Find research datasets worth reusing
Search datasets from major research repositories and use ShareScore to quickly assess how well each record supports discovery, access, and reuse.
544
datasets available to search
ShareScore release 0.9.0
Dataset results
544 results for “life-history”
Improving assessments of data-limited populations using life-history theory
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Diet-dependent induction of life-history changes in Daphnia: 5α-cyprinol sulfate is not the kairomone
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Island biogeography and life-history traits stabilize island bird communities
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Chipmunk body mass variations and life-histories in a pulsed resource ecosystem
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Selection for life-history traits to maximize population growth in an invasive marine species
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Many roads to success: Different combinations of life-history traits provide accurate germination timing in seasonally dry environments
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Life-history theory provides a framework for detecting resource limitation: a test of the Nutritional Buffer Hypothesis
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Life-history traits of Tubastraea coccinea: reproduction, development, and larval competence
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Morphological and life-history traits of birds from the Piedmont and Flooded Savannas of the Colombian Llanos
We compiled data for 13 morphological and life-history traits of 364 species reported in Colombian Llanos. The dataset includes morphological and life-history traits that could influence birds’ responses to land-use change based on a literature review. Life-history traits were compiled from scientific literature, while morphological traits were measured on specimens collected in the Colombian Llanos region and preserved in main Colombia’s biological collections.
Figure 2 in Gigantism and comparative life-history parameters of tyrannosaurid dinosaurs
Figure 2 Logistic growth curves for Tyrannosaurus and three related tyrannosaurids.Note that the exponential stages (the regions of maximal slope) are similar in duration but differ in slope (that is, growth rates). Regression equations (mass in kg, age in years) are as follows: T. rex, mass = {5,551/[1 + e‾0.57(age ‾ 16.1)]} + 5, r 2 = 0.953; D. torosus, mass = {1,728/[1 + e‾0.44(age ‾ 12.1)]} + 5, r 2 = 0.992; G. libratus, mass = {1,234/[1 + e‾0.38(age ‾ 12.4)]} + 5, r 2 = 0.950; A. sarcophagus, mass = {1,218/[1 + e‾0.43(age ‾ 14.1)]} + 5; r 2 = 0.985.
Data from: Invasive lumbricid earthworms in North America – different life-histories but common dispersal?
<p>Aim<br> Lumbricid earthworms are invasive across northern North America, causing notable changes in forest ecosystems. During their range expansion, they encountered harsher climatic conditions compared to their native ranges in short time (~400 years). This study investigated if (1) dispersal barriers, (2) climatic selection, or (3) anthropogenic activities, i.e. fishing bait disposal, structure the dispersal of free-living earthworm populations.</p> <p>Location<br> North America, forest habitats along former Wisconsinan glaciation line</p> <p>Taxon<br> Lumbricus terrestris, L. rubellus</p> <p>Methods<br> Lumbricus terrestris and L. rubellus co-occur in the same habitats but differ in ecology and use as fishing bait. Both species were sampled in five transects ranging from the east to the west coast of northern North America, including major dispersal barriers, three different climate zones, and bait shops near sampling locations. Genetic diversity and structure were compared between the two species, and the presence of free-living bait shop genotypes was assessed using four markers (COI, 16S rDNA, 12S rDNA, H3).</p> <p>Results<br> Populations of both species were genetically diverse with some geographic structure, which was more pronounced in L. terrestris than in L. rubellus. Common haplotypes were present in all regions, but locally restricted haplotypes also occurred. Further, two distinct genetic clades of L. terrestris co-occurred only in the two most distant transects (Alberta and Minnesota). Genotypes identical to bait individuals were omnipresent in field populations of L. terrestris.</p> <p>Main conclusions<br> Genetic diversity was high in both species, and invasive populations represented a genetic subset of European earthworms. Geographic and climatic dispersal barriers affected the less mobile species, L. rubellus, resulting in differences in genetic structure between the two species. Our results indicate common long-distance dispersal vectors and vectors affecting only L. terrestris. The roles of climate and anthropogenic activities are discussed, providing additional explanations of dispersal and new insights into establishment of invasive earthworm populations.</p> <p>Keywords<br> biological invasion, colonisation, genetic clades, agriculture, climate, dispersal barriers</p>
Parasite infestation influences life-history but not boldness behavior in placental live-bearing fish
<p>Parasites can negatively affect the reproductive success of hosts. Placental species may be particularly susceptible, because parasite-induced stress during pregnancy could potentially influence embryo development. Here we examine the consequences of a trematode infestation (black spot disease, BSD) for fetal development and adult behavior in 19 natural populations of the placental live-bearing fish species <i>Poeciliopsis retropinna </i>(Poeciliidae)<i> </i>in Costa Rica. First, we observed substantial variation in parasite infestation among populations which correlated with a number of local environmental conditions (elevation, river width, depth, and flow velocity). Furthermore, we observed substantial variation in parasite infestation among females within populations associated with maternal age and size. We found that the infestation rate significantly influenced embryonic development, with more heavily parasitized females producing smaller and worse-conditioned offspring at birth, possibly because a costly immune response during pregnancy limits, either directly or indirectly, nourishment to developing embryos. Finally, a behavioral experiment in the field showed that the infestation rate did not affect an individual's boldness. Our study indicates that in placental live-bearing fish parasite infestation leads to reduced embryo provisioning during pregnancy, resulting in a smaller offspring size and quality at birth potentially with negative implications for offspring fitness.</p>
Data from: Life-history dimensions indicate non-random assembly processes in tropical island tree communities
<p>Community assembly processes on islands are often non-random. The mechanisms behind non-random assembly, however, are generally difficult to disentangle. Functional diversity in combination with a null model approach that accounts for differences in species richness among islands can be used to test for non-random assembly processes, but has been applied rarely to island communities. By linking functional diversity of trees on islands with a null model approach, we bridge this gap and test for the role of stochastic vs. non-random trait-mediated assembly processes in shaping communities by studying functional diversity-area relationships. We measured 11 plant functional traits linked to species dispersal and resource acquisition strategies of 57 tree species on 40 tropical islands. We grouped traits into four life-history dimensions representing (i) dispersal ability, (ii) growth strategy, (iii) light acquisition, and (iv) nutrient acquisition. To test for non-random assembly processes, we used null models that account for differences in species richness among the islands. Our results reveal contrasting responses of the four life-history dimensions to island area. The dispersal and the growth strategy dimensions were underdispersed on smaller islands, whereas the light acquisition dimension was overdispersed. The nutrient acquisition dimension did not deviate from null expectations. With increasing island area, shifts in the strength of non-random assembly processes increased the diversity of dispersal and acquisition strategies in island communities. Our results suggest that smaller islands may be more difficult to colonize and provide more limited niche space compared to larger islands, whose tree communities are likely determined by stochastic processes and higher niche diversity. Our null model approach highlights that analysing the functional diversity of different life-history dimensions provides a powerful framework to unravel community assembly processes on islands. These complex, non-random assembly processes are masked by measures of functional diversity that do not account for differences in species richness between islands.</p>
Selection and plasticity both account for inter-annual variation in life-history phenology in an annual prairie legume
<p>As the environment changes, so too must plant communities and populations if they are to persist. Life-history transitions and their timing are often the traits that are most responsive to changing environmental conditions. To compare the contributions of plasticity and natural selective response to variation in germination and flowering phenology, we performed a quantitative genetic study of phenotypic selection<i> </i>on<i> Chamaecrista fasciculata </i>(Fabaceae) across two consecutive years in a restored tallgrass prairie. The earliest dates of germination and flowering were recorded for two parental cohorts and one progeny cohort in an experimental garden. Environmental differences between years were the largest contributors to phenological variation in this population. In addition, there was substantial heritability for flowering time and statistically significant selection for advancement of flowering. Comparison between a progeny cohort its pre-selection parental cohort indicated a change in mean flowering time consistent with the direction of selection. Selection on germination time was weaker than that on flowering time, while environmental effects on germination time were stronger. The response to selection on flowering time was detectable when accounting for the effect of the environment on phenotypic differences, highlighting the importance of controlling for year-to-year environmental variation in quantitative genetic studies.</p>
Age-related reproductive performance of the Adélie Penguin, a long-lived seabird exhibiting similar outcomes regardless of individual life-history strategy
<p>1. Age-related variation in reproductive performance in long-lived iteroparous vertebrate species is common, with performance being influenced by within-individual processes, such as improvement and senescence, in combination with among-individual processes, such as selective appearance and disappearance. Few studies of age-related reproductive performance have compared the role of these drivers within a metapopulation, subject to varying degrees of resource competition.</p> <p>2. We accounted for within- and among-individuals changes among known-aged Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) during 17 years (1997 to 2013), at three clustered colonies of disparate size, to understand patterns in age-related reproductive success during early and late adulthood.