DOI: 10.5061/dryad.vx0k6dk07
title: Data from: Productive foraging grounds enhance maternal condition and offspring quality in a capital breeding species

description: Feeding ecology is an essential component of an organism's life, but
 foraging comes with risks and energetic costs. Species in which
 populations exhibit more than one feeding strategy, such as sea turtles,
 are good systems for investigating how feeding ecology impacts
 life-history traits, reproduction and carried over effects across
 generations. Here, we investigated how the feeding ecology of loggerhead
 sea turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting at the Cabo Verde archipelago
 correlates with reproductive outputs and offspring quality. We determined
 the feeding ecology of female turtles before and during the breeding
 season from stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen and correlated
 isotopic ratio with female and offspring traits. We found that female
 turtles feeding at higher trophic positions produced larger clutches. We
 also found that females with higher δ13C values, typical of productive
 foraging areas, had greater fat reserves, were less likely to be infected
 by leech parasites and produced heavier offspring. The offspring of
 infected mothers with higher δ13C values performed best in crawling and
 self-righting trials than those of non-infected mothers with higher δ13C
 values. This study shows adult female loggerheads that exploit productive
 areas build capital reserves that impact their reproductive success and
 multiple proxies for offspring quality. Overall, our findings provide
 valuable insights into the complex interplay between feeding ecology and
 reproductive success, and reveal the transgenerational carry-over effects
 of both feeding ecology and health on offspring quality in sea turtles.
description: # Productive foraging grounds enhance maternal condition and offspring
 quality in a capital breeding species
 [https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70137](https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70137)
 The adult and hatchling data files to run the analysis and produce the
 plots for the above study. ## Description of the data and file structure
 **Data Files:** ***AllSkinAndBloodTurtles_Published.csv - All turtle data
 that had skin and blood samples taken for this study.*** Turtle_ID -
 Unique turtle ID number used to track samples Year - Sample Year
 Appearance - Sighting number of the individual turtle in that season
 Original Name - First sighting Sample ID to allow sample matching Island -
 What island the sample was taken on Beach - what beach the sample was
 taken on Sample_Date - sample date Sample_Time - sample time By - who took
 the sample FusedPIT_Letter - PIT tag number with additional letter to stop
 excel reformatting in csv Metal_Tag1 - Metal tag number (left) Metal_Tag2
 - Metal tag number (right) CCL[cm] - Curved Carapace Length in centimeters
 average of three measurements CCW[cm] - Curved Carapace Width in
 centimeters average of three measurements Cloacal_Parasites - if cloacal
 parasites were present (Yes, No, NA (means was not able to verify))
 Amount_cloacal_p - cloacal parasite count Barnacles - if any barnacles
 were present on the carapace of the turtle Amount_Barnacles - count of any
 barnacles were present on the carapace of the turtle Other_Parasites - if
 any other parasites that do not fall into the above categories were
 present. Blood_Sample - if a blood sample was taken Fat(mm) - Body fat
 measured around the latissimus dorsi muscle average of three measurements
 Number eggs - number of eggs laid in this encounter.
 ***AllTurt.lesseggfat_Published.csv - All turtle data that had skin and
 blood samples taken for this study with outliers removed.*** Turtle_ID -
 Unique turtle ID number used to track samples Year - Sample Year
 Appearance - Sighting number of the individual turtle in that season
 Original Name - First sighting Sample ID to allow sample matching Island -
 What island the sample was taken on Beach - what beach the sample was
 taken on Sample_Date - sample date Sample_Time - sample time By - who took
 the sample FusedPIT_Letter - PIT tag number with additional letter to stop
 excel reformatting in csv Metal_Tag1 - Metal tag number (left) Metal_Tag2
 - Metal tag number (right) CCL[cm] - Curved Carapace Length in centimeters
 average of three measurements CCW[cm] - Curved Carapace Width in
 centimeters average of three measurements Cloacal_Parasites - if cloacal
 parasites were present (Yes, No, NA (means was not able to verify))
 Amount_cloacal_p - cloacal parasite count Barnacles - if any barnacles
 were present on the carapace of the turtle Amount_Barnacles - count of any
 barnacles were present on the carapace of the turtle Other_Parasites - if
