Fatty acid and carbon isotopic data for: Use of essential vs. non-essential fatty acids during flight in monarch butterflies: Implications for the importance of nectaring during migration

Many insect species are migratory, but migration is energetically costly, leading to a tradeoff between migration and subsequent reproduction. Of importance to the allocation of resources to migration and reproduction is the relative use of essential and non-essential fatty acids. How different ecological conditions experienced by individuals affect the differential allocation of nutrients has not been well explored, especially in insects. Our goal was to evaluate how reproductive (summer) and migratory (fall) rearing conditions affect the source and allocation patterns of fatty acids used during experimental flights (0-6h) in monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus L.). We used larval and adult diets manipulated isotopically (δ13C) and chromatographic analyses to determine fatty acid composition and source in the fat body. C4 vs. C3 carbohydrate feeding increased the δ13C value of lipids in monarchs (-31.2 vs -22.1‰) and increased total fatty acid concentrations ..., , , # Fatty acid and carbon isotopic data for: Use of essential vs. non-essential fatty acids during flight in monarch butterflies: Implications for the importance of nectaring during migration

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2z34tmpx3](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2z34tmpx3)

## Description of the data and file structure

Isotopic (δ13C) and Fatty Acid Concentration Data of monarch abdominal lipids in 4 csv files:

Anparasan_et_al_S.1_Baseline_C.csv which contains the δ13C values of monarch abdominal lipids. These monarchs were reared in various conditions and then collected at emergence in the adult stage or 5 days post-eclosion with ample diet provided.

Anparasan_et_al_S.2_Baseline_FA.csv which contains the fatty acid concentrations of monarch abdominal lipids. These monarchs were reared in various conditions then collected at emergence in the adult stage or 5 days post-eclosion with ample diet provided.

Anparasan_et_al_S.3_Flight_C.csv which contains the δ13C values of monarch abdomi...