Time spares no male: The age-dependent decline of olfactory attractiveness in red flour beetles Tribolium castaneum
Data files
Dec 09, 2025 version files 22.44 KB
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data_Kikuchi___Matsumura_(2025).xlsx
18.83 KB
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README.md
3.61 KB
Abstract
This dataset accompanies a study investigating how male age affects olfactory attractiveness and locomotor activity in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. The Excel file includes four sheets: female responses to odors from different males (inter-individual), responses to the same males at different ages (intra-individual), and walking activity before and after mating. Variables include male age, latency to contact odor sources, and walking distance. The dataset supports reuse in behavioral ecology, chemical communication, and senescence studies. All data are original and free of restrictions under the CC0 waiver.
Authors
Hinata Kikuchi¹, Kentarou Matsumura²*
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Tokyo, Japan
*Corresponding author: matsumura@g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
1. Description of the dataset
This dataset supports the study on how male age affects olfactory attractiveness and locomotor activity in Tribolium castaneum. It includes behavioral trials measuring female responses to male odors and walking activity of males before and after mating.
The Excel file contains four sheets:
- inter-individual – female response to odors from different males (young vs. old)
- intra-individual – female response to odors from the same male at different ages
- before mating walking – walking activity before mating
- after mating walking – walking activity after mating
This dataset is useful for reuse in studies on sexual selection, insect behavior, olfactory communication, and senescence.
2. File overview
| File name | Description | Format |
|---|---|---|
data_Kikuchi___Matsumura_(2025).xlsx |
Excel file with four sheets as described above. | Excel (.xlsx) |
3. Sheet and variable descriptions
Sheet 1: inter-individual
- male_age: categorical variable (“young”, “old”)
- latency_s: time (in seconds) until female first contacts male-scented paper
Each row = one female trial comparing scent of different males.
Sheet 2: intra-individual
- male_ID: ID of each male (1–10)
- male_age: categorical variable (“young”, “old”)
- latency_s: time (in seconds) until female first contacts the scent paper
Each row = response to the same male at different ages.
Sheet 3: before mating walking
- strain: “H” (high-activity) or “L” (low-activity) strain
- replicate: “A”, “B”, or “C”
- distance_mm: total walking distance before mating
Each row = activity of a male before mating.
Sheet 4: after mating walking
- strain: “H” or “L”
- replicate: “A”, “B”, or “C”
- distance_mm: total walking distance after mating
Each row = activity of a male after mating.
4. Software and reproducibility
Statistical analysis was performed in R version 4.1.0 using the car package (Fox & Weisberg, 2019).
- Female odor preference (latency) was analyzed using GLMs with gamma error distribution.
- Intra-individual age effects were analyzed with GLMMs, with male_ID as a random effect.
- Model selection was based on AIC.
Reproducible code and plots are included inanalysis_code.R.
5. License and usage notes
All data in this repository are released under the CC0 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication) license.
Users are free to copy, modify, distribute, and use the data without permission or attribution.
6. Contact information
For questions or clarifications, please contact:
Kentarou Matsumura
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo
📧 matsumura@g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Notes
- Units: seconds (latency), millimeters (distance)
- No data were removed or imputed
- Variable names match the R script