Data for: Biomechanical adaptations enable phoretic mite species to occupy distinct spatial niches on host burying beetles
Creators: name: Sun, Syuan-Jyun
name: Chen, Simon
name: Federle, Walter
name: Kilner, Rebecca
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Attachment
Biomechanics
burying beetles
competition
niche partitioning
phoretic mites

description: Niche theory predicts that ecologically similar species coexist by minimising 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, Poecilochirus carabi, and Macrocheles nataliae that coexist on the same host-burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides and use it to 'hitchhike' between reproductive sites. Field observations revealed clear spatial partitioning between species in distinct host body parts. P. carabi preferred the ventral side of the thorax, whereas M. nataliae 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 P. carabi attached with large adhesive pads to the smooth thorax cuticle, M. nataliae 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.
description: Funding provided by: Cambridge Commonwealth European and International TrustCrossref Funder Registry ID: https://ror.org/05sprqy15Award Number: 
Funding provided by: National Taiwan UniversityCrossref Funder Registry ID: https://ror.org/05bqach95Award Number: 
Funding provided by: National Science and Technology CouncilCrossref Funder Registry ID: https://ror.org/02kv4zf79Award Number: 112-2628-B-002-013
Funding provided by: Ministry of Education, Taiwan*Crossref Funder Registry ID: Award Number: 
Funding provided by: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilCrossref Funder Registry ID: https://ror.org/00cwqg982Award Number: 
Funding provided by: European Research CouncilCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010663Award Number: 301785 BALDWINIAN_BEETLES
Funding provided by: Royal SocietyCrossref Funder Registry ID: https://ror.org/03wnrjx87Award Number:
description: We explored the spatial niche partitioning between two phoretic mite, Poecilochirus carabi, and Macrocheles nataliae, that coexist on the host-burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides. We further provided evidence with biomechanic approaches to reveal the underlying adaptive values of attachment to beetle's cuticle surface. We first surveyed the natural densities of mites on field-collected beetles, and determined their preferred attachment sites on beetles. Next, we manipulated densities of both mites to investigate how intra- and inter-specific interactions influenced mite spatial distribution. Using electron microscopy, we quantified the cuticle surface of all beetle body parts and mite attachment devices. To further assess if mite preference for specific attachment sites is adaptive, we tested mite attachment to both beetle surface and artificial test substrates. Together, we showed that specialised mite attachment to different beetle's body parts mediate spatial niche partitioning among mite species on their carrier.