 any other parasites that do not fall into the above categories were
 present. Blood_Sample - if a blood sample was taken Fat(mm) - Body fat
 measured around the latissimus dorsi muscle average of three measurements
 Number eggs - number of eggs laid in this encounter (clutch size) Skin_13C
 - Skin stable isotope - d13C Skin_15N - Skin stable isotope - d15N
 PartOfSeason - Whether in early, middle, or late period of the season
 FatReserves_new - Fat Reserves calculated from the residuals of the linear
 model of: Fat(mm) ~ CCL Resid_FatRes_PartSeason - Residuals of
 FatReserves_new ~ PartOfSeason Resid_CCL_Para - Residuals of CCL ~
 Cloacal_Parasites Resid_15N_Season - Residuals of Skin_15N ~ PartOfSeason
 Resid_CCL_13C - Residuals of CCL ~ Skin_13C Resid_CluSize_PartSeason -
 Residuals of Number eggs ~ PartOfSeason Resid_CCLPara_ClutSeason -
 Residuals of Resid_CCL_Para ~ Resid_CluSize_PartSeason
 Resid_Skin15N_Skin13C - Residuals of Skin_15N ~ Skin_13C
 Resid_ClutPartS_15N13C - Residuals of Resid_CluSize_PartSeason ~
 Resid_Skin15N_Skin13C Resid_S15N13C_PartSeason - Residuals of
 Resid_Skin15N_Skin13C ~ PartOfSeason Resid_ClutPartS_15N13CPartS -
 Residuals of Resid_CluSize_PartSeason ~ Resid_S15N13C_PartSeason
 Resid_FatRes_R15N_13C - Residuals of FatReserves_new ~
 Resid_Skin15N_Skin13C Resid_Clutch_RFat15N13C - Residuals of Number eggs ~
 Resid_FatRes_R15N_13C ***NestSuccess_20190610_Published.csv - CSV file
 containing the nest success data for each nest moved and monitored***
 Hatchery - Hatchery ID Nest # - Nest Number Location - Nest Beach Date
 Laid - Date laid 54 Days Inc. - 54 days since laid (expected hatch date)
 EggOldCount - egg count at beach ClutchSize - egg count at hatchery Sample
 - Sample ID New PIT - New PIT if inserted New Metal_L - New metal tag
 number if used (Left) New Metal_R - New metal tag number if used (Right)
 Found PIT - PIT if found Found Metal_L - Metal tag number if found (Left)
 Found Metal_R - Metal tag number if found (Right) Fitness test - If
 fitness test done. Hatch Date - Date of nest hatching Excavation Date -
 Date of nest excavation Emerged Live - How many hatchlings emerged from
 the next before excavation LFT - Upon excavation live full term hatchlings
 found DFT - Upon excavation dead full term hatchlings LP - Upon excavation
 live partially hatched hatchlings DP- Upon excavation dead partially
 partially hatched term hatchlings UH Total - Unhatched total Predated -
 Predated hatchlings Undetermined - Hatchlings with an unknown fate Total
 Eggs - Total number EmergedSuccessNum - Hatchlings emerged from the nest
 (hatchlings/clutch size) EmergedSuccessPerct - Percent of hatchlings
 emerged from the nest (hatchlings/clutch size X 100) LiveSuccessNum -
 Hatchlings emerged from the nest (emerged+excavated live in nest/clutch
 size) LiveSuccessPerct - Percent of hatchlings emerged from the nest
 (emerged+excavated live in nest/clutch size X 100)
 ***Run1_2_3_Plasma_DriftCorrected_20190411_Published.csv - the stable
 isotope results for the plasma sample data collected from the turtles for
 this study*** Turtle_ID - Turtle Sample ID SampleWeight - Sample weight in
 μg SIA_15N - Plasma δ15N values drift corrected by the continuous flow
 isotope ratio mass spectrometer - Integra2, Sercon (Crewe, United
 Kingdom). SIA_13C - Plasma δ13C values drift corrected by the continuous
 flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer - Integra2, Sercon (Crewe, United
 Kingdom). RunNumber - Sample run number
 ***Run1_2_3_4_5_Skin_DriftCorrected_20191101_Published.csv - the stable
 isotope results for the skin sample data collected from the turtles for
 this study*** Turtle_ID - Turtle Sample ID SampleWeight - Sample weight in
 μg SIA_15N - Skin δ15N values drift corrected by the continuous flow
 isotope ratio mass spectrometer - Integra2, Sercon (Crewe, United
 Kingdom). SIA_13C - Skin δ13C values drift corrected by the continuous
 flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer - Integra2, Sercon (Crewe, United
 Kingdom). RunNumber - Sample run number ***HatcheryData_20190319.csv - the
 hatchling fitness test data*** Island - Island in Cabo Verde NestID - Nest
 ID Date - Date of fitness test Hatchery - Hatchery ID Turtle_ID - Turtle
 Sample ID PIT - Maternal turtle PIT Tag Number with additional letter to
 stop excel reformatting in csv Metal_L - Maternal metal tag number if
 found (Left) Metal_R - Maternal metal tag number if found (Left)
 TimeOfEmergence - Time of nest emergence StartTest - Start of fitness
 tests EndTest - End of fitness tests SampledBy - Hatchling fitness test
 sampler Hatchling - Hatchling ID for each test Weight.g. - Hatchling
 weight in grams SCL.mm. - Hatchling length in mm SCW.mm. - Hatchling width
 in mm No_Scute_L - Number of left side scutes on hatchling No_Scute_M -
 Number of middle scutes on hatchling No_Scute_R - Number of right side
