Dataset “moose_diet_micro_gen.csv”

General: information on diet and microbiome composition, as well as genotypes, of individual moose (Alces alces). Values are number of fragment reads identified via metabarcoding procedure.

Plant genera and families refer to the diet data. Values are number of reads obtained via DNA metabarcoding.

Columns KY, BM2830, BL42, FCB193, BM4208, BM848, BM4513, BM203. BM888, BM1225 refer to loci from which the genotypes of moose were derived. 

OTUs are shorthand for taxa of rumen and intestinal microbes identified via DNA metabarcoding. Taxonomic information for OTUs can be found at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/. Values are number of fragment reads identified via metabarcoding procedure.

Additional columns:
herd: population of moose from which the data were derived
scat_id: unique identifier used in the field to label an individual sample
lab_id: unique identifier used in the lab to link scat_id to DNA extraction and PCR products
serial_num: unique identifier used by Jonah Ventures Inc. in DNA metabarcoding procedure
date: date
seas: S=summer, W=winter
AID: unique identifier used to identify individual moose determined via multilocus DNA analysis
sex: sex
x: east-west coordinates (Albers equal area projection) of where the fecal sample was collected
y: north-south coordinates (Albers equal area projection) of where the fecal sample was collected

Dataset “moose_diet_niche_summary.csv”

General: summary data for each population and season combination.

Columns:
herd: population of moose from which the data were derived
seas: S=summer, W=winter
year: year
n: number of individual moose for which diet data was obtained
IndSpec: index of individual diet specialization, calculated as WID/TNW
TNW: total dietary niche width of a population in a phenological season
WID: within individual diversity-- individual niche width
AID: among individual diversity-- among-individual variation in distribution of foods used
Juv100fem: number of juveniles per 100 females identified via wintertime aerial survey
tp1_juv100fem: number of juveniles per 100 females identified via wintertime aerial survey the winter following summer fecal collection. Because resource availability in summer influences offspring summer and winter survival, winter aerial surveys performed ~6-8 post fecal collection represent resource limitation most accurately.