DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14989581
title: BETA-FOR_SP6_Seed_Removal_Slugs_2023

description: This dataset includes slug occurrences and the seed removal by slugs in all 234 BETA-FOR patches in May and June 2023. Slug occurrences were recorded using camera traps. Each camera was provided with one seedcard. One camera was placed in the center of each patch (in the University Forest outside the fence) and the second camera was placed 10 – 15 meters away from the center. The seedcards are 10 x 10 cm with 20 little hollows. Each hollow was provided with one seed. Four types of seed were chosen: Linum spp. & Allium ursinum as control seeds without an elaiosome and Anemone nemorosa and Carex digitata as seeds with elaiosome.

The camera traps took pictures every minute. The time each slug spent in the patch and on each seedcard was measured in minutes. It was recorded when the slug entered the picture/seedcard and left the picture/seedcard. These records were counted as occurrences since we cannot identify individuals and thus no true abundances.

The seed removal was analyzed as the number of seeds that were taken by the slugs on each seedcard. We excluded data where other animals were seen on the seedcards, and seeds were missing afterwards.

NA’s in the dataset are present when the seedcards were not completely seen in the pictures, the seedcard was flipped by animals, we had an overexposure to light and the pictures were white, or other animals than slugs were responsible for the seed removal.

All collected samples were analyzed by Lisa Albert.
description: Variables Description################

*Region: the regions the patches are located in

*Patch_Nr.: number of each patch

*patchLabel_BETAFOR: unique BETA-FOR patch label

*Sampling_method: The way the sample was taken

*Camera_position: The position of the camera in each patch

*Round: The sampling round

*Sampling_ID: unique ID of each camera and sampling round

*Start_sampling: The date the camera trap and seed cards were installed 

*End_sampling: the date the camera trap and seed cards were removed after 24 hours

*Slug_Occurence_patch: The number of slugs on the camera trap in each patch. It was counted as one occurrence when the slug entered the picture and left the picture. This is not the number of different individuals

*Slug_time_patch: The sum of the minutes each slug spent in the patch on the pictures. 

*Slug_time_per_animal_patch: The mean of the minutes each slug spent in the patch on the pictures. It was calculated as the sum of the minutes each slug spent in each patch divided by the slug occurrence in each patch.

*Slug_occurence_card: The number of slugs on the camera trap on the seedcard. It was counted as one occurrence when the slug entered the seedcard and left the seedcard. This is not the number of different individuals

*Slug_time_card: : The sum of the minutes each slug spent on the seedcard. 

*Slug_time_per_animal_card: The mean of the minutes each slug spent on the seedcard. It was calculated as the sum of the minutes each slug spent on the seedcard divided by the slug occurrence on each seedcard.

*Slug_occurence_card_percent: the percentage of the slug occurrence on the seedcard compared to slug occurrence in the patch. 

*Seed_type: The plant species form which the seeds were taken. The name of the species is in binary nomenklature.

*Seeds_begin: The number of seeds at the beginning of the sampling round on each seedcard

*Seeds_end: the number of seeds at the end of the sampling period after 24 hours on each seedcard

*Seeds_taken: the number of seeds that were taken during the 24-hour sampling period by slugs

*Seeds_taken_percent: The percentage of seeds that were taken during the 24-hour sampling period by slugs

*dwc:Identified_by: Name of the person who analyzed the camera trap data and the seed removal