 scutes on hatchling Flip_1 - Flip time 1 in seconds Flip_2 - Flip time 2
 in seconds Flip_3 - Flip time 3 in seconds Run_1 - Run time 1 in seconds
 Run_2 - Run time 2 in seconds - if stop watch not stopped this time is
 then taken from Run_1 for next column Calc_Run_2 - Run time 2 in seconds -
 if the stop watch was not stopped take run time 1 from run time 2 IncDur -
 Nest incubation duration ***Combined_PlasmaSkin_SIA_20190411_Published.csv
 - the combined stable isotope results for skin and plasma sample data
 collected from the turtles for this study*** Turtle_ID - Turtle Sample ID
 SampleWeight - Sample weight in μg SIA_15N - Skin δ15N values drift
 corrected by the continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer -
 Integra2, Sercon (Crewe, United Kingdom). SIA_13C - Skin δ13C values drift
 corrected by the continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer -
 Integra2, Sercon (Crewe, United Kingdom). RunNumber - Sample run number
 Type - Skin or Plasma sample ***Full.Blood_Tur.lesseggfat.csv - All turtle
 data that had blood samples taken for this study with outliers removed.***
 Turtle_ID - Unique turtle ID number used to track samples Year - Sample
 Year Appearance - Sighting number of the individual turtle in that season
 Original Name - First sighting Sample ID to allow sample matching Island -
 What island the sample was taken on Beach - what beach the sample was
 taken on Sample_Date - sample date Sample_Time - sample time By - who took
 the sample FusedPIT_Letter - PIT tag number with additional letter to stop
 excel reformatting in csv Metal_Tag1 - Metal tag number (left) Metal_Tag2
 - Metal tag number (right) CCL[cm] - Curved Carapace Length in centimeters
 average of three measurements CCW[cm] - Curved Carapace Width in
 centimeters average of three measurements Cloacal_Parasites - if cloacal
 parasites were present (Yes, No, NA (means was not able to verify))
 Amount_cloacal_p - cloacal parasite count Barnacles - if any barnacles
 were present on the carapace of the turtle Amount_Barnacles - count of any
 barnacles were present on the carapace of the turtle Other_Parasites - if
 any other parasites that do not fall into the above categories were
 present. Blood_Sample - if a blood sample was taken Fat(mm) - Body fat
 measured around the latissimus dorsi muscle average of three measurements
 Number eggs - number of eggs laid in this encounter. Skin_13C - Skin
 stable isotope - d13C Skin_15N - Skin stable isotope - d15N PartOfSeason -
 Whether in early, middle, or late period of the season FatReserves_new -
 Fat Reserves calculated from the residuals of the linear model of: Fat(mm)
 ~ CCL Resid_FatRes_PartSeason - Residuals of FatReserves_new ~
 PartOfSeason Resid_CCL_Para - Residuals of CCL ~ Cloacal_Parasites
 Resid_15N_Season - Residuals of Skin_15N ~ PartOfSeason Resid_CCL_13C -
 Residuals of CCL ~ Skin_13C Resid_CluSize_PartSeason - Residuals of Number
 eggs ~ PartOfSeason Resid_CCLPara_ClutSeason - Residuals of Resid_CCL_Para
 ~ Resid_CluSize_PartSeason Resid_Skin15N_Skin13C - Residuals of Skin_15N ~
 Skin_13C Resid_ClutPartS_15N13C - Residuals of Resid_CluSize_PartSeason ~
 Resid_Skin15N_Skin13C Resid_S15N13C_PartSeason - Residuals of
 Resid_Skin15N_Skin13C ~ PartOfSeason Resid_ClutPartS_15N13CPartS -
 Residuals of Resid_CluSize_PartSeason ~ Resid_S15N13C_PartSeason
 Resid_FatRes_R15N_13C - Residuals of FatReserves_new ~
 Resid_Skin15N_Skin13C Resid_Clutch_RFat15N13C - Residuals of Number eggs ~
 Resid_FatRes_R15N_13C Plasma_15N - Plasma stable isotope - d15N Plasma_13C
 - Plasma stable isotope - d13C Resid_Pl13C_Season - Residuals of
 Plasma_13C ~ PartOfSeason Resid_Pl15N_Season - Residuals of Plasma_15N ~
 PartOfSeason Resid_CCL_PartSeason - Residuals of CCL ~ PartOfSeason
 ***All_SIA_DATA_Ratios_2024_Published.csv - Ratio of C:N data from running
 stable isotope samples*** Row - Row Number Turtle_ID - Turtle Sample ID
 Weight_Sample_g N_ug - Nitrogen weight in sample in μg d15N - δ15N values
 drift corrected by the continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer -
 Integra2, Sercon (Crewe, United Kingdom). C_ug - Carbon weight in sample
 in μg d13C - δ13C values drift corrected by the continuous flow isotope
 ratio mass spectrometer - Integra2, Sercon (Crewe, United Kingdom). Run -
 Sample run number Ratio - ratio of the weight of carbon and nitrogen
 Tissue - Skin or Plasma sample Missing data code: NA **Code Files:**
 ***Code_MaternalFeedingEcologyAltersHatchlingFitnessInACapitalBreedingSpecies_LeilaFouda.R - R code for this project.*** All the r code used to run the models in this paper. ***PlotsForPaper.R - R code to plot figures in this project.*** All the r code used to make the plots in this paper. ## Code/Software The code was created to be run in R was processed in RStudio.