Feather mites (Acariformes: Pterolichoidea and Analgoidea) from Mexico: host-ectosymbiont relationships under a network analysis approach
Feather mites are ectosymbionts of birds with high specificity due to their permanent life cycle, their distribution in particular feather microsites, and their vertical transmission. This work aimed to compile the available information on the group in Mexico and to analyze the distribution patterns in their hosts under a network analysis approach. For this purpose, the records of the group were retrieved through specialized bibliographic searches excluding gray literature. The data were organized in a presence-absence matrix to construct a directed bipartite network. In this analysis, network-level (connectance, network asymmetry, linkage per taxon, and the number ofcompartments) and node-level (degree and betweenness) indices were calculated for three levels: host order, family, and genus. Due to several feather mite taxa reported in the country having not been identified down to the species level, analyses were performed at the generic level. According to the data obtained, 50 genera of feather mites distributed in 17 families have been recorded in the country. Of this total, 95 nominal species have been reported. The 50 genera of feather mites have been found in association with 128 bird species, distributed in 93 genera, 30 families, and 13 orders. The host orders accounting for the highest number of interactions are Passeriformes, Psittaciformes, Pelecaniformes and Apodiformes. The indices at the network level show that the specificity of feather mites is high. On the other hand, at the node level, the genera Proctophyllodes and Nycteridocaulus have the highest degree and betweenness values. The geographical asymmetry of their study in the country is discussed, finding that many of the studies have concentrated on the Gulf of Mexico slope and particular host groups.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | spa |
| Published: |
Universidad de Guadalajara
2023
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| Online Access: | http://dugesiana.cucba.udg.mx/index.php/DUG/article/view/7308 |
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