DOI: 10.5061/dryad.dr7sqvb8z
title: Data from: Generalist-pollinated <em>Arabis alpina</em> exhibits floral scent variation at multiple scales

description: Plants that depend on animals for reproduction often use complex floral
 traits to attract pollinators. Floral scent is recognized as part of the
 pollinator attraction module and can be shaped by plant-pollinator
 interactions. In recent decades, research has started to reveal the
 dynamic properties of floral scent, identifying patterns of spatial and
 temporal variation in floral scent emissions at various scales. Here, we
 investigate the levels at which floral scent varies in two populations of
 the generalist, perennial herb Arabis alpina (Brassicaceae) and if scent
 variation co-varies with pollinator activity, which would be expected if
 scent production is costly. First, we show the potential for both floral
 scent and pollinator communities to vary at a small geographic scale,
 between neighboring populations located some 4 km apart. Then, we
 investigate diel variation in floral scent emission rate and pollinator
 activity to test for synchronization between plants and pollinators.
 Further, we sampled volatiles from dissected floral parts to determine
 where floral scent compounds are produced in A. alpina. The two
 populations were pollinated by partly different communities of diurnally
 active insects, and scent composition, specifically petal and reproductive
 organ scent, differed between the two neighboring populations. However, we
 found no evidence of a diel synchronization between floral scent emission
 and insect activity, as A. alpina emits similar amounts of scent
 regardless of time of day and temperature. Whereas the spatial variation
 (within flowers, among populations) suggests specific and localized
 functions of the floral scent, the constant and stable scent emission
 indicates a low production and maintenance cost of the floral volatiles in
 this system.
description: # Data from: Generalist-pollinated *Arabis alpina* exhibits floral scent
 variation at multiple scales Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.dr7sqvb8z](10.5061/dryad.dr7sqvb8z) ## Description of the
 data and file structure This data contains data on *Arabis alpina* L.
 (Brassicaceae) floral scent (absolute and relative amounts) as well as
 insect community data in two Italian populations of the same species. Data
 was collected in 2022 and 2023. The floral scent data can be used to
 quantify diel patterns of floral scent emissions as well as tissue
 specific floral scent emission. The insect data can be used to quantify
 visitation rates to *A. alpina* flowers. ### Files and variables All files
 contain 2 sheets of which the first is a README and the other contains raw
 data. This data can be used to quantify floral scent emission in absolute
 or relative amounts, as well as insect visitor community in two
 populations of Arabis alpina in 2022.  #### File:
 NJB_Thosteman_etal_Arabis_alpina_DH.xlsx **Description:** Dynamic
 Headspace data on total floral scent emission collected across 24 hours.
 Data file contains README. #### File:
 NJB_Thosteman_etal_Arabis_alpina_Insect.xlsx **Description:** Insect
 visitation rate to *Arabis alpina* flowers in 2022. Data file contains
 README. #### File: NJB_Thosteman_etal_Arabis_alpina_SPME.xlsx
 **Description:** Solid Phase Micro Extraction data on relative floral
 scent abundance in flower tissues. Data file contains README.