Data from: Evidence for positive population-level responses but not individual performance of sycamore aphids under elevated CO2
Data files
Jun 08, 2026 version files 30.96 KB
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Aphid_survey_raw.csv
4.97 KB
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Clip_cage_RAW.csv
1.45 KB
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Daily_mean_air_temp_2019.csv
17.33 KB
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Leaf_nutrients_data.csv
2.60 KB
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README.md
4.62 KB
Abstract
Data from 2019 aphid survey and clip cage experiment at BIFoR FACE.
Includes raw data from aphid survey, clip cage experiment, weekly mean temperature and Sycamore leaf foliar elemental composition.
While being one of the most destructive agricultural pests globally, aphids are also important components of herbivory networks in forest and woodland habitats. They are predicted to be among the few insect herbivore ‘winners’ under future elevated CO2 (eCO2) scenarios, but additional field experiments are needed to determine species-specific responses, including impacts on fecundity and mortality at the population level. The impact of eCO2 on populations of aphids on common sycamore, Acer pseudoplatanus, was investigated within a** temperate woodland, at the Birmingham Institute for Forest Research (BIFoR) Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) facility. A survey of the aphid species, Drepanosiphum platanoidis, Periphyllus testudinaceus and P. acericola, showed an increase in the abundance and population density of all three species under eCO2 (150ppm above ambient), although differences were only significant for D. platanoidis. The number of nymphs produced by individual D. platanoidis alates isolated in clip cages was not significantly affected by the eCO2. These results suggest that D.platanoidis could be a species of aphid that may increase in abundance under eCO2, but that population-level responses are not driven by improved individual performance. Further experiments are needed to determine the relative contribution of competition and attack by natural enemies as drivers of population-level effects on aphid populations under climate change.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.9w0vt4bvn
Description of the data and file structure
Data supporting publication: 'Evidence for positive population-level responses but not individual performance of sycamore aphids under elevated CO2.'
Files and variables
File: Daily_mean_air_temp_2019.csv
Description: Daily air temperature recorded from experimental site during the study period. Hourly mean air temperature was recorded by a Campbell Scientific 107 Thermistor on a Campbell Scientific CR300 datalogger mounted at upper canopy height (~21 m) on each array tower.
Variables
First table - Daily mean air temperature
- month - The month
- date - The date
- doy - The day of year
- array - The array number (1-6)
- air_temp - daily mean air temperature in °C
- air_temp_min - daily minimum air temperature in °C
- air_temp_max - daily maximum air temperature in °C
Second table - Weekly mean
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date - The date
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array - The array number (1-6)
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Weekly mean - The weekly mean air temperature in °C
File: Leaf_nutrients_data.csv
Description: Leaf elemental composition of sycamore leaves samples from site during experiemntal period. Two Sycamore leaves were collected from each array in July 2019 to capture peak foliar nutrient content, flash frozen at −196 °C, freeze-dried and ground. A 2,000 µg ±200 µg sample was analysed for total elemental composition of P, Ca, K, Mg, N & C by flash combustion using an Elemental Analyser (Exeter Analytical CE-440) with thermal conductivity detection.
Variables
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Label - A unique sample code
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Year - The year the samples were taken
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Array - The array number (1-6)
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Treatment - The treatment (E = eCO2, A = Ambient)
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Species - The tree species
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P - Phorphorus in µg/2000µg
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Ca - Calcium in µg/2000µg
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K - Potassium in µg/2000µg
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Mg - Magnesium in in µg/2000µg
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N - Nitrogen in µg/2000µg
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C - Carbon in µg/2000µg
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C:N - The Carbon to Nitrogen ratio
File: Aphid_survey_raw.csv
Description: Raw count data of individual aphids of each species recorded from aphid survey.
Variables
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Array: Experimental array number (1-6)
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Leaf: Individual leaf number within each array (1-10)
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Drepanosiphum platanoidis adult: Number of Drepanosiphum platanoidis adults
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D. platanoidis nymph: Number of Drepanosiphum platanoidis nymphs
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Periphyllus testudinaceus adult: Number of Periphyllus testudinaceus adults
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P. testudinaceus nymph: Number of Periphyllus testudinaceus nymphs
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Periphyllus acericola adult: Number of Periphyllus acericola adults
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P. acericola nymph: Number of Periphyllus acericola nymphs
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Total: Total number of aphids on leaf
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Leaf Area (cm): Area of leaf in cm2
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Density: Density of aphids per leaf area (aphids per cm2)
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Nymph clusters: Number of seperate clusters of aphid nymphs
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Drepanosiphum platanoidis: Total number of Drepanosiphum platanoidis aphids (nymphs + adults)
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Periphyllus testudinaceus: Total number of Periphyllus testudinaceus aphids (nymphs + adults)
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Periphyllus acericola: Total number of Periphyllus acericola aphids (nymphs + adults)
File: Clip_cage_RAW.csv
Description: The number of Drepanosiphum platanoidis aphids recorded in clip cages during each survey date of experiment. (a) means the aphids are alates (winged morph)
Variables
- Clip cage: Individual Clip cage code. Composed of array number (1-6), tree (a/b) and clip cage (i/ii)
- Treatment: The treatment the array is under (eCO2 or control)
- 2019-05-14: Aphids expressed as original + progeny on Survey date 1
- 2019-05-14 total: Total Aphids on Survey date 1
- 2019-05-21: Aphids expressed as original + progeny on Survey date 2
- 2019-05-21 total: Total Aphids on Survey date 2
- 2019-05-28: Aphids expressed as original + progeny on Survey date 3
- 2019-05-28 total: Total Aphids on Survey date 3
- 2019-06-04: Aphids expressed as original + progeny on Survey date 4
- 2019-06-04 total: Total Aphids on Survey date 4
- 2019-06-11: Aphids expressed as original + progeny onSurvey date 5
- 2019-06-11total: Total Aphids on Survey date 5
- Array: Experimental array number (1-6)
- Start no.: The starting number of aphids
- End no.: The number of aphids at the end of the experiment
- Progeny: The total number of progeny produced
- Mortality: The number of aphids that died
- Rate: The mortality rate