Keyword: Streblidae

Pattern of bat-ectoparasite interaction in the state of Sergipe, Brazil: an ecological networks approach

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Interaction networks can help understand how species are connected and the implications of these interactions for the ecosystem. This study aimed to identify the pattern of interaction between bats and ectoparasites in Sergipe and calculate the metrics of connectance, specialization, nesting, modularity, and centrality. This study was conducted based on host-parasite relationship data recorded in Sergipe and reported in previous studies. Connectance and specialization (H2′) were calculated using the “networklevel” and “specieslevel” functions, respectively. The NODF and QuanBiMo (Q) metrics were used to determine nesting and modularity, respectively. For centrality, relative degree (Kr), closeness centrality (CC), and betweenness centrality (BC) were determined. The connectance value (0.11) was considered high. H2′ was 0, and the complementary specialization (d’) values ranged from 0 to 1. The nesting and modularity values were 15.95 and 0.58, respectively. The highest Kr value was observed for Platyrrhinus lineatus. The highest CC value was observed for Artibeus planirostris. The highest BC values were recorded for A. planirostris and P. lineatus. High modularity, low nesting, and low connectivity have been frequently reported for antagonistic interactions, which may be due to the high specificity indices of these interactions. In this study, although the modularity value was significant, specialization was low, suggesting that the studied network has a composite topology. Thus, this study provides relevant information on the subject, highlighting the need for more studies to help understand the topology of networks.

Padrão de interação morcego-ectoparasito em áreas do nordeste do Brasil: uma abordagem de redes ecológicas. Redes de interação podem auxiliar na compreensão de como as espécies estão conectadas e as implicações dessas interações para o ecossistema. Esse estudo teve como objetivos identificar o padrão de interação entre morcegos e ectoparasitos em Sergipe e calcular as métricas de conectância, especialização, aninhamento, modularidade e centralidade. Esse estudo foi realizado a partir de dados da relação hospedeiro-parasito relatados em artigos científicos para Sergipe. A conectância e especialização (H2′) foram calculadas utilizando a função “networklevel” e “specieslevel”. Para o aninhamento, foi utilizada a métrica NODF. Para a modularidade foi utilizado o QuanBiMo (Q). Para a centralidade foi utilizado o relative degree (Kr), closeness centrality (CC) e betweenness centrality (BC). A conectância (0,11) foi considerada alta. O H2′ foi 0 e os valores de especialização complementar (d’) variaram de 0 a 1. O aninhamento foi 15,95 e a modularidade 0,58. Para a centralidade, o maior valor de Kr correspondeu a Platyrrhinus lineatus. Para a CC, o maior valor foi para Artibeus planirostris. Para a BC os maiores valores foram registrados para A. planirostris e P. lineatus. Alta modularidade, baixo aninhamento e baixa conectância são frequentemente relatadas para interações antagonistas, podendo ocorrer devido ao alto índice de especificidade das interações. Nesse estudo, apesar do valor de modularidade ter sido significativo, a especialização foi baixa. Isso pode sugerir que a rede estudada possua uma topologia composta. Assim, esse trabalho traz informações relevantes a cerca do tema, evidenciando a necessidade da realização de mais estudos que auxiliem na compreensão sobre topologia de redes.

Graphical abstract for the article “Pattern of bat-ectoparasite interaction in the state of Sergipe, Brazil: an ecological networks approach” (Bezerra & Bocchiglieri, 2024)

Efecto de la fragmentación sobre la diversidad de murciélagos (Chiroptera) y estréblidos (Diptera: Streblidae) y redes de interacción en Puebla, México

