DOI: 10.5061/dryad.5k927
title: Data from: Disentangling mite predator-prey relationships by multiplex PCR

description: Gut content analysis using molecular techniques can help elucidate
 predator-prey relationships in situations in which other methodologies are
 not feasible, such as in the case of trophic interactions between minute
 species such as mites. We designed species-specific primers for a mite
 community occurring in Spanish citrus orchards comprising two herbivores,
 the Tetranychidae Tetranychus urticae and Panonychus citri, and six
 predatory mites belonging to the Phytoseiidae family; these predatory
 mites are considered to be these herbivores’ main biological control
 agents. These primers were successfully multiplexed in a single PCR to
 test the range of predators feeding on each of the two prey species. We
 estimated prey DNA detectability success over time (DS50), which depended
 on the predator-prey combination and ranged from 0.2 to 18 h. These values
 were further used to weight prey detection in field samples to disentangle
 the predatory role played by the most abundant predators (i.e. Euseius
 stipulatus and Phytoseiulus persimilis). The corrected predation value for
 E. stipulatus was significantly higher than for P. persimilis. However,
 because this 1.5-fold difference was less than that observed regarding
 their sevenfold difference in abundance, we conclude that P. persimilis is
 the most effective predator in the system; it preyed on tetranychids
 almost five times more frequently than E. stipulatus did. The present
 results demonstrate that molecular tools are appropriate to unravel
 predator-prey interactions in tiny species such as mites, which include
 important agricultural pests and their predators.
description: PROBIT_RAW_DATA_PREY_T.URTICAERaw data corresponding to the probit curves multiplex PCR detection of the tetranychid prey Tetranychus urticae in three different predators: Euseius stipulatus, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neouseiulus californicusPROBIT_RAW_DATA_PREY_P.CITRIRaw data corresponding to the probit curves multiplex PCR detection of the tetranychid prey Panonychus citri in three different predators: Euseius stipulatus, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neouseiulus californicusRAW_DATA_FIELD_SAMPLINGRaw data corresponding to the multiplex PCR identification of the target phytoseiid predators and their tetranychid preys in field samplesFIG_1_PROBIT_DATAData corresponding to the probit curves of Figure 1FIG_2_RELATIVE_QUANTIFICATION_OF_PREY_DNA_BY_QPCRData corresponding to the relative quantification of prey (Tetranychus urticae) and predator (Phytoseiulus persimilis) DNA by qPCR from Figure 2.FIG_3_MOLECULAR_DETECTION_OF_TETRANYCHID_PREY_IN_FIELD_PREDATORSSummary of the molecular detection data of tetranychid prey on phytoseiid predators in field samples for the Figure 3.Fig_S1_AMPLIFICATION_MULTIPLEX_PCR_ALL_SPECIESPeak Scaner lecture of the target species included in this study and represented in Figure S1PCR_SENSITIVITYPeak Scaner lecture of the serial dilutions of the target tetranychid preys Tetranychus urticae and Panonychus citri. Data only include the number of dilutions with detection for each species.SENSITIVITY_OF_DNA_TEMPLATE_MIXPeak Scaner lecture of the multiplex PCR amplification reaction using a DNA template mix with all the target species included in this study.TABLE_3_PERCENTAGE_SUCCESFUL_MULTIPLE_PREY_DETECTIONRaw data of successful prey detection for E. stipulatus and P. persimilis depending on the order of the prey species offered in the multiple prey assay from Table 3.TABLE_4_TIME_INVESTED_AND_SUCCESFUL_ENCOUNTER_OF_E_STIPULATUSRaw data of the time invested and succesful encounters of Euseius stipulatus for the multiple prey assay from Table 4.TABLE_4_TIME_INVESTED_AND_SUCCESFUL_ENCOUNTER_OF_P_PERSIMILISRaw data of the time invested and succesful encounters of Phytoseiulus persimilis for the multiple prey assay from Table 4.TABLE_5_CORRECTED_PREDATION_VALUESSummary of the prey detection data in field samples for three phytoseiid predator species: Euseius stipulatus, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus for determining the corrected predation values of Table 5.