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Raw data and Matlab code for: Convergence in carnivorous pitcher plants reveals a mechanism for composite trait evolution Bauer, Ulrike; Jetter, Reinhard; Mortimer, Beth; Chomicki, Guillaume; Busta, Lucas; Gozdzik, Jedrzej; Burin, Gustavo

Description

<b>Abstract</b><br/>

Composite traits involve multiple components that, only when combined, gain a new synergistic function. Thus, how they evolve remains a puzzle. We combined field experiments, microscopy, chemical analyses and laser Doppler vibrometry with comparative phylogenetic analyses to show that two carnivorous <em>Nepenthes</em> pitcher plant species convergently evolved identical adaptations in three distinct traits to acquire a new, composite trapping mechanism. Comparative analyses suggest that this new trait arose convergently via ‘spontaneous coincidence’ of the required trait combination, rather than directional selection in the component traits. Our results indicate a plausible mechanism for composite trait evolution and highlight the importance of stochastic phenotypic variation as a facilitator of evolutionary novelty.</p>; <b>Methods</b><br />

Data were collected from 55 <em>Nepenthes </em>pitcher plant species from Botanical collections in the UK, Germany and Switzerland, as well as from two species (<em>N. gracilis</em> and <em>N. pervillei</em>) from natural populations in Borneo and the Seychelles. Fotos and high-speed videos were used to assess two macromorphological traits: (1) lid orientation (deviation from horizontal in °), and (2) lid loading/impact response (qualitatively from Fotos, and quantitatively from high-speed video recordings). Laser Doppler vibrometry was used for detailed analysis of lid oscillations after a drop impact on the lid. Scanning electron microscopy was used to assess surface microtopography (images are shown in the article supplementary material, Figures S1 and S2, and are not included in this dataset). Gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry was used to investigate the chemical composition of surface waxes. For detailed descriptions of the experimental methods and sampling techniques see online supplementary material, Materials and Methods.</p>; <b>Usage notes</b><br />

No specialist software is required. Data files are in .csv format. Images are in .tif format. Video files are in .avi format.</p>

Item Metadata

Title
Raw data and Matlab code for: Convergence in carnivorous pitcher plants reveals a mechanism for composite trait evolution
Creator
Bauer, Ulrike; Jetter, Reinhard; Mortimer, Beth; Chomicki, Guillaume; Busta, Lucas; Gozdzik, Jedrzej; Burin, Gustavo
Date Issued
2023-11-16
Description
<b>Abstract</b><br/>

Composite traits involve multiple components that, only when combined, gain a new synergistic function. Thus, how they evolve remains a puzzle. We combined field experiments, microscopy, chemical analyses and laser Doppler vibrometry with comparative phylogenetic analyses to show that two carnivorous <em>Nepenthes</em> pitcher plant species convergently evolved identical adaptations in three distinct traits to acquire a new, composite trapping mechanism. Comparative analyses suggest that this new trait arose convergently via ‘spontaneous coincidence’ of the required trait combination, rather than directional selection in the component traits. Our results indicate a plausible mechanism for composite trait evolution and highlight the importance of stochastic phenotypic variation as a facilitator of evolutionary novelty.</p>; <b>Methods</b><br />

Data were collected from 55 <em>Nepenthes </em>pitcher plant species from Botanical collections in the UK, Germany and Switzerland, as well as from two species (<em>N. gracilis</em> and <em>N. pervillei</em>) from natural populations in Borneo and the Seychelles. Fotos and high-speed videos were used to assess two macromorphological traits: (1) lid orientation (deviation from horizontal in °), and (2) lid loading/impact response (qualitatively from Fotos, and quantitatively from high-speed video recordings). Laser Doppler vibrometry was used for detailed analysis of lid oscillations after a drop impact on the lid. Scanning electron microscopy was used to assess surface microtopography (images are shown in the article supplementary material, Figures S1 and S2, and are not included in this dataset). Gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry was used to investigate the chemical composition of surface waxes. For detailed descriptions of the experimental methods and sampling techniques see online supplementary material, Materials and Methods.</p>; <b>Usage notes</b><br />

No specialist software is required. Data files are in .csv format. Images are in .tif format. Video files are in .avi format.</p>

Subject
Other; Nepenthes; trait data; Morphometry; laser vibrometry; GC-MS; highspeed videography
Type
Dataset
Notes

Dryad version number: 7</p>

Version status: submitted</p>

Dryad curation status: Published</p>

Sharing link: http://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.v41ns1s2t</p>

Storage size: 1331152380</p>

Visibility: public</p>

Date Available
2024-05-27
Provider
University of British Columbia Library
License
CC0 1.0
DOI
10.14288/1.0437780
URI
https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/OJ5IJ6
Publisher DOI
https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/OJ5IJ6; https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.v41ns1s2t
Grant Funding Agency
UK Research and Innovation; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council; Royal Society; Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851; National Science Foundation; Leverhulme Trust; Natural Environment Research Council; Royal Society; Royal Society
Rights URI
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0
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CC0 1.0