Phenotypic measurements of Howea belmoreana and Howea forsteriana from a common garden experiment on Lord Howe Island

The dataset describes the results of a long-term common garden experiment. Seeds of Howea belmoreana and Howea forsteriana were planted in 140 boxes (50 seeds per box; 7000 seeds in total) and grown outdoors under shade canopies at the Lord Howe Island Nursery, Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia. Seeds were collected wild from six locations on Lord Howe Island. They were then planted in two native soil types from the island: calcareous and volcanic soil. For half of the replicates for each soil type-species combination, the soil was sterilised with an industrial soil steamer. Boxes were then sealed and left to germinate and establish. After 14 months, survival rate was recorded for each replicate box and plant height and leaf number was recorded for all surviving seedlings. At this point all seedlings were re-potted into individual pots and their order was randomised. After another 16 months, seedling survival, leaf number and height were again recorded. Half of the seedlings for each soil type-species-sterilisation treatment combination were then subjected to drought conditions for two weeks. Final survival rates were recoded two months after this. The data package contains two datasets. The first records the survival rate of each replicate (50 seed box) at each time point. The second records height, number of leaves and survival for each surviving seedling. Full materials and methods are included in the supplementary information.

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