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En el presente estudio se comparó la riqueza, diversidad y especialización de las redes de interacción hospedador-ectoparásito en dos ambientes contrastantes de Puebla, México. Se colocaron redes de niebla para la captura de murciélagos, y los ectoparásitos fueron colectados manualmente con pinzas entomológicas. Se registraron 188 murciélagos de 20 especies, de las cuales se colectaron 263 estréblidos de 11 especies. La riqueza y abundancia de murciélagos y estréblidos fue mayor en el bosque continuo, aunque el análisis de diversidad verdadera mostró que no existían diferencias significativas entre el sitio fragmentado y el bosque continuo. En el caso de los estréblidos, aunque la diversidad fue significativamente mayor en el bosque continuo, los valores de la carga parasitaria fueron similares en ambos sitios. Las redes de interacciones de los dos sitios fueron altamente especializadas y presentaron valores similares; no obstante, se observó un mayor número de enlaces en el bosque continuo. Estos resultados sugieren que la fragmentación aparentemente puede influir más sobre la diversidad de estréblidos que en la de sus hospedadores; esto puede deberse a que en ambos sitios los murciélagos Phyllostomidae tuvieron una mayor presencia. En los estréblidos, aunque no hay un efecto sobre la especialización producto de la especificidad de las interacciones murciélago-estréblido, sí existe una disminución en la riqueza de especies que da como resultado una disminución en el número de interacciones.

The effect of fragmentation on the diversity of bats (Chiroptera) and bat’s flies (Diptera: Streblidae) and interaction networks in Puebla, Mexico. The present study compares the richness, diversity, and specialization of host-ectoparasite interaction networks in two contrasting environments in Puebla, Mexico. Mist nets were placed to capture bats, while ectoparasites were collected manually with entomological tweezers. A total of 188 bats of 20 species were recorded, of which 263 bat Streblidae bat flies of 11 species were collected. The richness and abundance of bats and bat flies were higher in continuous forest, even though the analysis of true bat diversity showed no significant difference between the fragmented site and the continuous forest. Moreover, while there was a significant difference between sites for bat flies, there was no significant difference between sites for their parasitic loads. The interaction networks of both sites were highly specialized with similar values. However, a higher number of links were observed at the continuous forest. These results suggest that fragmentation may have a greater influence on the diversity of Streblidae flies than on the diversity of their hosts. This result may be due to the fact that Phyllostomidae bats were more common at both sites. Although there is no effect on the specialization of the bat flies due to the specificity of the bat-Streblidae interactions formed over evolutionary time, there is a decrease in species richness and, as a result, a decrease in the number of interactions.

Graphical abstract for the article “Efecto de la fragmentación sobre la diversidad de murciélagos (Chiroptera) y estréblidos (Diptera: Streblidae) y redes de interacción en Puebla, México” (Tlapaya-Romero et al., 2024)

Ectoparasites associated with bats in northeastern Tolima, Colombia

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This study reports data on the prevalence and mean intensity of ectoparasites associated with bats in northeastern Tolima, Colombia. We captured 140 bats representing 21 species and 5 families. Most individuals represented the Phyllostomidae (84%), and Carollia perspicillata was the most frequently captured species (35%). Parasites were found in 14 of these species (66%), 8 of which (29.28%) were parasitized by Streblidae, 6 (14.28%) by Spinturnicidae, 5 (9.28%) by Macronyssidae, and 5 (7.85%) by Argasidae. Ectoparasites represented 5 families and 24 species; the most abundant was Trichobius joblingi (16.85%), followed by Radffordiella desmodi (11.04%). This research represents the first report on ectoparasites of bats in northern Tolima (Colombia).

Ectoparásitos asociados con murciélagos en el noreste de Tolima, Colombia. El presente estudio registra los ectoparásitos asociados a murciélagos en el noreste del Tolima, Colombia, con datos sobre su prevalencia e intensidad promedio. Se capturaron 140 murciélagos distribuidos en 5 familias y 21 especies, siendo la familia Phyllostomidae la más abundante (84%), y la especie de mayor frecuencia Carollia perspicillata (35%). De las especies de murciélagos colectadas, 14 (66%) se hallaron parasitadas; 8 de estas (29.28%) fueron parasitadas por la familia Streblidae, 6 (14.28%) por Spinturnicidae, 5 (9.28%) por Macronyssidae y 5 especies (7.85%) parasitadas por Argasidae. Cinco familias y 24 especies de ectoparásitos fueron encontradas, de las cuales Trichobius joblingi fue la más abundante (16.85%) seguida por Radffordiella desmodi (11.04%). Esta investigación representa el primer reporte sobre las especies de ectoparásitos de murciélagos del norte del Tolima (Colombia).