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The specificity of host-bat fly interaction networks across vegetation and seasonal variation

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Abstract

Vegetation type and seasonality promote changes in the species composition and abundance of parasite hosts. However, it is poorly known how these variables affect host–parasite interaction networks. This information is important to understand the dynamics of parasite–host relationships according to biotic and abiotic changes. We compared the specialization of host–bat fly interaction networks, as well as bat fly and host species composition between upland dry forest and riparian forest and between dry and rainy seasons in a tropical dry forest in Jalisco, Mexico. Bat flies were surveyed by direct collection from bats. Our results showed that host–bat fly interaction networks were more specialized in upland dry forest compared to riparian forest. Bat fly species composition was different between the dry and rainy seasons, while host species composition was different between upland dry forest and riparian forest. The higher specialization in upland dry forest could be related to the differences in bat host species composition and their respective roosting habits. Variation in the composition of bat fly species between dry and rainy seasons coincides with the seasonal shifts in their species richness. Our study confirms the high specialization of host–bat fly interactions and shows the importance of biotic and abiotic factors to understand the dynamics of parasite–host interactions.

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Acknowledgments

M. Zarazúa obtained a scholarship from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT) as part of the Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Financial support for fieldwork was provided by Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México through the operational budget allocated to the Laboratorio de Ecología y Conservación de Mamíferos Tropicales at IIES-UNAM. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. We thank L.D. Ávila-Cabadilla for his invaluable collaboration in bat sampling design and site selection. We thank J. M. Lobato-García for technical assistance. Fieldwork was performed with the help of L.D. Ávila-Cabadilla, M.Y. Álvarez-Añorve, L. Pahua, A. González-Gallina, F. Parraguirre, I. Gómez, B. del Valle, O. Maya, J. Patiño, Y. Gómez, B. Sandoval, C. Leal, G. Verduzco, and O. Chaves. For logistical support, we thank the Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, the Dirección General de Estudios de Posgrado, the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES- UNAM), and the Estación de Biología Chamela

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701 Col. Ex-Hacienda de San José de La Huerta, C.P. 58190, Morelia Michoacán, Mexico

    Mariana Zarazúa-Carbajal, Romeo A. Saldaña-Vázquez & Julieta Benitez-Malvido

  2. Laboratorio de Artropodología y Salud, Escuela de Biología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio Edificio 112-A, Ciudad Universitaria Col. Jardines de San Manuel, C.P. 72570, Puebla, Mexico

    César A. Sandoval-Ruiz

  3. Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University, MSC 4901, P.O. Box 30003, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003, USA

    Kathryn E. Stoner

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  1. Mariana Zarazúa-Carbajal
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  2. Romeo A. Saldaña-Vázquez
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  3. César A. Sandoval-Ruiz
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  4. Kathryn E. Stoner
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  5. Julieta Benitez-Malvido
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Romeo A. Saldaña-Vázquez.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author’s contributions

MZ and RASV originally formulated the idea; MZ conducted fieldwork; CASR collaborated in the flies’ determination, MZ and RASV performed statistical analyses; and MZ, RASV, CASR, KES and JBM wrote the manuscript.

Ethical approval

Bat captures and handling were in accordance with the laws of the Mexican Government and with the authorization of the Oficina de Fauna Silvestre, Mexico (SGPA/DGVS Permit 3644 to KES).

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Zarazúa-Carbajal, M., Saldaña-Vázquez, R.A., Sandoval-Ruiz, C.A. et al. The specificity of host-bat fly interaction networks across vegetation and seasonal variation. Parasitol Res 115, 4037–4044 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-5176-1

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