Arnst, E.A. et al. Resource competition, not facilitation, structures gravel beach plant communities. Journal of Vegetation Science.

Description of data files
1.	Observational survey of Tangoio -Species observed in quadrats
Quadrat: Name of the quadrat – amalgamation of the site name, transect number and quadrat number.
SpeciesCode: Six letter species code (first three letters of the genus and first three letters of the species) following Hurst and Allen (2007).
Cover: Modified Braun-Blanquet cover score, following Hurst and Allen (2007).


2.	Observational survey of Birdlings Flat 
a.	Species observed in quadrats
Quadrat: Name of the quadrat – amalgamation of the site name, transect number and quadrat number.
SpeciesCode: Six letter species code (first three letters of the genus and first three letters of the species) following Hurst and Allen (2007).
Cover: Modified Braun-Blanquet cover score, following Hurst and Allen (2007).

b.	Site characteristics measured in quadrats
Quadrat: Name of the quadrat – amalgamation of the site name, transect number and 
High tide: Distance (m) from the high tide mark
Max veg height: Height (cm) of the tallest plant
Mean part size: The mean particle size (mm)
Depth to fines: Depth (cm) to particles < 2 mm in diameter
Volume stones:  Proportion of stones (2 mm to 256 mm diameter) in a subsample of the top 10 cm of substrate
Volume sand: Proportion of sand (< 2 mm diameter) in a subsample of the top 10 cm of substrate

3.	Exotic facilitation experiment at Tangoio -Survival of shrub seedlings planted in three experimental treatments
Treatment: Treatment applied to the quadrat – Gazania plants left; Gazania plants removed; or bare gravel. 
Species: Species of shrub planted
Transect: Name of the transect
DistOrig: Distance (m) from the transect origin
GazCount10: Count of the number of individual Gazania plants in a quadrat in 2010 (prior to treatments being applied)
GazCover10: Percentage cover Gazania plants in a quadrat in 2010 (prior to treatments being applied)
GazCount12: Count of the number of individual Gazania plants in a quadrat in 2012
GazCover12: Percentage cover Gazania plants in a quadrat in 2012
Alive2010: Number of shrub species alive in each quadrat in 2010 (i.e. the number planted)
Alive2011: Number of shrub species alive in each quadrat in 2011
Alive2012: Number of shrub species alive in each quadrat in 2012

4.	Native facilitation experiment at Birdlings Flat -Survival of shrub seedlings planted in factorial experiment
Pair: Number of the paired shrub/gravel site
Cover: Whether the seedling was planted under a shrub or in bare gravel
ShrubHeight: The maximum height of the nurse shrub (if applicable, zero if bare gravel)
SeedlingSpecies: The species of the shrub seedling being planted
MeanPartSize: The mean particle size (mm)
DepthFines: Depth (cm) to particles < 2 mm in diameter
DistSea: Distance (m) from the high tide mark
Treatment: The treatment applied – application of fertileer; water; both water and fertiliser;  or no treatment
Mortality: The state (Alive or Dead) of the shrub seedling at the end of the experiment



Hurst, J. & Allen, R. 2007. A permanent plot method for monitoring indigenous forests: field protocols, Landcare Research New Zealand.