DOI: 10.5061/dryad.9w0vt4bq8
title: Interactions between non-native Western Mosquitofish and native Bluegill Sunfish: mesocosm experiments

description: These data are from two mesocosm experiments designed to assess the
 impacts of interspecific interactions, including both competition and
 predation, between invasive Western Mosquitofish and native Bluegill
 Sunfish. We manipulated the presence of Western Mosquitofish and Bluegill
 Sunfish in each experiment. In Experiment 2 we also manipulated the
 presence of vegetative structure. We measured numerous aspects of the
 fish, such as length, mass, survivorship, and recruitment. We also
 examined the response of zooplankton communities to the treatments.
description: These datasets were collected using standard mesocosm experiment
 methods. We measured the total length, body mass, and number of surviving
 fish at the beginning and the end of the experiment. We used these values
 to calculate changes in measurements over the course of the experiments.
 In addition, we regularly sampled the zooplankton communities over the
 course of the experiment identified zooplankton, and counted the number of
 individuals in each sample.  The datasets have been
 proofed and in some cases, data were transformed for analysis (e.g.,
 proportions were transformed).
description: # Interactions between non-native Western Mosquitofish and native Bluegill
 Sunfish: mesocosm experiments --- This dataset includes data collected
 from two mesocosm experiments examining the interactions between an
 invasive fish, *Gambusia affinis*, and a native fish, *Lepomis
 macrochirus*. These experiments were conducted at the Denison University
 Biological Reserve in Granville, Licking County, Ohio. ## Description of
 the data and file structure The data is provided in two .csv files, one
 for each experiment. For each experiment, the data are given in columns.
 In both datasets, there are numerous blank cells indicated by
 "na", meaning "not applicable". These are cells for
 which no data could possibly be collected (e.g., in treatments with only
 *L. macrochirus* we could not collect any of the data related to *G.
 affinis,* or in treatments with no fish we could not collect any data on
 either *L. macrochirus,* or *G. affinis*, etc.) Below we give a
 description of what each column contains for each data file.
 RettigetalExperiment1 data set Cattletank: This is the ID number of each
 cattletank (note that cattletank 18 was excluded because it was found that
 we had inadvertently added too many fish to the tank at the start)
 IntervsIntra: This column indicates whether the mesocosm consisted of a
 single species (Intra) or both species (Inter) Density: This column
 indicates whether the density treatment was low or high. Treatment: This
 column provides the combined IntervsIntra and Density treatments as well
 as Control mesocosms which do not contain any fish. BG survival: This
 column provides the untransformed survival of *L. macrochirus* in the
 experiment. MeanBGTL: This column gives the mean total length (mm) of *L.
 macrochirus* in each mesocosm at the end of the experiment MeanBGMass:
 This column gives the mean mass (g) of *L. macrochirus* in each mesocosm
 at the end of the experiment Total Final/Initial Mass BF: This column
 gives the proportional change in total mass (g) of *L. macrochirus* in
 each mesocosm over the course of the experiment Mean BG BCI: This column
 provides the mean body condition index (BCI) of *L. macrochirus* in a
 mesocosm (BCI = mass/TL) BG surv trans: This column gives the arcsin
 square root transformed survival of *L. macrochirus* in each mesocosm.
 Total MF FINAL #: This column includes the total number of *G. affinis*
 found in each mesocosm at the end of the experiment. MF SRI: This column
 provides the calculated Surivorship Recruitment Index (SRI) for *G.
 affinis* in each mesocosm (SRI = Total MF FINAL #/Initial number of *G.
 affinis* put in a mesocosm) Total MF Final Mass: This column gives the
 total mass (g) of all *G. affinis* in a mesocosm at the end of the
 experiment. Total Zoops: There are 5 columns that provide the total number
 of zooplankton sampled in a mesocosm (individuals per liter). Each column
 is for a different sampling date over the course of the experiment. June 2
 is the Initial sample taken prior to adding treatments to the mesocosms.
 Large Zoops: There are 5 columns that provide the number of large
 zooplankton (*Scaphaloberus*, *Daphnia*, *Ceriodaphnia*, and
 *Simocephalus*) sampled in a mesocosm (individuals per liter). Each column
 is for a different sampling date over the course of the experiment. June 2
 is the Initial sample taken prior to adding treatments to the mesocosms.
 RettigetalExperiment2 data set Tank: This is the ID number of each
 cattletank (note that the numbering of tanks is not continuous due to some
 cattletanks being removed prior to the start of the experiment due to
 logistical reasons) Veg: This column provides information on whether the
 vegetation treatment was present (Y) or not (N) BG: This column provides
 information on whether *L. macrochirus* was present (Y) or not (N) MF:
 This column provides information on whether *G. affinis* was present (Y)
 or not (N) Change in MF TL: This column includes the mean proportional
 change in the total length (mm) of *G. affinis* in each mesocosm over the
 course of the experiment Change in BG length: This column includes the
 mean proportional change in the total length (mm) of *L. macrochirus* in
 each mesocosm over the course of the experiment Change in BG mass: This
 column includes the mean proportional change in mass (g) of *L.
 macrochirus* in each mesocosm over the course of the experiment Number of
 MF larvae: This column gives the number of larval *G. affinis* collected
 from each mesocosm at the end of the experiment MF SRI: This column
 provides the calculated Surivorship Recruitment Index (SRI) for *G.
 affinis* in each mesocosm (SRI = Total MF FINAL #/Initial number of *G.
 affinis* put in a mesocosm) Survivorship of BG: This column provides the
 untransformed survival of *L. macrochirus* in the experiment. BGSurvTrans:
 This column gives the arcsin square root transformed survival of L.
 macrochirus in each mesocosm. Total Zoops: There are 6 columns that
 provide the total number of zooplankton sampled in a mesocosm (individuals
 per liter). Each column is for a different sampling date over the course
 of the experiment. June 14 is the Initial sample taken prior to adding
 treatments to the mesocosms. Large Zoops: There are 6 columns that provide
 the number of large zooplankton (Scaphaloberus, Daphnia, Ceriodaphnia, and
 Simocephalus) sampled in a mesocosm (individuals per liter). Each column
 is for a different sampling date over the course of the experiment. June
 14 is the Initial sample taken prior to adding treatments to the
 mesocosms. ## Sharing/Access information N/A ## Code/Software N/A