DOI: 10.5061/dryad.k6gf1tf
title: Data from: Assessing changes in arthropod predator-prey interactions through DNA-based gut content analysis - variable environment, stable diet

description: Analyzing the structure and dynamics of biotic interaction networks and
 the processes shaping them is currently one of the key fields in ecology.
 In this paper, we develop a novel approach to gut content analysis,
 thereby deriving a new perspective on community interactions and their
 responses to environment. For this, we use an elevational gradient in the
 High Arctic, asking how the environment and species traits interact in
 shaping predator-prey interactions involving the wolf spider Pardosa
 glacialis. To characterize the community of potential prey available to
 this predator, we used pitfall trapping and vacuum sampling. To
 characterize the prey actually consumed, we applied molecular gut content
 analysis. Using joint species distribution models, we found elevation and
 vegetation mass to explain the most variance in the composition of the
 prey community locally available. However, such environmental variables
 had only a small effect on the prey community found in the spider’s gut.
 These patterns indicate that Pardosa exerts selective feeding on
 particular taxa irrespective of environmental constraints. By directly
 modelling the probability of predation based on gut content data, we found
 that neither trait matching in terms of predator and prey body size nor
 environmental constraints modified interaction probability. Our results
 indicate that taxonomy may be more important for predator-prey
 interactions than environmental constraints or prey traits. The impact of
 environmental change on predator-prey interactions thus appears to be
 indirect and mediated by its imprint on the community of available prey.
description: A1_matrixAbundance data of prey taxa (family level) collected at the study siteA2_matrixPresence/absence data of prey taxa (family level) collected at the study siteB1_matrixSpider gut content data and predator traits; information of detected prey in individual wolf spiders and individual predator traitsB2_matrixSpider gut content data; information on detected prey in mean number of wolf spiders per plot and dateC_matrixPrey taxa traitsD_matrixEnvironmental dataREADMEThis file explains all variables in the datasets that accompany: Assessing changes in arthropod predator-prey interactions through DNA-based gut content analysis – variable environment, stable diet submitted to Molecular Ecology contact: Bernhard Eitzinger nanuuto@gmail.comCommand pipeline used for bioinformaticsThe file contains all the commandds used in this study to generate the final data. The bioinformatics was carried out at servers on CSC - IT Center for SCience in Finland .Assessing_changes_pipe_DRYAD.shARC_ZOTUS_SequencesClustered to zero-radius OTUs (ZOTUs) using USEARCH algorithm.label_zotus_ARC.faZeale_ZOTUS_SequencesClustered to zero-radius OTUs (ZOTUs) using USEARCH algorithm.label_zotus_Zeale.faARC_readmap linking trimmed reads and samplesThe readmap shows read count for each of the two PCR replicates per sample. The readmap is constructed using USEARCH software.readmap_zotus_ARC.tabZeale_readmap linking trimmed reads and samplesThe readmap shows read count for each of the two PCR replicates per sample. The readmap is constructed using USEARCH software.readmap_zotus_Zeale.tabARC final readmapThis readmap contains the final read counts for each sample.final_readmap_ARC.xlsxZeale final readmapThis readmap contains the final read counts for each sample.final_readmap_Zeale.xlsxRaw sequences of ARC and Zeale fragmentsDNA extracted from individual Pardosa glacialis; two PCR replicates per ARC and Zeale primer respectively; sequenced using Illumina MiSeq.Eitzinger_ARC_Zeale_rawsequences.zip