Variation in biodiversity and abundance of functional groups of arthropods along a tropical elevational gradient in Puerto Rico

Elevational gradients represent platforms for exploring the effects of environmental variation on biodiversity. The environmental correlates of these spatial gradients are likely to be modified during the Anthropocene, as species respond to global change drivers including warming and increased frequency of extreme events. We quantified variation in the abundance of four functional groups of canopy arthropods (i.e., folivores, sap-suckers, detritivores, and predators), as well as in aspects of biodiversity on each of six host-plant species along two elevational transects in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico: a mixed forest transect, traversing tabonuco, palo colorado, and elfin forests, and a palm forest transect, comprising only patches dominated by sierra palm (Prestoea acuminata). We expected gradients in arthropod abundance and biodiversity to be host-tree specific, and for gradients on palm to differ between transects due to a combination of mechanisms associated with host selec..., Arthropods were collected from understory trees in plots at 50 m intervals along two parallel transects from 300 m to 1000 m asl at the Luquillo Experimental Forest LTER site in Puerto Rico. One transect represented mixed forest plots; the other represented patches of sierra palm. An accessible branch was collected in a plastic bag from selected tree species in each plot. Arthropods were sorted and identified in the lab. Foliage was dried and weighed to control for variation in sample size. Leaf area missing in the foliage material was also measured.
, , # Data from: Variation in biodiversity and abundance of functional groups of arthropods along a tropical elevational gradient in Puerto Rico

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gqnk98sxs](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gqnk98sxs)

## Description of the data and file structure

Arthropods were collected from canopy foliage of understory trees in plots spaced every 50 m along two parallel transects from 300 m to 1000 m elevation at the Luquillo Experimental Forest LTER Site in Puerto Rico. The description of column headers included in the data file Elev_gradient_for_dryad.csv is as follows:

* Column A = sample date in YRMODA format

- Column B = elevation in meters

* Column C = treatment (transect): M = mixed forest, P = palm grove

- Column D = tree species (MICO = Miconia prasina; PSYCH = Psychotria; PRES = Prestoea; CROT = Croton; CALSQU = Calycogonium squamulosum; MICSIN = Miconia sintenisii)

* Column E = foliage weight (g). All arthropod counts are significantly related to foliage weig...,