Data from: Assessment of pollination ecology of two understudied native mustards and the potential for interference from invasive garlic mustard
Data files
Apr 08, 2026 version files 18.53 KB
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Poll._Eco_(2026)_raw_data.csv
5.67 KB
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Poll._Eco._Insect_coll_Raw_data.csv
3.46 KB
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README.md
9.39 KB
Abstract
Comparing pollinator visitation rates and identity between two native mustards (Cardamine concatenata and Cardamine diphylla) and one invasive mustard (Alliaria petiolata). These native mustards are of interest for two reasons. First, they host rare, specialist insects (Pieris virginiensis and Phyllotreta bipustulata). Second, because C. concatenata and C. diphylla have a short phenological window for seasonal development and reproduction, they are at increased risk for mutualism disruption via global change pressures, such as potential pollination disruption from A. petiolata. In this study, we aimed to establish the rate of pollinator visitation as well as pollinator identity for each mustard using sites at the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio, where these mustards co-occur. We established randomized 1m2 quadrats in which we counted the number of open flowers of each mustard species. We then recorded the number of visits and visually grouped pollinators into morphotype groupings. We also established collection quadrats in the same manner and captured all pollinators that entered the quadrat over the sampling period. These specimens were preserved and identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible in the lab. We recorded fourteen unique pollinator taxa at our study sites. We established that C. concatenata flowering phenology does not overlap with A. petiolata flowering and therefore is not at high risk of experiencing pollination interference. C. diphylla flowering, however, overlapped with A. petiolata flowering. C. diphylla and A. petiolata shared seven of the fourteen taxa as pollinators, four of which visited these species non-discriminately (i.e., the rate of visitation for these taxa was not significantly different between A. petiolata and C. diphylla). Because pollinators are shared and visitation rates are similar, C. diphylla could potentially be experiencing decreased reproductive success where it co-occurs with A. petiolata.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.66t1g1kfr
Description of the data and file structure
The data associated with this submission were collected through the use of observational and collection quadrats within 4 study sites at the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio. The CSV titled "Poll._Eco_(2026)_raw_data.csv" includes observational counts of pollinators and visual morphotype identifications visiting three focal species (Cardamine concatenata, Cardamine diphylla, Alliaria petiolata) over the duration of the 2024 spring season (roughly Julian day 84 to day 128). Each row of data is representative of one 20-min sampling period in a 1 m2 quadrat. The CSV "Poll._Eco._Insect_coll_Raw_data.csv" includes data pertaining to pollinator collections made in the same fashion as observational data. These specimens were preserved, identified in the laboratory to the lowest taxonomic level possible, and counted.
Files and variables
File: Poll._Eco._Insect_coll_Raw_data.csv
Description: Each row in this dataset is equal to one collection period (20-min) in one quadrat (1 m2). Floral visitors were collected and later preserved and identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible in the laboratory.
Variables
- Julian_day: day of the year numbered 1-365, starting with day 1 on January 1st. Note that the year that this data was collected (2024) was a leap year, so dates are adjusted to accommodate.
- Date: Calendar date in the format day - month - year
- Site_name: The organizational name of each subsite at the Holden Arboretum. There are four named sites.
- Host_plant: This column identifies the species of mustard associated with the observational/collections data in the same row.
- #_toothwort_stems: The number of C. concatenata stems were counted in each quadrat. Stem counts exceeding 50 are rough estimates, not specific counts.
- #_garlic_mustard_stems: The number of A. petiolata stems were counted in each quadrat. Stem counts exceeding 50 are rough estimates, not specific counts.
- #_toothwort_flowers: The number of C. concatenata flowers were counted in each quadrat. Flower counts exceeding 50 are rough estimates, not specific counts.
- #_garlic_mustard_flowers: The number of A. petiolata flowers were counted in each quadrat. Flower counts exceeding 50 are rough estimates, not specific counts.
- #_crinkleroot_stems: The number of C. diphylla stems were counted in each quadrat. Stem counts exceeding 50 are rough estimates, not specific counts.
- #_crinkleroot_flowers: The number of C. diphylla flowers were counted in each quadrat. Flower counts exceeding 50 are rough estimates, not specific counts.
- Other_species: This column describes characteristics of the area surrounding the quadrat (i.e., topography, other flowering species, etc.)
- Andrena: all numbers in this column are counts. The column heading is the taxonomic identification of specimens in the lab. The value in any given row describes the number of individuals fitting that taxon were caught in a collections quadrat.
- Osmia: all numbers in this column are counts. The column heading is the taxonomic identification of specimens in the lab. The value in any given row describes the number of individuals fitting that taxon were caught in a collections quadrat.
