Bat–bat fly interactions in Central Panama: host traits relate to modularity in a highly specialised network

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

Dokumenter

Recently, network approaches have gained increasing popularity in studies of species interactions. These analyses provide important information about structural and functional organisation, as well as on the dynamics of species interactions. Common model systems for network studies include seed dispersal, pollination, and also parasite interactions. Bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae, Nycteribiidae) are obligate blood-sucking ectoparasites of bats. Resource partitioning allows multiple fly species to co-occur on a single host individual, making them an ideal model system for network analyses. Between 2013 and 2018 in Central Panama, 6528 bats from 53 species were examined for the presence of bat flies. Thereof, we collected a total of 6077 bat flies belonging to 52 species. The resulting interaction network showed a significantly higher specificity (H2' = 0.97) and modularity (Q = 0.78) than expected by chance, indicating a very high host specificity of the bat flies. To investigate parasite interactions in the context of host size, host abundance and roosting preferences, we pooled parasite identifications on genus level. The majority of our identified modules were associated with bats using persistent roosting structures. Neither host size nor host abundance appeared to affect module structure. Further, module structure appeared not to be host-phylogeny driven, instead modules were often composed of species known to share roosting structures. Their high host-specificity could put bat flies at risk of extinction in changing environments.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftInsect Conservation and Diversity
Vol/bind14
Udgave nummer5
Sider (fra-til)686-699
Antal sider14
ISSN1752-458X
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2021

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
The authors thank the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute for the use of facilities and for logistical support, especially Oris Acevedo and Belkys Jimenez. Special thanks go to Matthew Andres, Jan Bechler, Fanny Bonnet, Patrick Cvecko, Bernadette Dobler, Gloria Gessinger, Tanja Halczok, Lorena Heilmayer, Alexander Heni, David Hörmann, Johanna Kalbantner, Mike Kovalchik, Magdalena Krimmel, Elena Krimmer, Paulo Mejia Zeballos, James Moran, Jana Rieger, Andreas Rose and Michael Speidel for assisting in the field and extensive bat fly sampling. Animal capture and handling was approved by the Panamanian Government (MiAmbiente: SE/A‐75‐13, SE/A‐21‐14, SE/A‐69‐14, SE/A‐28‐16, SE/A‐18‐17, SE/A‐12‐18) and the Smithsonian Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC: 2013‐0401‐2016, 2016‐0627‐2019). This study was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) SPP 1596 Grant TS 81/6‐1, which had no influence in study design or interpretation of the results. Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Insect Conservation and Diversity published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal Entomological Society.

ID: 272015899