The patterns of organisation and structure of interactions in a fish-parasite network of a neotropical river. Issue 8 (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bellay, Sybelle; Oliveira, Edson F. de; Almeida-Neto, Mário; Abdallah, Vanessa D.; Azevedo, Rodney K. de; Takemoto, Ricardo M.; Luque, José L.
• Is Part Of: International journal for parasitology. Volume 45:Issue 8(2015)
• Page Start: 549
• Page End: 557
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Antagonistic interactions -- Asymmetry -- Freshwater -- Guandu River -- Modularity -- Nestedness -- Quantitative ecological network; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitologie -- Périodiques; Parasitology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 571.999
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.03.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7519

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: A fish-parasite network in an Atlantic Forest river was evaluated. Interaction asymmetry and species strength were mediated by host taxonomy. Complementary specialisation of parasites varied among parasite taxonomic groups. The network revealed high complementary specialisation and modularity. The mechanisms underlying the observed patterns are discussed. Abstract: The use of the complex network approach to study host–parasite interactions has helped to improve the understanding of the structure and dynamics of ecological communities. In this study, this network approach is applied to evaluate the patterns of organisation and structure of interactions in a fish-parasite network of a neotropical Atlantic Forest river. The network includes 20 fish species and 73 metazoan parasite species collected from the Guandu River, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. According to the usual measures in studies of networks, the organisation of the network was evaluated using measures of host susceptibility, parasite dependence, interaction asymmetry, species strength and complementary specialisation of each species as well as the network. The network structure was evaluated using connectance, nestedness and modularity measures. Host susceptibility typically presented low values, whereas parasite dependence was high. The asymmetry and species strength were correlated with host taxonomy but not with parasite taxonomy. Differences among parasite taxonomic groups in the complementary specialisation of each species on hosts were also observed. However, the complementary specialisation and species strength values were not correlated. The network had a high complementary specialisation, low connectance and nestedness, and high modularity, thus indicating variability in the roles of species in the network organisation and the expected presence of many specialist species.