Acoustic features of the critical syllables in the four conditions of the example materials.

<p>Correct: V+T+; Tone violation: V+T−; Vowel violation: V−T+; Combined violation: V−T−.</p

Reaction times and accuracy rates of the four conditions.

<p>Correct: V+T+; Tone violation: V+T−; Vowel violation: V−T+; Combined violation: V−T−. Error bars indicate the standard error (SE).</p

The hierarchical structure of a seven-character quatrain.

<p>There are four conditions for each experimental quatrain, which differ in the end of the last syllable of the first couplet (Line 2). The critical syllables are underlined. The Pinyin transcription is presented below each line of the quatrain. Correct: V+T+; Tone violation: V+T−; Vowel violation: V−T+; Combined violation: V−T−.</p

Variation of carbon isotope fractionation factors (α) at different depth among study sites.

<p>SF-1 and SF-2 are sites of secondary forest while RG-1 and RG-2 are sites of restored grassland. Error bars are standard error (plot to plot and depth to depth, N = 6).</p

Perceived boundary strength across the six experimental conditions.

<p>Perceived boundary strength across the six experimental conditions.</p

Proportions of the boundaries detected in the six experimental conditions (Error bars represent standard error of the mean).

<p>Proportions of the boundaries detected in the six experimental conditions (Error bars represent standard error of the mean).</p

Perceived boundary strength with naturalness rating as covariate.

<p>Perceived boundary strength with naturalness rating as covariate.</p

The difference in soil C/N ratios among sites (a) and depths (b).

<p>SF-1 and SF-2 are sites of secondary forest while RG-1 and RG-2 are sites of restored grassland. Error bars are standard error (plot to plot and depth to depth, N = 6).</p

The procedures used to create the experimental conditions.

<p>The procedures used to create the experimental conditions.</p

Naturalness rating scores for the six conditions.

<p>Naturalness rating scores for the six conditions.</p