Data from: Legacy effects in temporally-separated tadpole species are not mediated by invasive Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

<p>Temporally separated species are often thought to have limited competition over a shared resource. However, early arriving species may consume a limited resource such that later arriving species have access to fewer resources and thus experience competitive effects, even if they are temporally separated (i.e., they experience legacy effects from the early species). The presence of a predator might affect potential legacy effects by influencing the behavior or survivorship of the early species. Using a mesocosm experiment, I examined whether the presence of non-native Western Mosquitofish (<em>Gambusia</em> <em>affinis</em>) mediated legacy effects in the interaction of two temporally separated species of tadpoles, early arriving American Toads (<em>Anaxyrus</em> <em>americanus</em>) and late arriving Bullfrogs (<em>Rana</em> <em>catesbeiana</em>). <em>Anaxyrus</em> <em>americanus</em> tadpoles reduced <em>R. catesbeiana</em> tadpole growth despite all <em>A</em>. <em>americanus</em> tadpoles metamorphosing 8 d before the introduction of <em>R. catesbeiana</em> tadpoles into the mesocosms (i.e., legacy effects).  <em>Gambusia</em> <em>affinis</em> had limited effects on <em>A</em>. <em>americanus</em> (1 d delay in metamorphosis but no effect on survivorship or size at metamorphosis) and positive effects on <em>R. catesbeiana</em> (increased growth). There were no significant interactions between the <em>A. americanus</em> tadpole density and <em>G. affinis</em> treatments. In conclusion, I found evidence of significant legacy effects of <em>A. americanus</em> tadpoles on <em>R</em>. <em>catesbeiana</em> tadpoles, but no evidence that <em>G. affinis</em> mediated the legacy effects.</p>