DOI: 10.5061/dryad.6wwpzgn4b
title: Data from: Direct and indirect effects of cougar predation on bighorn sheep fitness

description: We sought to evaluate the direct and indirect fitness effects of intense
 cougar (Puma concolor) predation using 48 years of data on marked bighorn
 sheep (Ovis canadensis) in Ram Mountain, Alberta, Canada. We compared
 years of intense cougar predation with years with no or occasional cougar
 predation. We first quantified the effects of predation on neonatal,
 weaning, and overwinter lamb survival, three metrics potentially affected
 by direct and indirect effects. We then investigated the possible indirect
 effects of intense cougar predation on lamb production, female summer mass
 gain, and lamb mass at weaning. Indirect effects included a 14.2% decline
 in lamb production. Female summer mass gain decreased by 15.6 % and lamb
 mass at weaning declined by 8.0% in years of intense cougar predation.
 Here are the six datasets, joined with a README.md file for the data
 description, in addition to the six corresponding R scripts for
 replicating the results.
description: Data was collected by trapping bighorn sheep individuals multiple
 times per field season and other variables were assessed from long-term
 monitoring.
description: # Data from: Direct and indirect effects of cougar predation on bighorn
 sheep fitness ## Description of the data and file structure ###
 "data\_1.csv" This dataset is to be used in
 "Script_1.qmd" for the analysis of neonatal survival. It
 contains data between 1976 and 2022 of the Ram Mountain bighorn sheep
 population. Each row is unique and is associated with a female bighorn
 sheep that carried a lamb. Here is a list of each variable's
 description: * **Pred_2019N_t_1 :** Cougar predation year (1) or not (0)
 in the year of conception, considering 2019 as a non-predation year
 (binomial). * **Pred_2019Y_t_1 :** Cougar predation year (1) or not (0) in
 the year of conception, considering 2019 as a predation year (binomial). *
 **Mom_wt_sept_t_1 :** Maternal mass adjusted to September 15 in the year
 of conception (Kg; numeric). * **Density_t_1 :** Population density in the
 year of conception (numeric). * **Pred_2019N_t :** Cougar predation year
 (1) or not (0) in the year of birth, considering 2019 as a non-predation
 year (binomial). * **Pred_2019Y_t :** Cougar predation year (1) or not (0)
 in the year of birth, considering 2019 as a predation year (binomial). *
 **Mom_Age_t :** Maternal age in years during the year of birth (numeric).
 * **Neonate_surv_t :** Lamb survival of neonatal stage (0 = no, 1 = yes;
 binomial). * **Mom_ID :** Reproductive female unique identity (numeric). *
 **Year_t :** Year of birth from 1976 onwards (numeric). The prefix
 "S_" distinguishes numeric variables that were scaled and used
 in the analyses. These variables were scaled by subtracting the mean and
 dividing by 1 standard deviation unit. ### "data\_2.csv" This
 dataset is to be used in "Script_2.qmd" for the analysis of
 survival to weaning. It contains data between 1975 and 2022 of the Ram
 Mountain bighorn sheep population. Each row is unique and is associated
 with a female bighorn sheep whose lamb survived the neonatal stage. Here
 is a list of each variable's description: * **Pred_2019N_t :** Cougar
 predation year (1) or not (0) in the year of birth, considering 2019 as a
 non-predation year (binomial). * **Pred_2019Y_t :** Cougar predation year
 (1) or not (0) in the year of birth, considering 2019 as a predation year
 (binomial). * **Weaning_t :** Lamb survival to weaning (0 = no, 1 = yes;
 binomial). * **Mom_wt_gain_t :** Maternal mass gain between June 5 and
 September 15 (Kg; numeric). * **Mom_Age_t :** Maternal age in years during
 the year of birth (numeric). * **Density_t :** Population density
 (numeric). * **Mom_ID :** Maternal unique identity (numeric). * **Year_t
 :** Year of birth from 1975 onwards (numeric). The prefix "S_"
 distinguishes numeric variables that were scaled and used in the analyses.
