DOI: 10.5061/dryad.tdz08kqc6
title: Data from: Endosymbiont load dictates reproductive fate: Experimental validation for the bacterial dosage model in a parthenogenetic weevil (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

description: The main focus of this work was testing the bacterial dosage model, i.e.,
 that a threshold density of Wolbachia and/or Rickettsia sp. is required
 for parthenogenetic reproduction. Through tetracycline-curing experiments
 coupled with bacterial density quantification by real-time PCR, we
 analysed the quantitative relationship between symbiont density and
 reproductive outcomes in parthenogenetic Pantomorus postfasciatus
 females. Additionally, we controlled antibiotic side-effects by analysing
 i) tissue specific effects; ii) feeding behaviour; and iii) repeating
 experiments with sexually reproducing populations. We include data on
 clutch size (amount of eggs laid per female per laying bout) and viability
 (proportion of hatched eggs per clutch) for sexually reproducing and
 parthenogenetic females during a 20-day period, relative qPCR
 quantification as a proxy of Wolbachia and Rickettsia sp. density for
 whole insects and several tissues, and average area of consumed leaves.
 Master R script for model fitting (three-parameter log-logistic model
 (Hill-type) and generalized linear mixed models) is also deposited. This
 work highlights bacterial density as a key determinant of parthenogenetic
 reproduction of P. postfasciatus.
description: # Data from: Endosymbiont load dictates reproductive fate: Experimental
 validation for the bacterial dosage model in a parthenogenetic weevil
 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.tdz08kqc6](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tdz08kqc6) ##
 Description of the data and file structure Overview This repository
 contains the master R script and associated datasets used to analyse the
 quantitative relationship between symbiont density and reproductive
 outcomes in Pantomorus postfasciatus. The study tests the bacterial dosage
 model, i.e., that Wolbachia pipientis and Rickettsia sp. must reach a
 threshold density to induce parthenogenesis. Data combine
 antibiotic-curing experiments, qPCR quantification, and reproductive
 performance measures. A three-parameter log-logistic model (Hill-type) and
 generalized linear mixed models are applied to link symbiont load to
 clutch viability, supported by diagnostic and comparative model analyses.
 ### Files and variables Input Data and Variable Glossary Below is a list
 of all input files used in FernandezGoya.et.al_2025.R, with explanations
 of content. \- **sexually_reproducing_data.txt**: Data for sexually
 reproducing females (control and antibiotic-treated) to analyse average
 clutch size (amount of eggs laid per female per laying bout) and clutch
 viability (amount of emerged larvae over eggs laid per female per laying
 bout). \- **parthenogenetic_egg_data.txt**: Data for parthenogenetic
 females (control and antibiotic-treated) to analyse average clutch size.
 \- **parthenogenetic_viability_data.txt**: Clutch viability data for
 parthenogenetic females. \- **parthenogenetic_bacteria_data.txt**:
 qPCR-derived bacterial density data for parthenogenetic females. \-
 **average_leaf_areas.txt**: Average leaf area consumed per individual,
 used to assess tetracycline effects on feeding. \-
 **feeding_assay_deaths.txt**: Death counts for feeding assay. \-
 **tissues.txt**: Tissue-specific qPCR data for Wolbachia and Rickettsia
 sp. **Supplementary data files** \- **sup.mat_eggs_viab.txt**: Egg number
 and viability data from supplementary experiments. \- **sup.mat_E1wb.txt /
 sup.mat_E1wb_viab.txt / sup.mat_E2_wb.txt**: Wolbachia densities and
 clutch data from supplementary experiments. \- **rick_test.txt**:
 Experimental data testing Rickettsia susceptibility to tetracycline.
 Occasionally, Spanish names prevail in input files. Here are the
 translated names of variables. | Variable | Meaning | Notes | |
 :---------- | :-------------------------------- |
 :-------------------------------------------------------- | | ID |
 Individual code | Unique identifier | | Tratamiento | Treatment |
 "Control" or "Tetraciclina" (=Tetracycline) | | Tiempo
 | Time (days) | Time since the experiment started | | Huevos | Eggs laid |
 Clutch size per female per laying bout | | Larvas | Larvae hatched | 
 
 | | Poblacion | Population | 
 
 | | Pfaffl\_Wb | *Wolbachia* relative density | Calculated using Pfaffl
 Cq method (Pfaffl, 2001) | | Pfaffl\_Ri | *Rickettsia* sp. relative
 density | Calculated using Pfaffl Cq method (Pfaffl, 2001) | | Av\_Area |
 Average leaf area consumed (cm2) | 
 
 | | Tejido | Tissue type | C="Head"; D="Digestive";
 R="Reproductive"; T="Whole body" | | Experimento |
 Experiment | E1; E2 | 
 
 ## Code/software Analyses were performed using R version 4.4.1
 (2024-06-14) under Windows 11 x64. Key packages include: drc (drc_3.0-1),
 lme4, nlme (nlme_3.1-164), lmerTest (lmerTest_3.1-3), DHARMa
 (DHARMa_0.4.7), MuMIn (MuMIn_1.48.11), ggplot2 (ggplot2_3.5.2), cowplot
 (cowplot_1.1.3), modelbased (modelbased_0.8.8), emmeans (emmeans_1.11.1),
 multcomp (multcomp_1.4-28), multcompView (multcompView_0.1-10), car
 (car_3.1-2), psych (psych_2.4.6.26), dplyr (dplyr_1.1.4), tidyr
 (tidyr_1.3.1) and dependencies.