Plant orthoptera trophic networks along elevation

Next_generation sequencing today permits the collection of large_scale dataset of comparable species interactions, in particular by means of DNA metabarcoding applied on eDNA samples. In this study, we used this method on insect feces to compile 48 plant_orthoptera interaction networks at multiple locations across the Swiss Alps (i.e. along six elevation gradient). We study the variation of network structure along elevation and investigate the factors involved to determine pairwise interactions using trait_matching analyses related to the mechanical and chemical components of the plant_insect interactions. The raw sequencing data are provided here.