Rock n’ Seeds: Seed Traits and Germination Data from Brazilian Rock Outcrops

Rock n’ Seeds is a database of seed functional traits and germination experiments for Brazilian rock outcrop vegetation. It includes 16 seed traits for 383 taxa across 148 genera, 50 families, and 25 orders, compiled from study sites across all six Brazilian biomes. The dataset also compiles primary data from 48 germination experiments, totaling 10,187 records, assessing dormancy-breaking treatments and responses to abiotic and biotic factors.

Use Cases

• Analyzing seed trait distributions and relationships based on 16 functional traits including dispersal, production, morphological, biophysical, and germination traits.
• Modeling germination responses to environmental cues based on 48 experiments testing temperature, photoperiod, fire-related cues, and other abiotic factors.
• Studying dormancy mechanisms and the efficacy of dormancy-breaking treatments like scarification and hormone application.
• Investigating intraspecific variability and biotic interactions on seed germination based on compiled experimental records.

Strengths

• Includes 383 taxa across 148 genera, 50 families, and 25 orders, providing a broad taxonomic scope.
• Compiles data from 48 germination experiments, resulting in 10,187 individual records.
• Covers all six Brazilian biomes (Atlantic Forest, Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pampa, Pantanal), offering wide geographic representation.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Row count for the main trait table is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Carlos A. Ordóñez‐Parra

Collection Method

Data was collected in several study sites across Brazil.

Geography

Brazil, including locations from all six Brazilian biomes: Atlantic Forest, Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pampa, and Pantanal.