Data and code from: Evaluating eDNA metabarcoding techniques for pollinator community assessment in a field and controlled experiment

Pollinators play a critical role in ensuring the stability of food systems, yet their populations are in decline. To better understand and promote pollinator biodiversity, this study explored the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding techniques to assess plant–pollinator interactions. We conducted two experiments to optimize eDNA metabarcoding strategies for detecting pollinators on flowering plants. In the first experiment, we compared visual observations and eDNA detection via Illumina sequencing to characterize pollinator visitation on two native plant species in public and private green spaces across the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area. Our findings revealed notable differences between the two methods, with visual surveys more sensitive to Hymenoptera and eDNA more sensitive to plant pests and other organisms. We devised a second experiment in a controlled environment at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden butterfly exhibit. Here, we tested different sampling strategies, ..., , # Data and code from: Evaluating eDNA metabarcoding techniques for pollinator community assessment in a field and controlled experiment

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.j0zpc86tc](10.5061/dryad.j0zpc86tc)

## Description of the data and file structure

This study explored the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding techniques to assess plant-pollinator interactions. We conducted two experiments: in the first experiment, we compared visual observations and eDNA detection via Illumina sequencing to characterize pollinator visitation on two native plant species in public and private green spaces across the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area (called Pollinator Biodiversity Field Survey). For the second experiment, we sampled in a controlled environment at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden butterfly exhibit, tested two primers and used Oxford Nanopore Technology for DNA sequencing (called Butterfly Exhibit Survey).

### Files and variables

#### File: ButterflyExhibitData_071425.xlsx

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