Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.
International Degree Program in Climate Change and Sustainable Development, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
Proc Biol Sci. 2024 Mar 27;291(2019):20240230. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0230. Epub 2024 Mar 20.
Niche theory predicts that ecologically similar species coexist by minimizing interspecific competition through niche partitioning. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of niche partitioning is essential for predicting interactions and coexistence between competing organisms. Here, we study two phoretic mite species, and that coexist on the same host burying beetle and use it to 'hitchhike' between reproductive sites. Field observations revealed clear spatial partitioning between species in distinct host body parts. preferred the ventral side of the thorax, whereas were exclusively found ventrally at the hairy base of the abdomen. Experimental manipulations of mite density showed that each species preferred these body parts, largely regardless of the density of the other mite species on the host beetle. Force measurements indicated that this spatial distribution is mediated by biomechanical adaptations, because each mite species required more force to be removed from their preferred location on the beetle. While attached with large adhesive pads to the smooth thorax cuticle, gripped abdominal setae with their chelicerae. Our results show that specialist biomechanical adaptations for attachment can mediate spatial niche partitioning among species sharing the same host.
生态位理论预测，生态相似的物种通过生态位分隔来最小化种间竞争而共存。因此，理解生态位分隔的机制对于预测竞争生物之间的相互作用和共存至关重要。在这里，我们研究了两种寄生螨， 和 ，它们在同一个宿主埋葬甲 上共存，并利用它在繁殖场所之间“搭便车”。野外观察表明，这两个物种在宿主甲虫的不同身体部位之间存在明显的空间分隔。 更喜欢胸部的腹侧，而 则只在腹部多毛的基部腹侧发现。对螨虫密度的实验操作表明，每个物种都更喜欢这些身体部位，而与宿主甲虫上其他螨虫物种的密度关系不大。力测量表明，这种空间分布是由生物力学适应介导的，因为每个螨虫物种从其在甲虫上的首选位置移除时都需要更大的力。虽然 附着在光滑的胸甲壳上的大粘性垫上，但 用它们的螯肢抓住腹部刚毛。我们的结果表明，用于附着的专门生物力学适应可以介导在共享同一宿主的物种之间的空间生态位分隔。
