https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fn2z34txb

Data and file structure

There are two data files in comma-separated format: data1_ovipositions.csv: This file records individual egg-laying events for females over time. Each row is one oviposition check, with dates, number of eggs laid, timing since first/previous oviposition, batch info, and interval censoring variables used to estimate when oviposition actually occurred. and data2_matingtrials.csv: This file summarizes female life-history and mating outcomes. Each row is one female, with birth and mating dates, age at mating, whether she laid eggs, total eggs produced, first/last oviposition intervals, and death timing (with censoring).

These are downloadable but incorporated as part of the script file (see below).

Code

The complete R script and output of the statistical analyses are all incorporated into the html rended file from aanR Markdown script: TardigradeSpermStorageAnalyses.html. This script analyzes reproductive patterns in tardigrades using Bayesian statistical models. First, it loads and cleans two datasets: one describing egg‑laying events and another describing mating trials, with dates converted to proper formats and variables prepared for analysis. Then several models are run using the brms package: (1) a logistic model tests whether young and old females differ in their probability of laying eggs, finding no meaningful difference; (2) a geometric survival model examines whether egg‑laying affects longevity, again finding no strong effect; (3) a negative binomial model assesses whether total fecundity differs by age, with young individuals trending toward more eggs but with high uncertainty; (4) two models estimate sperm‑storage duration, showing females use stored sperm for about 15 days or roughly 57% of their post‑mating lifespan; and (5) a mixed‑effects geometric model estimates the interval between egg clutches, averaging about 9 days. Altogether, the analysis provides early quantitative insight into tardigrade sperm storage and reproductive timing.