10.5061/DRYAD.TDZ08KPXB
Tielens, Elske
0000-0001-7940-5657
University of Maryland, College Park
Gruner, Dan
0000-0002-3153-4297
University of Maryland, College Park
Data from: Intraspecific variation in host plant traits mediates taxonomic
and functional composition of local insect herbivore communities
Dryad
dataset
2020
National Science Foundation
https://ror.org/021nxhr62
Division of Environmental Biology 1240774
2020-08-19T00:00:00Z
2020-08-19T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2311
116937 bytes
3
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Host plant phenotypic traits affect the structure of the associated
consumer community and mediate species interactions. We compare herbivore
assemblages from the canopy of the phenotypically variable tree
Metrosideros polymorpha on Hawai‘i Island. Multiple distinct varieties of
M. polymorpha frequently co‐occur, with variation in morphological traits.
Using this system, we identify host and insect traits that underlie
patterns of herbivore abundance and quantify the strength of host‐insect
trait interactions. The dataset includes host plant phenotypic traits
(specific leaf area, leaf water content, foliar nutrients, trichome
presence), as well as collection information. The dataset also contains
the herbivorous insect community associated with this host plant, their
abundances and life history traits. R code for analyses in this article is
also included.
See Tielens & Gruner 2020 for full details. The data was collected
from four focal sites on the west and southwest side of Hawai‘i Island
where multiple varieties and phenotypes of Metrosideros polymorpha
co‐occur. We sampled six M. polymorpha trees during two sampling events to
ensure within‐site replication, allowing comparison across phenotypes with
the same local environmental conditions. Arthropods were collected from
the outer canopy of the focal M. polymorpha tree. Each tree was sampled in
2014 and 2015, resulting in six replicates across four sites for two
years. Canopies were accessed using the single‐rope technique. Samples
were collected by quickly bagging multiple branches in the outer canopy,
and using a pole pruner to clip branches (see assocciated article for
further details). Samples were transported to the lab and specimens were
extracted on the same day as collection. Specimens were extracted by
gently shaking branches on an enclosed white surface and aspirating
individuals that emerged. Foliage samples were carefully searched, but
herbivores feeding completely enclosed within leaves or buds were not
manually extracted. Specimens were kept in 95% ethanol before
identification; we included only phytophagous species, and Hemiptera
specimens were identified to (morpho) species, while Lepidoptera and
Coleoptera were identified to family or morphospecies. Leaf traits were
measured on leaves sampled at the time of first insect collection, while
insect traits were based on the literature (except for body size, which
was also measured). See article and supplemental materials for more
information on this.