DOI: 10.5061/dryad.1h189
title: Data from: Attracting mutualists and antagonists: plant trait variation explains the distribution of specialist floral herbivores and pollinators on crops and wild gourds

description: PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Floral traits play important roles in pollinator
 attraction and defense against floral herbivory. However, plants may
 experience trade-offs between conspicuousness to pollinators and herbivore
 attraction. Comparative studies provide an excellent framework to examine
 the role of multiple traits shaping mutualist and antagonist interactions.
 METHODS: To assess whether putative defensive and attractive traits
 predict species interactions, we grew 20 different Cucurbitaceae species
 and varieties in the field to measure interactions with pollinators and
 herbivores and in the greenhouse to assess trait variation. Cucurbits are
 characterized by the production of cucurbitacins, bitter nonvolatile
 terpenoids that are effective against generalist herbivores but can
 attract specialist beetles. We determined whether plant traits such as
 cucurbitacins predict herbivore resistance and pollinator attraction using
 an information-theoretic approach. KEY RESULTS: Mutualists and floral
 antagonists were attracted to the same cucurbit varieties once they
 flowered. However, rather than cucurbitacin concentration, we found that
 the size of the flower and volatile emissions of floral sesquiterpenoids
 explained both pollinator and floral herbivore visitation preference
 across cucurbit taxa. This pattern held across cucurbit taxa and within
 the Cucurbita genus. CONCLUSIONS: Surprisingly, floral sesquiterpenoid
 volatiles, which are associated with direct defense, indirect defense, and
 attraction, rather than defense traits such as cucurbitacins, appeared to
 drive interactions with both pollinators and floral herbivores across
 cucurbit taxa. Identifying the relevant plant traits for attraction and
 deterrence is important in this economically valuable crop, particularly
 if pollinators and floral herbivores use the same plant traits as cues.
description: Carbon and nitrogen in
 roots and leaves of crops and wild gourds in the family
 CucurbitaceaeThe percent nitrogen and
 carbon content of leaves, flowers and roots were measured on a Carlo Erba
 CHN analyzer. Samples were analyzed in triplicate on two young but fully
 formed leaves and on roots from each plant to calculate percent nitrogen
 and carbon. Readme file contains species names and
 abbreviations.CN.csvCucurbitacins in roots, flowers and leaves of crops and wild gourds in the family CucurbitaceaeThe concentrations of the cucurbitacins are expressed as µg cucurbitacin/g dry tissue sample based on HPLC analysis. Trace amounts are indicated as (++) for prominent peaks too small to be considered for calculations. (+) indicates peaks smaller than (++). (–) indicates peaks smaller than (+). To quantify these data a standard curve, based on peak area, was fashioned for cucurbitacins B and D. The Cucurbitacin B slope 5.00E+06 and intercept 8.00E+06. The Cucurbitacin D slope 8000000.00 and intercept -9000000.00. Readme file contains species names and abbreviations.Cucurbitacins.csvPollen count from crops and wild gourds in the family CucurbitaceaeFor accuracy, three pollen samples were collected from each anther and each sample was counted twice using a hemocytometer. Readme file contains species names and abbreviations.Pollen.csvHerbivory 2005Field Experiment measuring herbivory on crops and wild gourds in the Cucurbitaceae. DB = # dead beetles, LB = # live beetles, all beetles are Acalymma vittatum; cotyledon damaged = Yes or No. Damage was assessed on the four youngest fully expanded leaves at each census Lf1 is oldest, Lf4 is youngest. Scores are 0-4 indicating 0%, 1-25%, 25-50%, 50-75%, or 75-100% leaf area removed. Readme file contains species names and abbreviations.Herbivory 2006Field experiment measuring herbivory on crops and wild gourds in the Cucurbitaceae. Dam Lf: Damaged Leaf, B = # dead beetles, LB = # live beetles, all beetles are Acalymma vittatum. Damage is assessed on the four youngest fully expanded leaves at each census: Lf1 is oldest, Lf4 is youngest. Damage is measured in % area removed Damage in %: 0, 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 "." = leaves gone. cot damage: 100 = dead leaves still there. Readme file contains species names and abbreviations.Pollinator Observation of crops and wild gourds in CucurbitaceaeData from field experiments in 2005 and 2006. At the observation start, flower sex (Female or Male), # ants (not identified), # beetles (Acalymma vittatum) was recorded. In the data sheet each flower visitor has its own row. Pollinators are identified as: smbee (= small bee, not identified), sqb (= squash bee, Peponapis pruinosa), lgBB and smBB (large and small bumble bees, not ID'ed beyond Bombus; B. impatiens and B. bimaculatus are very common here) hb (= honey bee, Apis cerana) and a few other miscellaneous bees, not ID'ed. Time, is the time in seconds of the pollinator visit. 'total approaches,' are times that insects got close to the flower but did not land. These could be considered 'rejections' in that the insect comes close enough to assess the flower but does not alight. Columns following total approaches are broken down by visitor and abbreviated "app". There is one row of approach data per observation. Readme file contains species names and abbreviations.Pollinator Observation.csvVariety in trichome number in CucurbitaceaeGreenhouse grown plants.Trichome number on the top of the leaf and the bottom of the leaf reported. Each count replicated once. Readme file contains species names and abbreviations.Trichomes.csvLeaf Water Content in crops and wild gourds of CucurbitaceaeThe moisture content wet basis (MCWB) is given by MCWB = 100 X (Initial Wt - Dry weight)/(Initial Weight). Readme file contains species names and abbreviations.Water Content.csvFloral Volatiles from CucurbitaceaeVolatiles reported in nanograms per flower per hour. Readme file contains species names and abbreviations.Volatiles ngflowerh.csvList of Floral Volatiles in crops and wild gourds of CucurbitaceaeRetention time based on nonpolar column (DB5, 30 m × 0.25mm). Calculated Kovats Index based on n-alkane series. Compound identity based on match to previously run standards, NIST library and published Kovats Index.Volatile List.csvNectar and Flower Size in CucurbitacaeGreenhouse grown crops and wild gourds. Data for both male and female flowers. Readme file contains species names and abbreviations.Nectar and Flower Size.csv