Non-native congeneric trees are poor-quality host plants for a larval Lepidopteran
Data files
Apr 16, 2025 version files 180 KB
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growth_rate.csv
22.91 KB
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promethea_analyses.Rmd
4.35 KB
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README.md
5.32 KB
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survival_format_long.csv
129.29 KB
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tree_traits.csv
1.75 KB
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weight.csv
16.37 KB
Abstract
In managed ecosystems, cultivated plant diversity is a collection of native and introduced species composed of varying plant origins across scales: locally native, non-locally native, and non-native. Non-local and non-native plant species may be ill-suited as host plants for locally native insects. Yet, we lack information on the population- and individual-level consequences of introduced plants to phytophagous insects. Promethea moth (Callosomia promethea) is a Lepidopteran species regionally specialized to Prunus in the Northeastern USA. Here, we used a rearing experiment to compare Promethea caterpillar performance on 14 different Prunus host plants commonly found naturally and in horticulture and two non hosts. Across all measures, P. serotina supported the highest survival, fastest growth, and largest larval biomass. We found little difference between locally native and non-local Prunus across most measures; however, few non-native Prunus supported living larvae to the fifth instar, and surviving larvae had reduced growth and biomass. Our results indicate that non-native congeners are poor replacements for locally native tree species in supporting specialized Lepidoptera. However, non-local, regionally-native species in cultivation may serve as adequate, albeit suboptimal, host plants. These results further our understanding of how selection for plant traits or species impacts biodiversity in novel and managed ecosystems.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.x95x69pw7
Description of the data and file structure
R script and data used to test relationships between tree species and Promethea moth survival, growth, and biomass. Missing data is indicated by NA.
Description of the data and file structure
File 1:growth_rate.csv - dataset for growth analyses
- index: unique ID
- ID: treatment ID (combination of female and tree ID)
- Female: female ID
- Tree: Tree species ID
- Instar: latest instar recorded
- min_age: days since hatch
- CommonName: Common name of tree species
- sciName: tree scientific name
- Location: category of where tree leaves came from (urban, rural, or planted)
- location: specific location where tree leaves came from
- preferred_hostGenus: whether the leaves used was prunus or not
- MA_native: whether the tree species is native to Massachusetts
- westernMA_native: whether the tree species is native to western massachusetts
- X: cohort ID
- cultivated: whether leaves were collected from a cultivated (i.e., planted) individual
- cultivar: whether this tree species is regularly in cultivation
- edible: whether this tree species is grown for edible fruits
- tip_label: the tip label from the phylogenetic tree
- distance: phylogenetic distance from black cherry
- tree_type: treatment category
- treatment: treatment category and instar level
File 2: promethea_analyses.rmd
- R script for analyses and graphs
File 3: survival_format_long.csv - dataset for survival analyses
- index: unique ID
- female: female ID
- tree: tree ID
- X3: observation 1, number of individuals
- X4: observation 2, number of individuals
- X5: observation 3, number of individuals
- X6: observation 4, number of individuals
- X7: observation 5, number of individuals
- X8: observation 6, number of individuals
- X9: observation 7, number of individuals
- X10: observation 8, number of individuals
- X11: observation 9, number of individuals
- X12: observation 10, number of individuals
- X13: observation 11, number of individuals
- total_days_alive: total days alive
- fate: fate (1=alive)
- X: cohort ID
- CommonName: common name of tree species used
- sciName: scientific name of tree species used
- Location: category of where tree leaves came from (urban, rural, or planted)
- location: specific location where tree leaves came from
- preferred_hostGenus: whether the leaves used was prunus or not
- MA_native: whether the tree species is native to Massachusetts
- westernMA_native: whether the tree species is native to western massachusetts
- cultivated: whether leaves were collected from a cultivated (i.e., planted) individual
- hybrid cultivar: whether this tree species is regularly in cultivation
- edible: whether this tree species is grown for edible fruits
- tip_label: the tip label from the phylogenetic tree
- distance: phylogenetic distance from black cherry
- tree_type: treatment category
File 4: tree_traits.csv - dataset of tree traits and phylogenetic distance
- index: unique ID
- Tree: TreeID
- CommonName: common name of tree species used
- sciName: scientific name of tree species used
- Location: category of where tree leaves came from (urban, rural, or planted)
- location: specific location where tree leaves came from
- preferred_hostGenus: whether the leaves used was prunus or not
- MA_native: whether the tree species is native to Massachusetts
- westernMA_native: whether the tree species is native to western massachusetts
- cultivated: whether leaves were collected from a cultivated (i.e., planted) individual
- hybrid cultivar: whether this tree species is regularly in cultivation
- edible: whether this tree species is grown for edible fruits
- tip_label: the tip label from the phylogenetic tree
- distance: phylogenetic distance from black cherry
File 5: weight.csv - dataset of biomass weights
- index: unique ID
- female: female ID
- tree: tree ID
- weight_g: weight in grams
- date: date weighed
- instar: instar recorded
- observer: observer initials
- notes: notes
- ID: treatment ID
- hatchday: day of hatch
- age: age (in days)
- weight_g_numeric: weight in grams (numeric format)
- CommonName: common name of tree species used
- sciName: scientific name of tree species used
- Location: category of where tree leaves came from (urban, rural, or planted)
- location: specific location where tree leaves came from
- preferred_hostGenus: whether the leaves used was prunus or not
- MA_native: whether the tree species is native to Massachusetts
- westernMA_native: whether the tree species is native to western massachusetts
- cultivated: whether leaves were collected from a cultivated (i.e., planted) individual
- hybrid cultivar: whether this tree species is regularly in cultivation
- edible: whether this tree species is grown for edible fruits
- tip_label: the tip label from the phylogenetic tree
- distance: phylogenetic distance from black cherry
- tree_type: treatment category
Code/software
We performed all statistical analyses in Program R version 4.2.2 (R Core Team 2022).
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data: