Data from: Testing for latitudinal gradients in defense at the macroevolutionary scale

We quantified phenolics in leaves, flowers and fruits, using advanced analytical chemistry techniques. Dominant individual ellagitannin compounds, total concentrations of ellagitannins, flavonoids, total phenolics, and compound diversity were quantified. Variation in these compounds were predicted with latitude, temperature, precipitation, and continent using phylogenetic generalized least squares multiple regression models.

Latitude did not strongly explain patterns for the chemical defences. Instead, fruit total ellagitannins, oenothein A and total phenolics were greater in species inhabiting regions with colder climates. Using analytical chemistry and 80 species in two continents, we show that contrary to classic predictions, concentrations of secondary metabolites are not greater at lower latitudes or in warmer regions.

We propose higher herbivore pressure in colder climates and gradients in resource availability as potential drivers of the observed patterns.

Usage notes

Latitudinal plant defence across Onagraceae Plant chemical defence data for 80 species across Onagraceae and associated geographical and environmental variables. macro.data.xlsx