The importance of quantifying selection climates: Predictable and unpredictable variation in predation risk and the implications for prey responses

Prey behavioural traits within a population are commonly variable, unexpectedly so, given that predation is thought to be a strong selection pressure. This variation likely arises from complex, variable selection pressures, but experimental evaluations of prey responses to natural variability in selection pressures remain limited. We focus on the rock-pool breeding mosquito Aedes vexans, which can influence the predation risk to its offspring through site selection for oviposition. We quantified the nature of selection pressures in the wild, i.e., the spatial and temporal variation in larval predation risk, by measuring densities of predatory dragonfly nymphs in rock pools along the mosquito breeding season. To examine the implication of selection pressure regimes for the evolution of oviposition site selection, we conducted manipulative experiments and measured female oviposition responses to variation in predation risk. Predation risk varied extensively over space and time; this varia..., , # The importance of quantifying selection climates: Predictable and unpredictable variation in predation risk and the implications for prey responses Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.h18931zz2](10.5061/dryad.h18931zz2) ## Description of the data and file structure Oviposition responses were measured only from experimental pools. Oviposition responses were counted as the number of eggs laid in the pools on the ovistrips placed along the walls of the pools. Pools were either given a treatment of control or predator. The experiment was done during the mosquito breeding season from July to December. Predation risk was measured across pools along the mosquito breeding season. For sampling predators (nymphs of *Bradinopyga geminata*), we removed them from the pools and placed them in a container. The nymphs were counted and then added back to the pools. Details can be found in the ESM. Please note that the empty cells in the predator column indicate that the sampling could not be conducted as ...,