</p> <p>3. Age at first reproduction (AFR) was lowest, and number of breeding attempts highest, at the largest colony. Regardless of AFR, success improved with early post-recruitment experience. For both oldest and youngest recruitment groups, peak performance occurred at the end of their reproductive lifespan indicating a possible cost of reproduction. Intermediate recruitment groups reached peak performance in their mid-reproductive lifespan and with intermediate breeding experience, before decreasing. Breeding success was lowest for the initial breeding attempt regardless of AFR, but we observed subsequent variation relative to recruitment age. Gaining experience by delaying recruitment positively influenced reproductive performance early in the reproductive lifespan, and was most evident for the youngest breeders. Oldest recruits had the highest initial and peak breeding success. Differences in AFR resulted in tradeoffs in reproductive lifespan or timing of senescence but not in the overall number of breeding attempts.</p> <p>4. Patterns differed as a function of colony size, and thus competition for resources. Early life improvement in performance at the larger colonies was primarily due to within-individual factors and at the largest colony, AFR. Regardless of colony size late-life performance was positively related to the age at last reproduction, indicating selective disappearance of lower performing individuals.</p> <p>5. These results highlight that different life-history strategies were equally successful, indicating that individuals can overcome potential tradeoffs associated with early- and late-life performance. These results have important implications for understanding the evolution of life-history strategies responsible for driving population change.</p>
Traits and depth: what do hydroids tell us about morphology and life-history strategies in the deep sea?
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b>Aim:</b> Traits affect the survival and reproduction of individuals in different habitat conditions, ultimately altering their distributions. In the oceans, changes in environmental conditions with bathymetry may influence the occurrence of specific traits. Therefore, characterizing trait variation with depth can illuminate drivers related to the distribution of diversity of forms, functions, and life histories. We aimed to investigate patterns of variation in the diversified life histories and morphologies of hydroids with depth, integrating these patterns with the natural history of the group and ecological principles of the deep sea.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b>Location:</b> Atlantic Ocean and adjacent polar seas, from 50 m to 5,330 m deep.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b>Time period:</b> Present day.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b>Major taxa studied:</b> Hydrozoa.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b>Methods: </b>Analyses were based on 14 traits collected for a total of 4,668 specimens of hydroids, belonging to 438 species. Records were divided into 12 depth strata for comparisons. We evaluated: how each trait varies with depth; whether variation in some traits is affected by the presence of other traits; how traits covary; and similarities in trait compositions among depth strata.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b>Results:</b> Traits of hydroids vary with depth, with more pronounced differences for regions deeper than 1,000 m. Hydroids are generally smaller, infertile, solitary, meroplanktonic, and devoid of protective structures with increasing depth. The relationship, however, is not always linear. Also, some covariation and correlation between traits was evident. For example, depth may affect size differently according to the presence of specific traits such as structures protecting against predation. The lower proportion of fertile specimens recorded in the deep sea suggests that chances for genetic recombination are reduced in deep-sea populations, ultimately leading to a slower rate of evolution.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b>Main conclusions: </b>We identified novel trends in hydroid trait variation with depth by combining observations on morphology, ecology, and life history, clarifying selection pressures on hydroids in the deep sea.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Data from: Telomere attrition and growth: a life-history framework and case study in common terns
The relationship between growth and age-specific telomere length, as a proxy of somatic state, is increasingly investigated, but observed patterns vary and a predictive framework is lacking. We outline expectations based on the assumption that telomere maintenance is costly and argue that individual heterogeneity in resource acquisition is predicted to lead to positive covariance between growth and telomere length. However, canalization of resource allocation to the trait with a larger effect on fitness, rendering that trait relatively invariant, can cause the absence of covariance. In a case study of common tern (Sterna hirundo) chicks, in which hatching order is the main determinant of variation in resource acquisition within broods, we find that body mass, but not telomere length or attrition, varies with hatching order. Moreover, body mass and growth positively predict survival to fledging, whereas telomere length and attrition do not. Using a novel statistical method to quantify standardized variance in plasticity, we estimate between-individual variation in telomere attrition to be only 12% of that of growth. Consistent with the relative invariance of telomere attrition, we find no correlation between age-specific body mass or growth and telomere attrition. We suggest that common tern chicks prioritize investment in long-term somatic state (as indicated by canalization of telomere maintenance) over immediate survival benefits of growth as part of an efficient brood reduction strategy that benefits the parents. As such, inter-specific variation in the growth-telomere length relationship may be explained by the extent to which parents benefit from rapid mortality of excess offspring.
