Flower abundance and army cutworm moth lipid contents
Data files
Jun 19, 2025 version files 44.12 KB
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flower_phenology_summary.xlsx
14.42 KB
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lipids_1978_2023.xlsx
12.61 KB
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moth_phenology.xlsx
13.99 KB
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README.md
3.11 KB
Abstract
Our objective was to evaluate how nectar resources and lipid accumulation in army cutworm moths (Euxoa auxiliaris) have changed since originally evaluated in 1978-1980. We compared flower and moth data collected in the alpine zone at Pennsylvania Mountain, Park County, Colorado, USA between historic (1977-1980) and contemporary (2021-2023) study periods. We relocated vegetation plots and moth trapping sites used in the original sampling scheme. The flower data come from repeated censuses of five vegetation plots. Observers visited five plots each week in June-July to count the number of flowers of each of three species: alpine pennycress (Noccaea fendleri), dwarf phlox (Phlox condensata), and false candytuft (Smelowskia calycina). The moth data come from repeated blacklight trapping in June and July at four sites. The presented data include abundances and sex (M/F) of army cutworm moths as well as the lipids contents (% dry weight) of a randomly selected subsample. To match the dimensions of the original available data, the mean lipid contents of male and female army cutworm moths are presented. Our finding show changes in flower abundance associated with changing patterns of lipid accumulation by army cutworm moths during foraging in June and July in the alpine tundra.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.2z34tmpz4
Description of the data and file structure
- Flower Abundance and Phenology. We resurveyed five plots in the alpine zone using weekly flower counts of each of three species alpine pennycress (Noccaea fendleri), dwarf phlox (Phlox condensata), and false candytuft (Smelowskia calycina).
- Moth Abundance and Phenology. We placed four black light traps in different locations in the alpine tundra in June and July. On some dates in the historical data, only one trapping location was used.
- Moth Lipid Contents. We extracted moth abdomens in chloroform. The data shows the mean lipids contents of male and female army cutworm moths as a percentage of their dry weights.
Files and variables
File: flower_phenology_summary.xlsx
Description: This file contains the phenological and abundance results from censuses of five vegetation plots. Missing data shown as NA.
Variables
- period: study period as either historical (1977-1980) or contemporary (2022-2023)
- year: study year as four digit numeric year
- plot: numerical plot identification number
- genus: Generic name for each study species as Noccaea, Phlox, or Smelowskia
- doy.zero: the ordinal day of year when zero flowers were first observed
- doy.final: the final census that a non-zero flower count was observed
- elevation: meters above sea level for each plot
- area: area of the plot censused
- max.count: the maximum number of flowers observed in plot for a given genus
File: lipids_1978_2023.xlsx
Description: This file contains the mean lipid contents of army cutworm moths from the historical and contemporary sampling. Missing data shown as NA.
Variables
- year: study year as four digit numeric year
- date: text description of month and data
- doy: ordinal day of year as Julian date
- sex: male or female moth
- lipids: lipid content as a percent of dry weight
- period: study period as either past (1977-1980) or present (2022-2023)
File: moth_phenology.xlsx
Description: This file contains the phenological and abundance data for army cutworm moths trapped in the historical and contemporary studies.
Variables
- period: study period as either past (1977-1980) or present (2022-2023)
- year: study year as four digit numeric year
- site: alphabetical site descriptor
- date: trapping date in month/day/year format
- doy: ordinal day of year as Julian date
- n: number of army cutworm moths
- traps: number of traps for n
- traps.total: total number of traps placed on a given sampling date
Access information
Data was derived from the following sources:
- Kevan, P. G., & Kendall, D. M. (1997). Liquid assets for fat bankers: summer nectarivory by migratory moths in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA. Arctic and Alpine Research, 29(4), 478-482.
- Kendall, D. M., Kevan, P. G., & LaFontaine, J. D. (1981). Nocturnal flight activity of moths (Lepidoptera) in alpine tundra. The Canadian Entomologist, 113(7), 607-614.