DOI: 10.5061/dryad.5s12fr6
title: Data from: Botfly infections impair the aerobic performance and survival of montane populations of deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus

description: 1. Elevations &gt;2000 m represent consistently harsh environments for
 small endotherms because of abiotic stressors such as cold temperatures
 and hypoxia. 2. These environmental stressors may limit the ability of
 populations living at these elevations to respond to biotic selection
 pressures — such as parasites or pathogens — that in other environmental
 contexts would impose only minimal energetic- and fitness-related costs.
 3. We studied deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus) living along two
 elevational transects (2300 – 4400 m) in the Colorado Rockies and found
 that infection prevalence by botfly larvae (Cuterebridae) declined at
 higher elevations. We found no evidence of infections at elevations
 &gt; 2400 m, but that 33.6% of all deer mice, and 52.2% of adults,
 were infected at elevations &lt; 2400 m. 4. Botfly infections were
 associated with reductions in hematocrit levels of 23%, hemoglobin
 concentrations of 27%, and cold-induced VO2max measures of 19% compared to
 uninfected individuals. In turn, these reductions in aerobic performance
 appeared to influence fitness, as infected individuals suffered 19-34%
 higher overwinter mortality. 5. In contrast to studies at lower
 elevations, we found evidence indicating that botfly infections influence
 the aerobic capabilities and fitness of deer mice living at elevations
 between 2000 – 2400 m. Our results therefore suggest that the interaction
 between botflies and small rodents is likely highly context-dependent and
 that, more generally, high-elevation populations may be susceptible to
 additional biotic selection pressures.
description: READMEWilde et al.,
 2019FE_dataData from ME and RM low
 sites, Spring Gulch (SG) and Big Elk (BE) respectively. Data is organized
 by site, individual mouse ID (format: site_season_number), and descending
 year (2018, 2017, 2016). Associated demographic characters Sex and Age are
 in binary, with 1 representing Male and Adult, and 0 representing Female
 and Juvenile. RMR and SMR are uncorrected flow rate’s (ml O2 min-1) from
 respirometry trials, done only in 2016 and 2017. Infection is organized
 with 0 ‘no infection’, 1 ‘recovering’, and 2 ‘active infection’. See
 methods of Wilde et al., 2019 for further details.Wilde et al.,
 2018FE_data.csvBig Elk Survival for
 DryadDaily recaptures in Big
 Elk site of individual mice detected during Fall 2017 and Spring 2018
 sample seasons. Mouse ID’s are in ascending order. Associated characters
 Sex, Age (0 Juvenile, 1 Adult), and Bot (0 inactive, 1 active) belonging
 to each Mouse ID are recorded. See methods of Wilde et al., 2019 for
 further details.Spring Gulch Survival
 For DryadDaily recaptures in
 Spring Gulch site of individual mice detected during Fall 2017 and Spring
 2018 sample seasons. Mouse ID’s are in ascending order. Associated
 characters Sex, Age (0 Juvenile, 1 Adult), and Bot (0 inactive, 1 active)
 belonging to each Mouse ID are recorded. See methods of Wilde et al., 2019
 for further details.