Dataset for The duration and pattern of recurring heatwaves shape host–parasite interactions under thermal stress

# README – Data and Analysis for Thermal Variability Host–Parasite Experiments ## Dataset description This repository contains experimental data and analysis code from two laboratory experiments investigating how different patterns of thermal variability influence host–parasite interactions in the freshwater zooplankton host Daphnia magna and two microsporidian parasites: Ordospora colligata and Hamiltosporidium tvaerminnensis. Both experiments manipulated mean temperature and the structure of thermal variability (e.g., cyclic vs. random heat events). Each experiment included 648 host individuals distributed across 24 treatment replicates with two parasite treatments and an uninfected control. The repository includes raw experimental data and the R Markdown file used for data processing, statistical analysis, and figure generation. --- # File overview ## dataExp1.csvRaw data from Experiment 1. ## dataExp2.csvRaw data from Experiment 2. Each dataset contains individual-level observations including treatment assignment, survival time, infection status, and parasite spore counts. ## analysis.RmdR Markdown file containing the full analysis workflow used to process the data, perform statistical analyses, and generate figures associated with the study. --- # Data structure Each row represents **one experimental individual**. ## Column descriptions | Column | Description ||------|-------------|| nr | Unique identifier for each individual host || parasite | Parasite treatment (Ordospora colligata, Hamiltosporidium tvaerminnensis, or control) || treatment | Thermal treatment applied to the host || rep | Replicate number || tray | Experimental tray identifier || tray2 | Secondary tray or experimental block identifier || Death date | Date of host death || days since infection | Number of days between infection exposure and death || OC? | Observational record of infection by Ordospora colligata || OC binary | Binary infection status for Ordospora colligata (infected / not infected) || OC spores | Count of Ordospora colligata spores || excludeOC | Indicator for whether the observation was excluded from Ordospora analyses || HT? | Observational record of infection by Hamiltosporidium tvaerminnensis || HT binary | Binary infection status for Hamiltosporidium tvaerminnensis || HT spores | Count of Hamiltosporidium tvaerminnensis spores || Squares | Number of counted grid squares used during spore quantification || spores/ml | Estimated parasite spore concentration per millilitre || excludeHT | Indicator for whether the observation was excluded from Hamiltosporidium analyses || Comments | Notes recorded during the experiment | --- # Experimental design summary Two independent experiments were conducted using the host species *Daphnia magna*. Each experiment included: - 648 individuals- 24 treatment replicates- parasite treatments involving: - *Ordospora colligata* - *Hamiltosporidium tvaerminnensis* - an uninfected control group Hosts were exposed to different temperature regimes varying in mean temperature and temporal variability. --- # Software and reproducibility Data processing and analysis were conducted in **R** using the provided `analysis.Rmd` file. Running the R Markdown file will reproduce the analysis and figures associated with the study. --- # Ethical and legal considerations The experiments used laboratory populations of freshwater invertebrates. No ethical approval or legal restrictions apply to the reuse of these data.