Data and code for "Aggregation behaviour as an adaptive reproductive strategy in a marine ecosystem engineer".

README for data and code for "Aggregation behaviour as an adaptive reproductive strategy in a marine ecosystem engineer".

Contains the data and R script necessary to reproduce the analyses and figures presented in the above-mentioned manuscript. Below is a description of each file and its role in the analysis.

Files Included:

Histology.xlsx: This Excel file contains a table, identical to Supporting Information S5, with detailed information about the individuals used to assess the histological stage, including sex, reproductive stages and the total sample sizes used to calculate the mean sexual stage for each month. This data is used to make Figure 1B in the manuscript and Figure 3 in the Supporting Information S5.

Aggregation.xlsx: This Excel file dataset contains a dataset that results from behavioural experiments and histological measurements taken from March to December 2021 (excluding October and November). It includes data for both control (C) and microplastic leachate (MP) treatments. This file is used with the accompanying R script (Aggregation_Reproduction_Code.R) to produce the statistical analyses and remaining figures in the manuscript and Supporting Information.

Details of the Aggregation.xlsx dataset

-       treatment = Treatment group: "C" for Control, "MP" for microplastic leachate

-       rep = Replicate number

-       months = Month of the experiment (numerical: e.g. 1 = March, 8 = December)

-       month = Month of the experiment (categorical: e.g. "March", "April")

-       AGG = Proportion of mussels (%) forming aggregates after 2 hours of experiment

-       stage = Mean reproductive stage for each month (obtained from Histology.xlsx file)

Aggregation_Reproduction_Code.R: This R script is used with the Aggregation.xlsx dataset to produce the remaining statistical results and figures presented in the manuscript and Supporting Information.

Instructions for Use:

Load the Aggregation.xlsx into your R environment.

Run the Aggregation_Reproduction_Code.R script to reproduce the statistical analyses and figures included in the manuscript and Supporting Information.