DOI: 10.5061/dryad.7r5d56c
title: Data from: Transferability of biotic interactions: temporal consistency of arctic plant-rodent relationships is poor

description: Variability in biotic interaction strength is an integral part of food web
 functioning. However, the consequences of the spatial and temporal
 variability of biotic interactions are poorly known, in particular for
 predicting species abundance and distribution. The amplitude of rodent
 population cycles (i.e. peak phase abundances) has been hypothesized to be
 determined by vegetation properties in tundra ecosystems. We assessed the
 spatial and temporal predictability of food and shelter plants effects on
 peak phase small rodent abundance during two consecutive rodent population
 peaks. Rodent abundance was related to both food and shelter biomass
 during the first peak, and spatial transferability was mostly good. Yet,
 the temporal transferability of our models to the next population peak was
 poorer. Plant-rodent interactions are thus temporally variable and likely
 more complex than simple one-directional (bottom up) relationships or
 variably overruled by other biotic interactions and abiotic factors. We
 propose that parametrizing a more complete set of functional links within
 food webs across abiotic and biotic contexts would improve transferability
 of biotic interaction models. Such attempts are currently constrained by
 the lack of data with replicated estimates of key players in food webs.
 Enhanced collaboration between researchers whose main research interests
 lay in different parts of the food web could ameliorate this.
description: plant and rodent data
 during first peak for Microtus oeconomusMicrotus oeconomus
 numbers and related plant functional group biomass during small rodent
 population peak 2006-2007.plant_rodent_1st_peak_mic_oec.txtplant and rodent data during first peak for Myodes rufocanusMyodes rufocanus numbers and related plant functional group biomass during small rodent population peak 2006-2007.plant_rodent_1st_peak_myo_ruf.txtplant and rodent data during first peak for Lemmus lemmusLemmus lemmus numbers and related plant functional group biomass during small rodent population peak 2006-2007.plant_rodent_1st_peak_lem_lem.txtplant and rodent data during second peak for Microtus oeconomusMicrotus oeconomus numbers and related plant functional group biomass during small rodent population peak 2010-2011.plant_rodent_2nd_peak_mic_oec.txtplant and rodent data during second peak for Myodes rufocanusMyodes rufocanus numbers and related plant functional group biomass during small rodent population peak 2010-2011.plant_rodent_2nd_peak_myo_ruf.txtplant and rodent data during second peak for Lemmus lemmusLemms lemmus numbers and related plant functional group biomass during small rodent population peak 2010-2011.plant_rodent_2nd_peak_lem_lem.txtrodent data both peaks and seasons Microtus oeconomusMicrotus oeconomus numbers during both peaks and seasons.rodent_both_peaks_and_seasons_mic_oec.txtrodent data both peaks and seasons Myodes rufocanusMyodes rufocanus numbers during both peaks and seasons.rodent_both_peaks_and_seasons_myo_ruf.txtrodent data both peaks and seasons Lemmus lemmusLemmus lemmus numbers for both peaks and seasons.rodent_both_peaks_and_seasons_lem_lem.txt