- Augochlora_pura: all numbers in this column are counts. The column heading is the taxonomic identification of specimens in the lab. The value in any given row describes the number of individuals fitting that taxon were caught in a collections quadrat.
- Nomada: all numbers in this column are counts. The column heading is the taxonomic identification of specimens in the lab. The value in any given row describes the number of individuals fitting that taxon were caught in a collections quadrat.
- Lasioglossum: all numbers in this column are counts. The column heading is the taxonomic identification of specimens in the lab. The value in any given row describes the number of individuals fitting that taxon were caught in a collections quadrat.
- Halictus: all numbers in this column are counts. The column heading is the taxonomic identification of specimens in the lab. The value in any given row describes the number of individuals fitting that taxon were caught in a collections quadrat.
- Ceratina: all numbers in this column are counts. The column heading is the taxonomic identification of specimens in the lab. The value in any given row describes the number of individuals fitting that taxon were caught in a collections quadrat.
- Anthomyiidae: all numbers in this column are counts. The column heading is the taxonomic identification of specimens in the lab. The value in any given row describes the number of individuals fitting that taxon were caught in a collections quadrat.
- Meloidae: all numbers in this column are counts. The column heading is the taxonomic identification of specimens in the lab. The value in any given row describes the number of individuals fitting that taxon were caught in a collections quadrat.
- Syrphidae: all numbers in this column are counts. The column heading is the taxonomic identification of specimens in the lab. The value in any given row describes the number of individuals fitting that taxon were caught in a collections quadrat.
- species IDs/notes: On a couple of occasions, species identification was possible and noted here. Other potentially important pieces of information not captured by preceding columns were noted here.
File: Poll.Eco (2026)_raw_data.csv
Description: Each row in this dataset is equal to one observational period (20-min) in one quadrat (1 m2). Floral visitors were counted, and high-level morphotype groupings were assigned.
Variables
- day of the year numbered 1-365, starting with day 1 on January 1st. Note that the year that this data was collected (2024) was a leap year, so dates are adjusted to accommodate.
- Site_name: The organizational name of each subsite at the Holden Arboretum. There are four named sites.
- Host_plant: This column identifies the species of mustard associated with the observational/collections data in the same row.
- toothwort_flowers: The number of C. concatenata flowers were counted in each quadrat. Flower counts exceeding 50 are rough estimates, not specific counts.
- garlic_mustard_flowers: The number of A. petiolata flowers were counted in each quadrat. Flower counts exceeding 50 are rough estimates, not specific counts.
- crinkleroot_flowers: The number of C. diphylla flowers were counted in each quadrat. Flower counts exceeding 50 are rough estimates, not specific counts.
- temps: This column includes the temperature for the hour in which the observation/collection took place.
- metallic: This column includes any Hymenopterans with metallic integument. Value of cell indicates a count of visits. More specific identifications are available in the accompanying collections dataset.
- small_black: This column includes any Hymenopterans with black integument. Value of cell indicates a count of visits. More specific identifications are available in the accompanying collections dataset.
- small_black_with_red_abdomen: This column includes any Hymenopterans with black thoracic integument but red abdominal integument. In this study, all members of this group were part of the genus Nomada. Value of cell indicates a count of visits.
- bumblebee: This column includes any Hymenopterans within the identifiable genus Bombus. Value of cell indicates a count of visits.
- butterfly: This column includes all Lepidopteran visitors. In this study, the only Lepidopteran visitor recorded was Pieris virginiensis. Value of cell indicates a count of visits.
- beetle: This column includes any members of the order Coleoptera found visiting our study plants. Value of cell indicates a count of visits.
- bee_flies: This column includes any member of the family Bombyliidae found visiting our study plants. Value of cell indicates a count of visits.
- hover_flies: This column includes any member of the family Syrphidae found visiting our study plants. Value of cell indicates a count of visits. More specific identifications are available in the accompanying collections dataset.
- house_flies: This column includes any member of the superfamily Muscoidea found visiting our study plants. Value of cell indicates a count of visits. More specific identifications are available in the accompanying collections dataset.
- Total_visits: This column is a total count of visits per observational quadrat, including all above-described morphotypic groups.
- Notes: any potentially important information that was not captured in the preceding columns was placed here.
Code/software
We used the standard desktop version of Microsoft Excel to digitize our data. After saving files as a CSV, the data was imported into the open-source statistical analysis software, RStudio. In RStudio, data was analyzed and visualized using primarily the packages glmmTMB and ggplot2, respectively.