R-code and data from: Effects of macro- and micro-nutrients on momentary and season-long feeding responses by select species of ants

This data set described here is supplementary to an article titled: “Effects of macro- and micro-nutrients on momentary and season-long feeding responses by select species of ants”. Few studies have examined how various macro- and micro-nutrient types shape foraging responses in ants. We tested short term and season-long foraging responses of the ant species C. modoc and M. rubra to various micro- and macro-nutrients. We also tested if these findings were similar in other species, L. niger and F. aserva. The full methodology, results, and their interpretation can be found in the publication.

Abstract from article:
"Few studies have investigated the relative contribution of specific nutrients to momentary and season-long foraging responses by ants. Using western carpenter ants, Camponotus modoc, and European fire ants, Myrmica rubra, as model species, we: (1) tested preferential consumption of various macro- and micro-nutrients; (2) compared consumption of preferred macro-nutrients; (3) investigated seasonal shifts (late May to mid-September) in nutrient preferences; and (4) tested whether nutrient preferences of C. modoc and M. rubra pertain to black garden ants, Lasius niger, and thatching ants, Formica aserva. In laboratory and field experiments, we measured nutrient consumption by weighing Eppendorf tubes containing aqueous nutrient solutions before and after feeding by ants. Laboratory colonies of C. modoc favored nitrogenous urea and essential amino acids (EAAs), whereas M. rubra colonies favored sucrose. Field colonies of C. modoc and M. rubra preferentially consumed EAAs and sucrose, respectively, with no sustained shift in preferred macro-nutrient over the course of the foraging season. The presence of a less preferred macro-nutrient in a nutrient blend did not diminish the blend’s ‘appeal’ to foraging ants. Sucrose and EAAs singly and in combination were equally consumed by L. niger, whereas F. aserva preferred EAAs. Baits containing both sucrose and EAAs were consistently consumed by the ants studied in this project and should be considered for pest ant control."

We have uploaded our data and scripts as an R studio project. Code used to wrangle data, analyze data and generate plots can be accessed in the project folder by opening the project file. The project contains:

---Data
Data files of laboratory and field experiments to assess ant consumption on various nutrients.

---Outputs
Plots and csv files generated from data analysis.

---Scripts
Scripts of R code used to wrangle data, conduct analyses, and generate outputs.