Table 2 Overview of traits defined for all species of Coleoptera, Hemiptera (Auchenorrhyncha, Heteroptera), Orthoptera, and Araneae sampled over 5 years in 150 grassland plots (data set: ‘ArthropodSpeciesTraits.csv’ (Data Citation 1)

From: A summary of eight traits of Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera and Araneae, occurring in grasslands in Germany

Variables	Type	Number	Levels	Abbreviation	Description
Body_size	numeric/metric		Min: 0.31		Mean body length [mm]
			Mean: 4.71
			Max: 35
Dispersal_ability	ordinal	5	very low	0	Based on wing dimorphism, flying ability, activity ranges, dispersal strategies, individual movement and colonization dynamics, depending on taxon
			low	0.25
			medium	0.5
			high	0.75
			very high	1
Feeding_guild	nominal/factor	13	carnivore	c	Fine classification of feeding guild across larval and adult stages; less frequent assignments in brackets
			carni-detritivore	c-d
			carni-detriti-herbivore	c-d-h
			carni-fungivore	c-f
			carni-herbivore	c-h
			mainly carnivore, rarely herbivore	c-(h)
			detritivor	d
			detriti-fungivore	d-f
			detriti-herbivore	d-h
			fungivore	f
			fungi-herbivore	f-h
			herbivor	h
			mainly herbivore, rarely carnivore	h-(c)
Feeding_guild_short	nominal/factor	5	carnivor	c	Coarse classification of feeding guild, indicating main feeding source across larval and adult stages
			herbivor	h
			detritivor	d
			fungivor	f
			omnivor	o
Feeding_mode	nominal/factor	3	extraintestinal	e	The way nutrients are ingested
			chewing	c
			sucking	s
Feeding_specialization	nominal/factor	3	monophagous	m	Host plant specialization in herbivores
			oligophagous	o
			polyphagous	p
Feeding_tissue	nominal/factor	13	Mesophyll-cells	m	Fine classification on the plant tissues sucking herbivores are feeding on
			Mesophyll-cells and phloem	m-p
			Mesophyll-cells, phloem, reproductive organs	m-p-r
			Mesophyll-cells, phloem, xylem	m-p-x
			Mesophyll-cells, reproductive organs	m-r
			Phloem	p
			Phloem, reproductive organs	p-r
			Phloem, ripe seeds	p-se
			reproductive organs	r
			mainly reproductive organs; rarely mesophyll-cells, phloem	r-(m-p)
			reproductive organs, ripe seeds	r-se
			ripe seeds	se
			Xylem	x
Feeding_plant_part	nominal/factor	17	Leaves	l	Fine classification on the plant parts chewing herbivores are feeding on
			Leaves, reproductive organs	l-r
			Leaves, roots	l-ro
			Leaves, roots, stems	l-ro-s
			Leaves, reproductive organs, roots	l-r-ro
			Leaves, reproductive organs, stems	l-r-s
			Leaves, reproductive organs, ripe seeds	l-r-se
			Leaves, stems	l-s
			mainly leaves, stems; rarely roots	l-s-(ro)
			Leaves, ripe seeds	l-se
			reproductive organs	r
			Roots	ro
			reproductive organs, roots	r-ro
			reproductive organs, stems	r-s
			Roots, stems	ro-s
			Stems	s
			mainly stems, rarely roots	s-(ro)
Endophagous_lifestyle	nominal/factor	13	Gall-inducer on leaves	gl	Details on endophagously living larvae
			Gall-inducer on reproductive organs	gr
			Gall-inducer on stems	gs
			Leaf-miner	ml
			Miner in reproductive organs	mr
			Miner in reproductive organs, stems	mr-ms
			Miner in roots	mro
			Miner in roots, stems	mro-ms
			Miner in stems	ms
			Miner; mainly stems; rarely roots	ms-(mro)
			mainly miner in stem; rarely gall-inducer on stems	ms-(gs)
			Leaf-miner; only during one particular larval stage	(ml)
			Miner in roots, stems; only during one particular larval stage	(mro-ms)
Stratum_use	nominal/factor	25	Soil layer	s	Vertical strata used across larval and adult stages; less frequent assignments in brackets
			Soil- and herb layer	s-h
			Soil- and shrub/tree layer	s-t
			Ground layer	g
			mainly ground-, less frequent soil layer	(s)-g
			mainly ground-, less frequent soil-, herb- and shrub/tree layer	(s)-g-(h)-(t)
			mainly ground-, less frequent herb layer	g-(h)
			mainly ground-, less frequent herb- and shrub/tree layer	g-(h)-(t)
			Ground- and herb layer	g-h
			mainly ground- and herb-layer, less frequent shrub/tree layer	g-h-(t)
			Ground- and shrub/tree layer	g-t
			Herb layer	h
			mainly herb-, less frequent soil- and ground layer	(s)-(g)-h
			mainly herb-, less frequent soil-, ground- and shrub/tree layer	(s)-(g)-h-(t)
			mainly herb-, less frequent ground layer	(g)-h
			mainly herb-, less frequent ground- and shrub/tree layer	(g)-h-(t)
			mainly herb-, less frequent shrub/tree layer	h-(t)
			Herb-, and shrub/tree layer	h-t
			Shrub/tree layer	t
			mainly shrub/tree-, less frequent ground- and herb layer	(g)-(h)-t
			mainly shrub/tree-, less frequent herb layer	(h)-t
			Water bodies	w
			Water bodies and herb layer	w-h
			unspecific—no main stratum	u
Stratum_use_short	nominal/factor	6	Soil-dweller	s	Main vertical stratum used across larval and adult stages
			Ground-dweller	g
			Herb layer	h
			Shrub & tree layer	t
			water-bound	w
			unspecific	u
Remark			non-grassland species	*	Indicates species that do neither obligatory nor facultative occur in grasslands

In the categories feeding guild and stratum a finer classification including all trait levels is given in the columns ‘Feeding_guild’ and ‘Stratum’ of the data table ‘ArthropodSpeciesTraits.csv’. Less frequent assignments are given in brackets. The coarse classification is given in the columns ‘Feeding_guild_short’ and ‘Stratum_short’. Species were assigned unspecific stratum in the coarse classification if they are found equally often in more than one stratum. Species were assigned as omnivores if they equally use more than one feeding source (plants, animals, detritus, fungi). ‘Feeding_specialization’ refers to the host plant breadth of herbivores and includes the levels monophagous, oligophagous, and polyphagous. NA is assigned to all non-herbivores in the data table. ‘Feeding_mode’ refers to the way of ingestion. ‘Feeding_tissue’ refers to the tissue used by sucking herbivores, NA is assigned to non-herbivores and chewing herbivores. ‘Feeding_plant_part’ refers to the part of the plant which chewing herbivores feed on, NA is assigned to non-herbivores and sucking herbivores. ‘Endophagous_lifestyle’ indicates gall-inducing or mining larvae in herbivores, NA is assigned to non-herbivores and herbivores that have no endophagously feeding larvae. The data set also includes data on order, suborder and family as well as the author name and year of species description. For a description of trait assessment and definition see main text.

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Table 2 Overview of traits defined for all species of Coleoptera, Hemiptera (Auchenorrhyncha, Heteroptera), Orthoptera, and Araneae sampled over 5 years in 150 grassland plots (data set: ‘ArthropodSpeciesTraits.csv’ (Data Citation 1)

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