Data from: Effects of fungicide and herbicide on a non-target butterfly performance
Data files
Apr 11, 2025 version files 155.07 KB
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README.md
3.16 KB
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Riihimaki2024_Eggdata.csv
6.85 KB
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Riihimaki2024_Larvae.csv
32.43 KB
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Riihimaki2024_Matings.csv
2.79 KB
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Riihimaki2024_Transects.csv
109.84 KB
Abstract
Agricultural intensification is one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss. Intensified agriculture is often associated with increased use of pesticides and the use of pesticides could negatively impact also non-target species living in the vicinity of agricultural lands. We exposed larvae of the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) to a short-term exposure of a herbicide, a fungicide, or a mix of the two via their larval host plant (Plantago lanceolata). Survival and performance of the larvae was recorded and potential carry-over effects on adult butterfly fitness traits were assessed under semi-natural conditions in an outdoor enclosure. Our results showed significantly increased mortality in the larvae exposed to the fungicide and the fungicide-herbicide mix treatments, both of which also impacted adult morphology. Adult female butterflies exposed to the mix of fungicide and herbicide treatment during their development also had lower lifetime reproductive success than the other treatment groups, suggesting that the combined chemical load had stronger carry-over effects into adulthood. Our results demonstrate clear negative impacts of a commonly used fungicide on a non-target butterfly species. The combined effect of two pesticides, while less lethal to larvae directly, seem to have a more profound carry-over impact on fitness of adult female butterflies. The mechanisms underlying the effects of a fungicide alone and in interaction with the herbicide, as well as the relatively minor impacts of herbicide alone on the specialist insect warrant further investigation in the role of pesticides in natural populations.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.1vhhmgr43
Description of the data and file structure
Data files (.csv) are named as “NameYear”_“DataIdentifier”.csv
Files and variables
File: Riihimaki2024_Larvae.csv
Description: Individual information for each larva used in the experiment
Variables
- Locality: sample origin, nest ID
- Unit ID: AF23= Aland Fall 2023 + Locality
- break_diapause: date of breaking the diapause
- last_instar: the day larva reached their final/7th instar
- treatment: experimental treatment assigned to each individual; C=control, A=fungicide, G=herbicide, M=mix
- pupation: date of pupation
- pupa_weight: pupal weight in mg
- eclosion: date of eclosion
- sex: M=male, F=female
- adult_ID: running ID number given at eclosion
- fw_length: forewing length in mm
- death_date: date of death
- parasitoid: 1 if larva was parasitised
- N/As indicate that data was not applicable or available, e.g. larvae died before pupation; no pupation date or weight or no adult butterfly body was found; no death date
File: Riihimaki2024_Matings.csv
Description: All of the matings that were recorded during the outdoor enclosure
Variables
- Date: date of the mating
- Female: female ID
- Male: male ID
- Time: time of the mating
- Location: location in the outdoor enclosure 8m x 8m grid
File: Riihimaki2024_Eggdata.csv
Description: Information on the eggs and larvae produced during the outdoor enclosure
Variables
- clutch: running number for egg clutches
- female: female ID
- date_eggs: date the eggs were laid
- n_eggs: number of eggs
- date_larvae: date the larvae hatched
- n_larvae: number of larvae
- N/As indicate that data was not applicable i.e. eggs did not hatch into larvae
File: TRANSECT.docx
Description: Sheet used during the systematic censuses at the outdoor enclosure
File: Riihimaki2024_Transects.csv
Description: Data collected during the systematic censuses at the outdoor enclosure
Variables
- pop.type: population type, only used in experiments where there are different populations to compare, in this study always 1
- sex: 0=male, 1=female
- ID: adult ID of each individual
- square letter: outdoor enclosure was divided into 8 x 8m grid marked with letters and numbers (A-H, 1-8); square letter as a number A=1, B=2, C=3 etc..
- square number: outdoor enclosure was divided into 8 x 8m grid marked with letters and numbers (A-H, 1-8); square number
- activity: classes 1-7, see transect sheet TRANSECT.doc
- transect hour: starting time of the transect, 9-17
- transect min: always -1
- transect: same as transect hour
- date: running date starting from the day first butterflies eclosed (1)
- sun: recorded on scale 0-2 where 0=sunny, 1=half-cloudy, 2=cloudy
- wind: recorded on scale 0-2 where 0=calm, 1=weak wind, 2=strong wind
- temp: temperature at the beginning of the transect in celcius
- temp. desimal: always -1
- obs: Observer 1-4
- Treatment: 0=control, 1=herbicide, 2=fungicide, 3=mix
This data includes information on the Glanville fritillary butterfly larvae that were used in the experiment. Larvae were collected from the wild in September 2023 and used for the experiment in Spring 2024. The data collected during the experiment is in this dataset.