Ecosystem effects of intraspecific variation in a color polymorphic amphibian

An emerging consensus suggests that evolved intraspecific variation can be ecologically important. However, evidence that evolved trait variation within vertebrates can influence fundamental ecosystem-level processes remains sparse. In this study we sought to assess the potential for evolved variation in the Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) to affect aquatic ecosystem properties. Spotted Salamanders exhibit a conspicuous polymorphism in the color of egg masses—some egg masses are clear, others are white. We assessed the potential for morph frequency variation in the Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) to influence fundamental physiochemical and ecosystem properties: dissolved organic carbon, conductivity, acidity, and primary production with a mesocosm experiment. By manipulating morph frequency across a range of larvae densities, we were able to show that density and morph variation are ecologically relevant. However, the effects of density and morph differed. Population d..., Data were generated from a two-stage experiment. Stage one was a common garden-rearing experiment used to generate hatchling salamander larvae later used in a mesocosm experiment. The experiment was conducted in Boone, North Carolina, USA in spring and summer 2022.
Detailed methods are reported in the manuscript and the electronic supplementary materials., , **1. Title: Ecosystem effects of intraspecific variation in a color polymorphic amphibian**

**2. Dryad link: [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.73n5tb342](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.73n5tb342)**

**3. Author Information**

Name: Sean T. Giery
Institution: Ohio University
Address: Athens, Ohio, USA
Email: mailto: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

Name: Jon M. Davenport
Institution: Appalachian State University
Address: Boone, NC, USA
Email: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

**4. Data: The dataset consists of three data files: common_garden.csv, mesocosm_data.csv, and metamorph_data.csv. Description of the data and file structure is below:**

**common_garden.csv: Each row contains data for a single egg mass in the common garden**

row: Just a placeholder to order rows.
block: Experimental blocks A - F are the shallow tubs used to house sets of egg masses during development.
em: Egg mass identity within each block.
morph: The color of the egg mass: white o...

学界渐已形成共识：演化产生的种内变异具有重要生态学意义。然而，目前关于脊椎动物体内演化形成的性状变异能够影响基础生态系统过程的相关证据仍较为匮乏。
本研究旨在评估斑点钝口螈（Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum）的演化变异对水生生态系统属性的潜在影响。斑点钝口螈的卵团颜色存在显著多态性：部分卵团呈透明状，其余则为白色。我们通过中宇宙实验（mesocosm experiment），评估了该物种的形态频率变异对基础理化与生态系统属性的影响，涉及指标包括溶解有机碳、电导率、酸碱度以及初级生产力。
我们在一系列幼虫密度梯度下操控形态频率，结果证实密度与形态变异均具有生态学相关性，但二者的效应存在差异。种群…… 本数据集源自两阶段实验：第一阶段为同质园饲养实验，用于培育后续中宇宙实验所需的刚孵化钝口螈幼体。该实验于2022年春夏在美国北卡罗来纳州布恩市开展。
详细实验方法已刊载于论文及电子补充材料中。
**1. 论文标题：体色多态性两栖动物种内变异的生态系统效应**
**2. Dryad数据仓库链接：[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.73n5tb342](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.73n5tb342)**
**3. 作者信息**
姓名：肖恩·T·吉尔里（Sean T. Giery）
所属机构：俄亥俄大学（Ohio University）
通讯地址：美国俄亥俄州雅典市
电子邮箱：[[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])
姓名：乔恩·M·达文波特（Jon M. Davenport）
所属机构：阿巴拉契亚州立大学（Appalachian State University）
通讯地址：美国北卡罗来纳州布恩市
电子邮箱：[[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])
**4. 数据集说明：本数据集包含三个数据文件：common_garden.csv、mesocosm_data.csv及metamorph_data.csv。数据及文件结构说明如下：**
**common_garden.csv：每一行对应同质园实验中单个卵团的数据**
行号（row）：仅用于排序的占位符
实验区组（block）：A至F为发育期间用于放置各组卵团的浅盆
卵团编号（em）：每个实验区组内的卵团唯一标识
体色形态（morph）：卵团的颜色：白色……