title: The specificity of host-bat fly interaction networks across vegetation and seasonal variation.
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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarazúa-Carbajal
authors.affiliation: 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. romeo.saldana@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Romeo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Saldaña-Vázquez
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: César A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sandoval-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University, MSC 4901, P.O. Box 30003, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Stoner
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benitez-Malvido
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D004175:Diptera / Q000502:physiology*; D065928:Forests; D058507:Host Specificity; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008800:Mexico; D012621:Seasons; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Chiroptera; Mexico; Mormoopidae; Noctilionidae; Phyllostomidae; Streblidae