Data from: Nutrition shapes life-history evolution across species
Nutrition is a key component of life-history theory, yet we know little about how diet quality shapes life-history evolution across species. Here, we test whether quantitative measures of nutrition are linked to life-history evolution across 96 species of butterflies representing over 50 independent diet shifts. We find that butterflies feeding on high nitrogen host plants as larvae are more fecund, but their eggs are smaller relative to their body size. Nitrogen and sodium content of host plants are also both positively related to eye size. Some of these relationships show pronounced lineage-specific effects. Testis size is not related to nutrition. Additionally, the evolutionary timing of diet shifts is not important, suggesting that nutrition affects life histories regardless of the length of time a species has been adapting to its diet. Our results suggest that, at least for some lineages, species with higher nutrient diets can invest in a range of fitness-related traits like fecundity and eye size while allocating less to each egg as offspring have access to a richer diet. These results have important implications for the evolution of life histories in the face of anthropogenic changes in nutrient availability.
Data from: Intraspecific divergence and evolution of a life-history trade-off along a successional gradient in Hawaii's Metrosideros polymorpha
The importance of environmental gradients in the diversification of long-lived tree species is poorly understood. Two morphologically distinct varieties of the endemic Hawaiian tree, 'ōhi'a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), are the canopy dominants at alternate extremes of a successional gradient formed by the recurring disturbance of lava flows on east Hawai'i Island. The maintenance of these varieties despite hybridization may be due to disruptive selection at either end of the successional gradient. To test this hypothesis, seeds from three, replicate monotypic stands of each variety on east Hawai'i Island were germinated and the resulting seedlings grown under four combinations of light and nitrogen levels in a greenhouse, and at early- and late-successional field sites. Growth and survivorship measures revealed differential fitness of these varieties in high- and low-light environments in the greenhouse with corresponding differential fitness in early- and late-successional field sites. Unique light-by-nitrogen interaction effects on growth were observed in each variety, and only the late-successional variety appeared to be nitrogen limited. These two varieties exhibit the classic plant life-history trade-off between fast growth in high light and high survivorship in shade, but notably within a single tree species. These findings strongly implicate a role for Hawaii's striking environmental heterogeneity in the emergence of at least two endemic forms of this woody genus.
Data from: Hormonal and metabolic responses to upper temperature extremes in divergent life-history ecotypes of a garter snake
Extreme temperatures constrain organismal physiology and impose both acute and chronic effects. Additionally, temperature-induced hormone-mediated stress response pathways and energetic trade-offs are important drivers of life-history variation. This study employs an integrative approach to quantify acute physiological responses to high temperatures in divergent life-history ecotypes of the western terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans). Using wild-caught animals, we measured oxygen consumption rate and physiological markers of hormonal stress response, energy availability, and anaerobic respiration in blood plasma across five ecologically relevant temperatures (24, 28, 32, 35, and 38° C; 3-hour exposure). Corticosterone, insulin, and glucose concentrations all increased with temperature, but with different thermal response curves, suggesting that high temperatures differently affect energy-regulation pathways. Additionally, oxygen consumption rate increased without plateau and lactate concentration did not increase with temperature, challenging the recent hypothesis that oxygen limitation sets upper thermal tolerance limits. Finally, animals had similar physiological thermal responses to high-temperature exposure regardless of genetic background, suggesting that local adaptation has not resulted in fixed differences between ecotypes. Together, these results identify some of the mechanisms by which higher temperatures alter hormonal-mediated energy balance in reptiles and potential limits to the flexibility of this response.
ScienceDex guides
Understand access before you commit
These curated guides explain access requirements, typical timelines, costs, and reuse considerations for widely used research datasets.
Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.