Data from: Sex-specific responses to climate change in plants alter population sex ratio and performance

Males and females are ecologically distinct in many species, but whether responses to climate change are sex-specific is unknown. We document sex-specific responses to climate change in the plant Valeriana edulis (valerian) over four decades and across its 1800m elevation range. Increased elevation was associated with increased water availability and female frequency, likely due to sex-specific water use efficiency and survival. Recent aridification caused male frequency to move up-slope at 175 m/decade, a rate of trait shift outpacing reported species range shifts by an order of magnitude. This increase in male frequency reduced pollen limitation and increased seedset. Coupled with previous studies reporting sex-specific arthropod communities, these results underscore the importance of ecological differences between the sexes in mediating biological responses to climate change.Metadata for data and analysis scriptsDescribes all data files and R analysis scripts.Snowmelt dates across the elevation range of Valeriana edulisSnowmelt data used to test for an effect of elevation on snowmelt date. See README.txt for column descriptions.SnowMeltSpace.csvSnowmelt dates 1978-2014Long-term snowmelt data (1978-2014) collected at one mid-elevation location near the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory by billy barr. See README.txt for column descriptions.SnowMeltTime.csvSoil moisture across the elevation range of Valeriana edulisClimate station data from the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory to test for effect of elevation on soil moisture. See README.txt for column descriptions.RMBLNetSoilMoisture.csvOperational sex ratios of Valeriana edulis populationsOperational sex ratios across the elevation range of Valeriana edulis from 1978 and 2011. See README.txt for column descriptions.SexRatios.csvSex- and size-specific rates of growth and survival in Valeriana edulisAnnual rates of sex- and size-specific growth and survival from tagged plants at four populations (1978-1981). See README.txt for column descriptions.DemographicRates.csvIntegrated water use efficiency by sex in four population of Valeriana edulisCarbon isotope ratios of Valeriana edulis leaf samples used to test for sex differences in integrated water use efficiency. See README.txt for column descriptions.WUE.csvDispersal of pollen analogue by Valeriana edulis pollinatorsPollen analogue (fluorescent dye) transfer by Valeriana edulis pollinators from dyed males to surrounding females. See README.txt for column descriptions.PollenMovement.csvFlower number calibration datasetCalibration dataset to measure and correct for individual observer effects on estimated numbers of flowers. See README.txt for column descriptions.ObserverCalibration.csvPollination neighborhood survey dataCharacteristics of the pollination neighborhoods within a 10m radius of focal females. See README.txt for column descriptions.PollinationNeighborhoods.csvFocal female dataMeasurements of focal females, including proportion of flowers that successfully produced seed. See README.txt for column descriptions.PollinationFocalFemales.csvSpatial dispersion of Valeriana edulis plants in four populationsGPS coordinates of Valeriana edulis plants in four populations and their sex. See README.txt for column descriptions.SpatialPattern.csvMeta-analysis of montane plant elevation range shifts in response to climate changeRates of elevation range shift in montane plants due to climate change collected from the literature. See README.txt for column descriptions.RangeShifts.csvFocal female locations 2014This .zip archive contains a shapefile (including .shp, .shx, .dbf, and .prj components) that describes the locations of focal females used in 2014 in the study of the effect of neighborhood operational sex ratio on seed set rates in Valeriana edulis.FocalFemales2014.zipFocal female locations 2015This .zip archive contains a shapefile (including .shp, .shx, .dbf, and .prj components) that describes the locations of focal females used in 2015 in the study of the effect of neighborhood operational sex ratio on seed set rates in Valeriana edulis.FocalFemales2015.zipValeriana edulis spatial dispersion plantsThis .zip archive contains a shapefile (including .shp, .shx, .dbf, and .prj components) that describes the locations of all Valeriana edulis plants in a representative 200m^2 plot at Emerald Lake.ValerianaPatchPlants.zipValeriana edulis spatial dispersion plotThis .zip archive contains a shapefile (including .shp, .shx, .dbf, and .prj components) that describes the boundary of a representative plot of Valeriana edulis plants growing at Emerald Lake.ValerianaPatchPlot.zipSpecies range shifts in response to climate changeData for meta-analysis of montane plant species range shifts in response to climate change.RangeShifts.csvClimate analyses (R script)Analyses of climate change over elevation and time in the study area.ClimateAnalyses.ROperational sex ratio analyses (R script)Analyses of Valeriana edulis operational sex ratios across the species' elevation range and over time (1978-2011).SexRatioAnalyses.RReproductive life expectancy (R script)Analysis of sex differences in Valeriana edulis life expectancy upon reaching sexual maturity and population operational sex ratios.ReproLifeExpectancy.RWater use efficiency (R script)Analysis of Valeriana edulis sex differences in integrated water use efficiency and population operational sex ratios.WUE.RMating function (R script)Estimation of the mating function – how local operational sex ratio affects female reproductive success – of Valeriana edulis. This script includes a simulation of pollen limitation across a range of operational sex ratios.MatingFunction.RPaces of species range shifts (R script)Meta-analysis of montane plant species range shifts in response to climate change.RangeShifts.