Data and code for: Moisture and competition constrain ephemeral resource quality for burying beetle reproduction

Shifts in abiotic factors such as temperature and moisture can change the
availability of resources, especially under climate change. Both abiotic
and biotic drivers can have profound, rapid effects on species
distribution, survival, and reproduction. Little is known about how
abiotic factors affect the availability of ephemeral resources. Burying
beetles (Nicrophorus spp.) are specialist users of ephemeral resources, as
their reproduction requires locating, defending, and burying a small
carcass. Environmental moisture, such as coastal fog, could change how
quickly carcasses dry out. We tested the role of carcass moisture and
interspecific competition with a generalist scavenger, Heterosilpha spp.,
on reproduction by placing pairs of Nicrophorus guttula in field chambers
with control and experimentally dehydrated mouse carcasses. Pairs that
were given control of mouse carcasses were more likely to carry out
reproductive behaviors and produce viable offspring than pairs that were
given a partially dehydrated mouse. For those pairs that reproduced,
competition limited the number of offspring. These results indicate that
shifts in abiotic factors under climate change, along with biotic factors
like competition, can reduce the availability of ephemeral resource
patches for consumers.