: number of individuals per plot * Ht: Height of plants in cm * AvgWidth: Average plant basal area (cm) * Biomass: Biomass of forbs per plot (g)

We conducted an experiment to test whether three early- and three late-flowering forb species are seed or recruitment limited, if mowing can incluence this limitation, and if forb additions will impact overal plant diversity in ongoing restorations. A split-plot design was initiated with mowing or no mowing in main plots, and forb additions (transplants or seeds, single species or mixtures) in suplots at three sites. Target forb biomass, survivorship and percent cover were sampled over three years (2019-2021). target forb total biomass (all individuals combined per plot) was much higher when transplants were added than when seeds were added. Plant diversity measures were estimated within subplots to determine if forb additions impacted diversity. Plant diversity was higher when forbs were transplanted, than when they were seeded, and diversity increased linearly with the number of forb species added. Mowed and unmowed plots had similar diversity and forb abundances. We recommend transplanting a rich mix of early and late flowering forbs to increase their biomass and ensure flowering throughout the growing season in prairie restorations.

Point intercept sampling of the plant community. Survival and biomass of added seeds and transplants, with an without mowing. For further details, please see Deever et al. (2023)