DOI: 10.5061/dryad.2z34tmpx3
title: Fatty acid and carbon isotopic data for: Use of essential vs. non-essential fatty acids during flight in monarch butterflies: Implications for the importance of nectaring during migration

description: Many insect species are migratory, but migration is energetically costly,
 leading to a tradeoff between migration and subsequent
 reproduction. Of importance to the allocation of resources to
 migration and reproduction is the relative use of essential and
 non-essential fatty acids. How different ecological conditions
 experienced by individuals affect the differential allocation of nutrients
 has not been well explored, especially in insects. Our goal was
 to evaluate how reproductive (summer) and migratory (fall) rearing
 conditions affect the source and allocation patterns of fatty acids used
 during experimental flights (0-6h) in monarch butterflies (Danaus
 plexippus L.). We used larval and adult diets manipulated
 isotopically (δ13C) and chromatographic analyses to determine fatty acid
 composition and source in the fat body. C4 vs. C3 carbohydrate
 feeding increased the δ13C value of lipids in monarchs (-31.2 vs -22.1‰)
 and increased total fatty acid concentrations reflecting lipid synthesis
 during adult feeding. Fuel use during flight differed with
 essential fatty acids being more conserved in fall vs. summer conditions
 (21% vs 32% loss respectively) indicating that the environmental cues
 responsible for the onset of migration result in physiological changes
 that modify lipid use. Frequency of stopovers for nectar and
 nectar quality available during migration will influence the capacity of
 monarchs to conserve essential fatty acids up to and through migration and
 overwinter period.
description: # Fatty acid and carbon isotopic data for: Use of essential vs.
 non-essential fatty acids during flight in monarch butterflies:
 Implications for the importance of nectaring during migration
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2z34tmpx3](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2z34tmpx3) ## Description of the data and file structure Isotopic (δ13C) and Fatty Acid Concentration Data of monarch abdominal lipids in 4 csv files: Anparasan_et_al_S.1_Baseline_C.csv which contains the δ13C values of monarch abdominal lipids. These monarchs were reared in various conditions and then collected at emergence in the adult stage or 5 days post-eclosion with ample diet provided. Anparasan_et_al_S.2_Baseline_FA.csv which contains the fatty acid concentrations of monarch abdominal lipids. These monarchs were reared in various conditions then collected at emergence in the adult stage or 5 days post-eclosion with ample diet provided. Anparasan_et_al_S.3_Flight_C.csv which contains the δ13C values of monarch abdominal lipids. These monarchs were reared in various conditions then exercised at 5 days post eclosion for various durations. Anparasan_et_al_S.4_Flight_FA.csv which contains the fatty acid concentrations of monarch abdominal lipids. These monarchs were reared in various conditions then exercised at 5 days post eclosion for various durations. ### Files and variables #### File: Anparasan\_et\_al\_S.4\_Flight\_FA.csv **Description:**  ##### Variables * Rearing: environmental conditions in which insects were raised (Summer, Fall) * Flight Duration (hours):number of hours monarchs were exercised prior to collection (0,1,4 or 6 hours) * Sex:m,f (male, female) * PA:the concentration (µmol/ml) of palmitic acid in the monarch abdominal lipid sample analysed using gas chromatographic techniques * ST:the concentration (µmol/ml) of stearic acid in the monarch abdominal lipid sample analysed using gas chromatographic techniques * OL:the concentration (µmol/ml) of oleic acid in the monarch abdominal lipid sample analysed using gas chromatographic techniques * LA: the concentration (µmol/ml) of linoleic acid in the monarch abdominal lipid sample analysed using gas chromatographic techniques * ALA:the concentration (µmol/ml) of alpha-linolenic acid in the monarch abdominal lipid sample analysed using gas chromatographic techniques * TOTAL:the concentration (µmol/ml) of all fatty acids in the monarch abdominal lipid sample analysed using gas chromatographic techniques #### File: Anparasan\_et\_al\_S.3\_Flight\_C.csv **Description:**  ##### Variables * Rearing: environmental conditions in which insects were raised (Summer, Fall) * Flight duration (hours): number of hours monarchs were exercised prior to collection (0,1,4 or 6 hours) * Sex: m,f (male, female) * 13C: isotopic (δ13C) value (‰) of monarch abdominal lipid #### File: Anparasan\_et\_al\_S.1\_Baseline\_C.csv **Description:**  ##### Variables * Rearing: environmental conditions in which insects were raised (Summer, Fall and controlled laboratory conditions “Lab”) * Age (days): days post-eclosion on which monarchs were collected (zero = at emergence, five= fed ad lib for 5 days post eclosion) * Sex: m,f (male, female) * 13C:isotopic (δ13C) value (‰) of monarch abdominal lipid #### File: Anparasan\_et\_al\_S.2\_Baseline\_FA.csv **Description:**  ##### Variables * Rearing: environmental conditions in which insects were raised (Summer, Fall and controlled laboratory conditions “Lab”) * Age (days): days post-eclosion on which monarchs were collected (zero = at emergence, five= fed ad lib for 5 days post eclosion) * Sex:m,f (male, female) * PA:the concentration (µmol/ml) of palmitic acid in the monarch abdominal lipid sample analysed using gas chromatographic techniques * ST:the concentration (µmol/ml) of stearic acid in the monarch abdominal lipid sample analysed using gas chromatographic techniques * OL:the concentration (µmol/ml) of oleic acid in the monarch abdominal lipid sample analysed using gas chromatographic techniques * LA: the concentration (µmol/ml) of linoleic acid in the monarch abdominal lipid sample analysed using gas chromatographic techniques * ALA:the concentration (µmol/ml) of alpha-linolenic acid in the monarch abdominal lipid sample analysed using gas chromatographic techniques * TOTAL:the concentration (µmol/ml) of all fatty acids in the monarch abdominal lipid sample analysed using gas chromatographic techniques