DOI: 10.5061/dryad.n7bf0
title: Data from: Condition-dependent trade-offs between sexual traits, body condition and immunity: the effect of novel habitats

description: Background: The optimal allocation of resources to sexual signals and
 other life history traits is usually dependent on an individual's
 condition, while variation in the expression of sexual traits across
 environments depends on the combined effects of local adaptation, mean
 condition, and phenotypic responses to environment-specific cues that
 affect resource allocation. A clear contrast can often be drawn between
 natural habitats and novel habitats, such as forest plantations and urban
 areas. In some species, males seem to change their sexual signals in these
 novel environments, but why this occurs and how it affects signal
 reliability is still poorly understood. Results: The relative size of
 sexual traits and level of immune responses were significantly lower for
 male palmate newts Lissotriton helveticus caught in pine and eucalyptus
 plantations compared to those caught in native forests, but there was no
 habitat-dependent difference in body condition (n= 18 sites, 382 males).
 The reliability with which sexual traits signalled body condition and
 immune responses was the same in all three habitats. Finally, we conducted
 a mesocosm experiment in which males were maintained in pine, eucalypt or
 oak infused water for 21 days. Males in plantation-like water (pine or
 eucalypt) showed significantly lower immune responses but no change in
 body condition. This matches the pattern seen for field-caught males.
 Unlike field-caught males, however, there was no relationship between
 water type and relative sexual trait size. Conclusions: Pine and
 eucalyptus plantations are likely to be detrimental to male palmate newt
 because they are associated with reduced immune function and smaller
 sexual traits. This could be because ecological aspects of these novel
 habitats, such as high water turbidity or changes in male-male
 competition, drive selection for reduced investment into sexual traits.
 However, it is more probable that there are differences in the ease of
 acquisition, hence optimal allocation, of resources among habitats. Our
 mesocosm experiment also provides some evidence that water toxicity is a
 causal factor. Our findings offer insights into how plantations affect
 amphibian life histories, and how novel habitats might generate long-term
 selection for new resource allocation strategies in native species.
description: Data for field
 experimentThis is the field data
 for the manuscript “Condition-dependent trade-offs between sexual traits,
 body condition and immunity: the effect of novel habitats”. Data was
 collected by MIC and CC. All methods are described in the associated
 manuscript. Column headings are described in the excel
 spreadsheet.Field
 experiment.xlsxData from mesocosm
 experimentThis is the mesocosm
 data for the manuscript “Condition-dependent trade-offs between sexual
 traits, body condition and immunity: the effect of novel habitats” Data
 was collected by MIC and CC. All methods are described in the associated
 manuscript. Column headings are described in the excel
 spreadsheet.mesocosm
 experiment.xlsx