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Body size-dependent effects on the distribution patterns of phoretic mites of the multi-symbiont Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790) host
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  • Inês Matos,
  • Diogo Silva,
  • Joāo Oliveira,
  • Claúdia Gonçalves,
  • Rita Alves,
  • Nuno Pereira,
  • Francisco Catarino,
  • Olga Ameixa,
  • José Américo Sousa,
  • Luis Rangel,
  • Maria Joao Santos,
  • Camilo AYRA-PARDO
Inês Matos
CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, University of Porto
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Diogo Silva
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental
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Joāo Oliveira
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental
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Claúdia Gonçalves
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental
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Rita Alves
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental
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Nuno Pereira
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigacao Marinha e Ambiental
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Francisco Catarino
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigacao Marinha e Ambiental
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Olga Ameixa
Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Biology, University of Aveiro
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José Américo Sousa
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigacao Marinha e Ambiental
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Luis Rangel
CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, University of Porto
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Maria Joao Santos
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental
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Camilo AYRA-PARDO
CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Phoretic mites have been found attached to different body parts of red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790), to disperse. However, the question of how the patterns of attachment sites are formed remains intriguing. Here, we conducted the first study of RPW-associated phoretic mites in Portugal, particularly in the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto and Aveiro in Northern Portugal (macrohabitat), and investigated the patterns of mite distribution on six body parts of RPW (microhabitat). At the macrohabitat level, we detected seven phoretic mite taxa actively using RPW host in each of the four studied districts, all documented for the first time in association with this invasive exotic species in Portugal. However, their relative abundance (species evenness) varied between districts, as did species diversity. All examined weevils carried mites, and the prevalence of the different taxa did not differ between districts or sex of weevils. Measured by mean abundance and degree of aggregation, Centrouropoda sp. proved to be the common dominant taxon, while Acarus sp. and C. rhynchoporus were considered common subordinate taxa and Uroovobella sp., Mesostigmata, N. extremica and Dendrolaelaps sp. sparse taxa. At the microhabitat level, all taxa were present in all body parts of the RPW; the highest abundance was in a region encompassing the inner surface of the elytra and the membranous hind wings (subelytral space). Analysis of niche overlap revealed that the distribution patterns of phoretic mite taxa on the RPW were not randomly structured. In the subelytral space, interspecific coexistence of mites increased as a function of body size difference with the dominant Centrouropoda sp. We conclude that the distribution patterns of RPW-associated phoretic mites show body size-dependent effects that resulted in the dominant taxon displacing similar size taxa and accepting taxa with which it has the greatest size difference as co-habitants.
07 Feb 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
08 Feb 2023Submission Checks Completed
08 Feb 2023Assigned to Editor
10 Feb 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Feb 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 Mar 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
13 May 20231st Revision Received
15 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
15 May 2023Assigned to Editor
15 May 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 May 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
20 Jun 20232nd Revision Received
21 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
21 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
21 Jun 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Accept