Revealing the Complexity of Host-Parasite Relationships Between Syringophilid Mites and Sunbirds in Their Global Range
This article emphasises the importance of parasitological research in understanding ecological dynamics and biodiversity conservation through a global analysis of quill mites (Syringophilidae) parasitising Sunbirds (Nectariniidae). Data from 764 Sunbird individuals across seventy-six species reveale...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Bozena Sikora Markus Unsoeld Roland R. Melzer Stefan Friedrich Martin Hromada |
| author_facet | Bozena Sikora Markus Unsoeld Roland R. Melzer Stefan Friedrich Martin Hromada |
| author_sort | Bozena Sikora |
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| description | This article emphasises the importance of parasitological research in understanding ecological dynamics and biodiversity conservation through a global analysis of quill mites (Syringophilidae) parasitising Sunbirds (Nectariniidae). Data from 764 Sunbird individuals across seventy-six species revealed twelve quill mite species, including three newly described species: <i>Aulonastus aethopygus</i> Sikora and Unsoeld sp. n., <i>Syringophiloidus haeckeli</i> Sikora and Unsoeld sp. n., and <i>Aulonastus arachnotherus</i> Sikora and Unsoeld sp. n. A bipartite network analysis indicated a low connectance of 0.10, suggesting that only 10% of potential bird–parasite connections are realised. This high specialisation is further supported by an H<sub>2′</sub> index of 0.94 and a C score of 0.83, indicating low co-occurrence among mite species. The temperature of nestedness at 13.49 suggests a well-organised network structure. Additionally, normalised specialisation (d’) ranged from 0.60 to 1, reflecting unique host–parasite interactions. High modularity (likelihood = 0.80) with nine modules was identified, with hosts ranging from one to seven. The study concludes by discussing the host–parasite dynamics and their ecological implications within this system. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d6e99c3752cd44e9884091a49932bbc0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d6e99c3752cd44e9884091a49932bbc02025-01-10T13:14:06ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-01-0115111010.3390/ani15010110Revealing the Complexity of Host-Parasite Relationships Between Syringophilid Mites and Sunbirds in Their Global RangeBozena Sikora0Markus Unsoeld1Roland R. Melzer2Stefan Friedrich3Martin Hromada4Department of Animal Morphology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznan, PolandSektion Ornithology, SNSB-Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, 81247 Munich, GermanySektion Arthropoda Varia, SNSB-Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, 81247 Munich, GermanySektion Arthropoda Varia, SNSB-Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, 81247 Munich, GermanyLaboratory and Museum of Evolutionary Ecology, Department of Ecology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Prešov, 080 01 Prešov, SlovakiaThis article emphasises the importance of parasitological research in understanding ecological dynamics and biodiversity conservation through a global analysis of quill mites (Syringophilidae) parasitising Sunbirds (Nectariniidae). Data from 764 Sunbird individuals across seventy-six species revealed twelve quill mite species, including three newly described species: <i>Aulonastus aethopygus</i> Sikora and Unsoeld sp. n., <i>Syringophiloidus haeckeli</i> Sikora and Unsoeld sp. n., and <i>Aulonastus arachnotherus</i> Sikora and Unsoeld sp. n. A bipartite network analysis indicated a low connectance of 0.10, suggesting that only 10% of potential bird–parasite connections are realised. This high specialisation is further supported by an H<sub>2′</sub> index of 0.94 and a C score of 0.83, indicating low co-occurrence among mite species. The temperature of nestedness at 13.49 suggests a well-organised network structure. Additionally, normalised specialisation (d’) ranged from 0.60 to 1, reflecting unique host–parasite interactions. High modularity (likelihood = 0.80) with nine modules was identified, with hosts ranging from one to seven. The study concludes by discussing the host–parasite dynamics and their ecological implications within this system.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/110AcariAvesbiodiversitybirdsectoparasitesNectariniidae |
| spellingShingle | Bozena Sikora Markus Unsoeld Roland R. Melzer Stefan Friedrich Martin Hromada Revealing the Complexity of Host-Parasite Relationships Between Syringophilid Mites and Sunbirds in Their Global Range Animals Acari Aves biodiversity birds ectoparasites Nectariniidae |
| title | Revealing the Complexity of Host-Parasite Relationships Between Syringophilid Mites and Sunbirds in Their Global Range |
| title_full | Revealing the Complexity of Host-Parasite Relationships Between Syringophilid Mites and Sunbirds in Their Global Range |
| title_fullStr | Revealing the Complexity of Host-Parasite Relationships Between Syringophilid Mites and Sunbirds in Their Global Range |
| title_full_unstemmed | Revealing the Complexity of Host-Parasite Relationships Between Syringophilid Mites and Sunbirds in Their Global Range |
| title_short | Revealing the Complexity of Host-Parasite Relationships Between Syringophilid Mites and Sunbirds in Their Global Range |
| title_sort | revealing the complexity of host parasite relationships between syringophilid mites and sunbirds in their global range |
| topic | Acari Aves biodiversity birds ectoparasites Nectariniidae |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/110 |
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