DOI: 10.5061/dryad.59zw3r2j2
title: Data from: Morph-linked variation in female pheromone signaling and male response in a polymorphic moth

description: Understanding the maintenance of genetic variation in reproductive
 strategies and polymorphisms in the wild requires a comprehensive
 examination of the complex interactions between genetic basis, behavior,
 and environmental factors. We tested the association between three color
 genotypes and variation in female pheromone signaling and male antennal
 morphology in the wood tiger moth (Arctia plantaginis). These moths have
 genetically determined white (WW, Wy) and yellow (yy) hindwings that are
 linked to mating success and fitness, with heterozygotes (Wy) having an
 advantage. We hypothesized that attractiveness and reproductive success
 are correlated, with Wy females being more attractive than the other two
 genotypes which could contribute to maintaining the polymorphism. Female
 attractiveness was tested by baiting traps with females of the three color
 genotypes both in low- (i.e., field setup) and in high-population density
 (i.e., large enclosure setup). Male’s ability to reach females was
 correlated to their own color genotype and antennal morphology (length,
 area, and lamellae count). Contrary to our prediction, morph-related
 reproductive success and attractiveness were not correlated. Heavier Wy
 females attracted a lower proportion of males compared to WW and yy
 females. Specifically, an increase in weight corresponded to a decreased
 Wy but increased yy female attractiveness. yy females were generally more
 attractive than others likely due to earlier pheromone release. In males,
 lamellae count and genetic color morph were linked to the male’s ability
 to locate females. Furthermore, male traits affected their ability to
 reach females in a context-specific way. Males with denser antennae (i.e.,
 higher lamellae count) and white males reached the females faster than
 yellows in the enclosure, while yellow males located females faster than
 whites in the field.  Our results indicate that higher yy female
 attractiveness was likely affected by the combined effect of early
 pheromone release, female weight and higher population density. Males’
 searching success was affected by morph-specific behavioral strategies and
 local population density. Ultimately, the combined effect of
 genotype-related pheromone signaling strategies of females together with
 environment-dependent male behavior affect male response and potentially
 contribute to maintaining variation in fitness-related traits.
description: The dataset was collected through experimental work, both in a
 field setup and in a semi-natural setup. The data was then analyzed with R
 studio software. Please refer to the published paper for more
 details.
description: # Data from: Morph-linked variation in female pheromone signaling and male
 response in a polymorphic moth
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.59zw3r2j2](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.59zw3r2j2) ## Description of the data and file structure ### Files and variables #### File: Field\_Setup.xlsx **Tab 'Female attractiveness' - variables:** * attracted.y.n. Coded as 0 or 1, whether a female did not (i.e., 0) or did (i.e., 1) attracted at least one male throughout the night - w.y_males The total number of males attracted by a female at the end of the night - genotype The female genotype, i.e., WW, Wy, yy - night The night of experiment - Zweight Standardized female weight (mg); NA: female weight unknown  - night_location A label made of the night of testing (from 1 to 7) and the location (from 1 to 7) and coded with sequential letters. So to each letter correspond one night and one location of the experiment **Tab 'Disassortative attractiveness' - variables:** * male_count The total number of males caught by female throughout the night * female_genotype The female genotype, i.e., WW, Wy, yy * male_morph Whether a female attracted a white or yellow male * night_location A label made of the night of testing (from 1 to 7) and the location (from 1 to 7) and coded with sequential letters. So to each letter correspond one night and one location of the experiment **Tab 'Males' - variables:** * length The length (mm) of the antenna * area The surface of the antenna (mm2) * lamellae The total number of lamellae per antenna * male_morph whether the male had white or yellow hindwings * night_attracted Which night of the experiment said male was caught in the trap * attracted 0 no, 1 yes (this was used in a Cox model) **Tab 'Speed_attractiveness' - variables:** * w.y_males the total number of males * w.y_caught*_*night the total number of males caught per night across all females tested said night * genotype The female genotype, i.e., WW, Wy, yy * night The night of experiment #### File: Enclosure\_Setup.xlsx **Tab 'Female&Speed_attractiveness' - variables:** * Attracted.y.n. Whether a female attracted at least one male throughout the night * N_males_attracted The total number of males attracted per female at the end of the night * Males_left_in_tent The number of males left in the tent for the following night * Female age The female age (in days) when used in the experiment * Female_genotype The female genotype; WW,Wy,yy * Zweight The standardized female weight. NA: weight of the female unknown * Normalized_weight Female normalized weight. NA: weight of the female unknown * Replicate The number of replicate (from 1 to 6) * Trap_n Trap position * FemaleID Female ID **Tab 'Disassortative_attractiveness' - variables:** * male_count The number of males attracted by the female * male_in_tent The number of males left in the tent for the following night * Female_genotype The female genotype; WW, Wy, yy * male genotype The male genotype; WW, Wy, yy * FemaleID The name assigned to the female * Replicate The number of replicate (from 1 to 6) **Tab 'Strategy_fem_attractiveness' - variables:**  * onset of calling  * 0 if a male was found in the female trap at the first time check point * 1 at the second time check point * 2 if at the third check point * 3 if at the fourth check point * NA if a male was never found in the trap * Called_y.n Whether a male was found in the female trap, hence the female was deemed to be actively releasing pheromone * Female_genotype The female genotype; WW, Wy, yy * Replicate The number of replicate (from 1 to 6) * males_caught the number of males attracted by the female in one night * Duration_female*_*activity The number of consecutive time checkpoints a male was found in the female trap. NA: a male was never found in the female trap throughout the night * Males_left_in_tent The number of males left in the tent for the following night * Trap_n The number of the trap (from 1 to 9) **Tab 'Males' - variables:** * Length Length of antennae (mm) * Area Surface of antennae (mm2) * Lamellae Total number of lamellae per antenna * MaleGen Male gentoype: WW, Wy, yy * Zweight The standardized male weight (mg); NA: weight of the male unknown * Zage The standardized male age (days); NA: age of the male unknown * FemGen The genotype of the female where the male was found in the trap ## Code/software The data can be opened with Excel. The male antenna measurements: length, area and lamellae number was quantified using the software ImageJ. The statistical analyses were performed using R (v. 4.1.2) and RStudio (v. 2022.02.3)