DOI: 10.5061/dryad.vhhmgqp5v
title: Host-Parasite biogeographic interactions: modelling the distribution of Phyllotis xanthopygus rodents complex and their flea assemblage using the favorability function

description: Host-parasite systems play a key role in biogeography, with parasites
 influencing the distributions of their host and vice versa. The
 biodiversity of flea species on the subfamily Sigmodontinae is especially
 valuable for studying parasite-host-environment interactions. This study
 evaluates the biogeographic relationship between rodents of the Phyllotis
 xanthopygus complex and their flea assemblage applying the favorability
 function in the modelling distribution, to identify the different
 environmental factors that favor the distribution of both, and to detect
 areas of greater shared favorability. This is the first study on fleas
 using a methodology based on fuzzy logic that helps to disentangle the
 main factors that determine favorable environmental conditions for
 parasites and hosts. Using favorability functions as the fuzzy logic
 modelling technique and fuzzy intersection, union, and inclusion as the
 fuzzy operators, we were able to specify the territories with maximum
 simultaneous fleas-Phyllotis xanthopygus complex favorability in the study
 area. The model results showed that climate was the main factor
 influencing the distributions of fleas and hosts. The variables most
 relevant to the rodents were the minimum temperatures in the coldest month
 and the annual temperature range. The most important predictors for fleas
 were the mean diurnal range temperatures and the precipitation in the
 coldest quarter. The maximum simultaneous rodent-flea favorability
 occurred in the Cuyan High Andean and Puna provinces (South American
 transition zone). This study explores the influence of environmental
 factors on the distribution of rodent-flea associations highlighting their
 ecological and public health implications.
description: # Host-Parasite biogeographic interactions: modelling the distribution of
 Phyllotis xanthopygus rodents complex and their flea assemblage using the
 favorability function Files included (all files use semicolon delimiter
 and comma decimal): 1.S1.csv. Description: **Table S1.** Explanatory
 variables of environmentally favorable territories for *Phyllotis
 xanthopygus *rodents complex according to the favorability model. The
 variables are shown in order of entry in the construction of the model.
 Estimate: coefficient of variables. Std. Error: Standard Error. Wald:
 Significance of each variable in the model. p: statistical significance.
 Exp(B): