Data from: Morph-linked variation in female pheromone signaling and male response in a polymorphic moth
Data files
Aug 29, 2024 version files 64.20 KB
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Enclosure_Setup.xlsx
32.68 KB
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Field_Setup.xlsx
26.86 KB
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README.md
4.66 KB
Abstract
Understanding the maintenance of genetic variation in reproductive strategies and polymorphisms in the wild requires a comprehensive examination of the complex interactions between genetic basis, behavior, and environmental factors.
We tested the association between three color genotypes and variation in female pheromone signaling and male antennal morphology in the wood tiger moth (Arctia plantaginis). These moths have genetically determined white (WW, Wy) and yellow (yy) hindwings that are linked to mating success and fitness, with heterozygotes (Wy) having an advantage. We hypothesized that attractiveness and reproductive success are correlated, with Wy females being more attractive than the other two genotypes which could contribute to maintaining the polymorphism.
Female attractiveness was tested by baiting traps with females of the three color genotypes both in low- (i.e., field setup) and in high-population density (i.e., large enclosure setup). Male’s ability to reach females was correlated to their own color genotype and antennal morphology (length, area, and lamellae count).
Contrary to our prediction, morph-related reproductive success and attractiveness were not correlated. Heavier Wy females attracted a lower proportion of males compared to WW and yy females. Specifically, an increase in weight corresponded to a decreased Wy but increased yy female attractiveness. yy females were generally more attractive than others likely due to earlier pheromone release. In males, lamellae count and genetic color morph were linked to the male’s ability to locate females. Furthermore, male traits affected their ability to reach females in a context-specific way. Males with denser antennae (i.e., higher lamellae count) and white males reached the females faster than yellows in the enclosure, while yellow males located females faster than whites in the field.
Our results indicate that higher yy female attractiveness was likely affected by the combined effect of early pheromone release, female weight and higher population density. Males’ searching success was affected by morph-specific behavioral strategies and local population density. Ultimately, the combined effect of genotype-related pheromone signaling strategies of females together with environment-dependent male behavior affect male response and potentially contribute to maintaining variation in fitness-related traits.
README: Data from: Morph-linked variation in female pheromone signaling and male response in a polymorphic moth
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.59zw3r2j2
Description of the data and file structure
Files and variables
File: Field_Setup.xlsx
Tab 'Female attractiveness' - variables:
attracted.y.n. Coded as 0 or 1, whether a female did not (i.e., 0) or did (i.e., 1) attracted at least one male throughout the night
w.y_males The total number of males attracted by a female at the end of the night
genotype The female genotype, i.e., WW, Wy, yy
night The night of experiment
Zweight Standardized female weight (mg); NA: female weight unknown
night_location A label made of the night of testing (from 1 to 7) and the location (from 1 to 7) and coded with sequential letters. So to each letter correspond one night and one location of the experiment
Tab 'Disassortative attractiveness' - variables:
- male_count The total number of males caught by female throughout the night
- female_genotype The female genotype, i.e., WW, Wy, yy
- male_morph Whether a female attracted a white or yellow male
- night_location A label made of the night of testing (from 1 to 7) and the location (from 1 to 7) and coded with sequential letters. So to each letter correspond one night and one location of the experiment
Tab 'Males' - variables:
- length The length (mm) of the antenna
- area The surface of the antenna (mm2)
- lamellae The total number of lamellae per antenna
- male_morph whether the male had white or yellow hindwings
- night_attracted Which night of the experiment said male was caught in the trap
- attracted 0 no, 1 yes (this was used in a Cox model)
Tab 'Speed_attractiveness' - variables:
- w.y_males the total number of males
- w.y_caught*_*night the total number of males caught per night across all females tested said night
- genotype The female genotype, i.e., WW, Wy, yy
- night The night of experiment
File: Enclosure_Setup.xlsx
Tab 'Female&Speed_attractiveness' - variables:
- Attracted.y.n. Whether a female attracted at least one male throughout the night
- N_males_attracted The total number of males attracted per female at the end of the night
- Males_left_in_tent The number of males left in the tent for the following night
- Female age The female age (in days) when used in the experiment
- Female_genotype The female genotype; WW,Wy,yy
- Zweight The standardized female weight. NA: weight of the female unknown
- Normalized_weight Female normalized weight. NA: weight of the female unknown
- Replicate The number of replicate (from 1 to 6)
- Trap_n Trap position
- FemaleID Female ID
Tab 'Disassortative_attractiveness' - variables:
- male_count The number of males attracted by the female
- male_in_tent The number of males left in the tent for the following night
- Female_genotype The female genotype; WW, Wy, yy
- male genotype The male genotype; WW, Wy, yy
- FemaleID The name assigned to the female
- Replicate The number of replicate (from 1 to 6)
Tab 'Strategy_fem_attractiveness' - variables:
- onset of calling
- 0 if a male was found in the female trap at the first time check point
- 1 at the second time check point
- 2 if at the third check point
- 3 if at the fourth check point
- NA if a male was never found in the trap
- Called_y.n Whether a male was found in the female trap, hence the female was deemed to be actively releasing pheromone
- Female_genotype The female genotype; WW, Wy, yy
- Replicate The number of replicate (from 1 to 6)
- males_caught the number of males attracted by the female in one night
- Duration_female*_*activity The number of consecutive time checkpoints a male was found in the female trap. NA: a male was never found in the female trap throughout the night
- Males_left_in_tent The number of males left in the tent for the following night
- Trap_n The number of the trap (from 1 to 9)
Tab 'Males' - variables:
- Length Length of antennae (mm)
- Area Surface of antennae (mm2)
- Lamellae Total number of lamellae per antenna
- MaleGen Male gentoype: WW, Wy, yy
- Zweight The standardized male weight (mg); NA: weight of the male unknown
- Zage The standardized male age (days); NA: age of the male unknown
- FemGen The genotype of the female where the male was found in the trap
Code/software
The data can be opened with Excel.
The male antenna measurements: length, area and lamellae number was quantified using the software ImageJ.
The statistical analyses were performed using R (v. 4.1.2) and RStudio (v. 2022.02.3)
Methods
The dataset was collected through experimental work, both in a field setup and in a semi-natural setup. The data was then analyzed with R studio software. Please refer to the published paper for more details.