Data from: Responses of native and invasive woody seedlings to combined competition and drought are species-specific

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of drought on the interactions between native and invasive tree species. Organic and inorganic net N uptake capacity and total soluble protein as well as total soluable amino acid contents were quantified in leaves and fine roots of the native species Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus robur L. and Pinus sylvestris L.) and the invasive species Prunus serotina Ehrh. and Robinia pseudoacacia L.. We used a fully orthogonal design with the factors ´water availability´ (i.e. control or drought) and ´competitor´ (i.e. interspecific competition with two or three different competitors). For each species combination, half of the pots did not receive any irrigation for the duration of the experiment, while the other half was watered with tap water every second day. Organic and inorganic net N uptake capacity was quantified using 15N/13C, N metabolites were quantified photometrically. Growth was reduced as a result of competition. Inorganic and organic net N uptake capacity did not change depending on the competitor, but was reduced with drought. Similarly, growth and total soluble protein-N levels were negatively affected by drought, whereas total soluble amino acid-N levels increased. The effects of drought were found across all species.