 These variables were scaled by subtracting the mean and dividing by 1
 standard deviation unit. ### "data\_3.csv" This dataset is to be
 used in "Script_3.qmd" for the analysis of lamb overwinter
 survival. It contains data between 1975 and 2022 of the Ram Mountain
 bighorn sheep population. Each row is unique and corresponds with a
 bighorn sheep lamb that survived to weaning. Here is a list of each
 variable's description: * **Lamb_sex :** The lamb's sex (0 =
 female, 1 = male; binomial). * **Pred_2019N_t :** Cougar predation year
 (1) or not (0) in the year of birth, considering 2019 as a non-predation
 year (binomial). * **Pred_2019Y_t :** Cougar predation year (1) or not (0)
 in the year of birth, considering 2019 as a predation year (binomial). *
 **OWSurv_t.1 :** Lamb overwinter survival 0 = no, 1 = yes; binomial). *
 **Lamb_wt_w_t :** Lamb mass at weaning (adjusted to September 15; Kg;
 numeric). * **Density_t :** Population density (numeric). * **Mom_ID :**
 Maternal unique identity (numeric). * **Lamb_ID :** Lamb unique identity
 (numeric). * **Year_t :** Year of birth from 1975 onwards (numeric). The
 prefix "S_" distinguishes numeric variables that were scaled and
 used in the analyses. These variables were scaled by subtracting the mean
 and dividing by 1 standard deviation unit. ### "data\_4.csv"
 This dataset is to be used in "Script_4.qmd" for the analysis of
 female lamb production. It contains data between 1975 and 2022 of the Ram
 Mountain bighorn sheep population. Each row is unique and corresponds with
 a prime-age female bighorn sheep. Here is a list of each variable's
 description: * **Weaning_t_1 :** Previous reproductive status. Did the
 female wean a lamb the previous year or not (0 = no, 1 = yes; binomial). *
 **Mom_wt_sept_t_1 :** Female mass adjusted to September 15 in the year of
 conception (Kg, numeric). * **Density_t_1 :** Population density in the
 year of conception (numeric). * **Pred_2019N_t_1 :** Cougar predation year
 (1) or not (0) in the year of conception, considering 2019 as a
 non-predation year (binomial). * **Pred_2019Y_t_1 :** Cougar predation
 year (1) or not (0) in the year of conception, considering 2019 as a
 predation year (binomial). * **Pregnancy_t :** Lamb production (0 = no, 1
 = yes; binomial). * **Mom_Age_t :** Female age in years during the year of
 birth (numeric). * **Mom_ID :** Maternal unique identity (numeric). *
 **Year_t :** Year of birth from 1975 onwards (numeric). The prefix
 "S_" distinguishes numeric variables that were scaled and used
 in the analyses. These variables were scaled by subtracting the mean and
 dividing by 1 standard deviation unit. ### "data\_5.csv" This
 dataset is to be used in "Script_5.qmd" for the analysis of
 female summer mass gain. It contains data between 1975 and 2022 of the Ram
 Mountain bighorn sheep population. Each row is unique and corresponds with
 a prime-age female bighorn sheep. Here is a list of each variable's
 description: * **Weaning_t :** Reproductive status. Did the female wean a
 lamb or not (0 = no, 1 = yes; binomial). * **Fem_wt_june_t :** Female mass
 adjusted to June 5 (Kg; numeric). * **Fem_wt_gain_t :** Female mass gain
 between June 5 and September 15 (Kg; numeric). * **Fem_Age_t :** Female
 age in years (numeric). * **Density_t :** Population density (numeric). *
 **Pred_2019N_t :** Cougar predation year (1) or not (0), considering 2019
 as a non-predation year (binomial). * **Pred_2019Y_t :** Cougar predation
 year (1) or not (0), considering 2019 as a predation year (binomial). *
 **Fem_ID :** Female unique identity (numeric). * **Year_t :** Year from
 1975 onwards (numeric). The prefix "S_" distinguishes numeric
 variables that were scaled and used in the analyses. These variables were
 scaled by subtracting the mean and dividing by 1 standard deviation unit.
 ### "data\_6.csv" This dataset is to be used in
 "Script_6.qmd" for the analysis of lamb overwinter survival. It
 contains data between 1975 and 2022 of the Ram Mountain bighorn sheep
 population. Each row is unique and corresponds with a bighorn sheep lamb
 that survived to weaning. Here is a list of each variable's
 description: * **Lamb_wt_w_t :** Lamb mass at weaning (adjusted to
 September 15; Kg; numeric). * **Lamb_sex :** The lamb's sex (0 =
 female, 1 = male; binomial). * **Mom_wt_gain_t :** Maternal mass gain
 between June 5 and September 15 (Kg; numeric). * **Mom_Age_t :** Maternal
 age in years (numeric). * **Density_t :** Population density (numeric). *
 **Pred_2019N_t :** Cougar predation year (1) or not (0) in the year of
 birth, considering 2019 as a non-predation year (binomial). *
 **Pred_2019Y_t :** Cougar predation year (1) or not (0) in the year of
 birth, considering 2019 as a predation year (binomial). * **Mom_ID :**
 Maternal unique identity (numeric). * **Lamb_ID :** Lamb unique identity
 (numeric). * **Year_t :** Year of birth from 1975 onwards (numeric). The
 prefix "S_" distinguishes numeric variables that were scaled and
 used in the analyses. These variables were scaled by subtracting the mean
 and dividing by 1 standard deviation unit.