Data on foliar nutrient concentration of invasive plants in the recipient habitat and their native habitat

Higher foliar nitrogen concentration in plants is often attributed to higher biomass assimilation and subsequently higher plant growth rate. To understand the underlying mechanism of extensive growth rate of an invasive plant, Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum), we analyzed the leaf tissue samples from the native and invaded habitats. In each habitat we selected 3 different locations with varying habitat characteristics (soil type, land use history and coexisting vegetation). Plant aboveground tissue collected from each site were analyzed for macro and micro nutrients. Total C and N were measured with a Truspec CN Analyzer. Total Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Mn, and P in plant tissue samples were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP –MS). Here we present the difference in foliar nutrient concentration of invasive plant species in their native habitats and invaded habitats.


a b s t r a c t
Higher foliar nitrogen concentration in plants is often attributed to higher biomass assimilation and subsequently higher plant growth rate. To understand the underlying mechanism of extensive growth rate of an invasive plant, Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum), we analyzed the leaf tissue samples from the native and invaded habitats. In each habitat we selected 3 different locations with varying habitat characteristics (soil type, land use history and coexisting vegetation). Plant aboveground tissue collected from each site were analyzed for macro and micro nutrients. Total C and N were measured with a Truspec CN Analyzer. Total Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Mn, and P in plant tissue samples were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP eMS). Here we present the difference in foliar nutrient concentration of invasive plant species in their native habitats and invaded habitats.

Data
We present the data collected from an extensive survey of a highly invasive plant, Lygodium microphyllum, in its native habitat in Queensland, Australia and recipient habitat in Florida, United States (Fig. 1). The difference in above ground growth of L. microphyllum in both the habitats is presented in Fig. 2. Data on the variation in the plant tissue nutrient content is presented in Table 1.

Sampling sites
Leaf tissue samples of wild L. microphyllum were collected from 3 different locations each in south Florida and Queensland, Australia (Fig. 1). In each location young, fully-grown aboveground plant tissue samples were collected from 6 different plants selected randomly resulting a total of 36 samples.

Sample processing and analysis
The plant tissue samples were dried in an oven at 60 C for one week and finely ground using a mortar and pestle.  (2), 81e90 [1].

Value of the Data
To our knowledge this is the first comparative data on foliar nutrients concentration of an invasive plants growing in their native habitats and in the invaded or recipient habitats. This dataset can potentially provide some insight on the extensive aboveground growth and nutrient turnover rate of an invasive species in the recipient habitats. This data can be useful to researchers studying the ecology of exotic invasive plants.
Samples for ICP-MS analysis were prepared following the slightly modified acid digestion method [2]. 0.5 g of finely ground plant tissue samples were transferred to large glass tubes and mixed with 10 ml of 30% HNO 3 . The tubes were covered with a vapor recovery system and heated to 95±5 C and refluxed for 10 minutes without boiling under the hood in a heating block maintained with a Partlow Mic 6000 Profile Process Controller. After cooling to 40 C, 2 ml of DI water and 3 ml of 30% H 2 O 2 was added and heated until the effervescence subsided. The samples were cooled and diluted to 50 ml with DI water, centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 10 minutes and filtered with a Whatman No. 41 filter paper.

Data analysis
Data on the foliar nutrient concentration were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS Version 9.2 software. Means were separated using Fisher LSD (P-values 0.05).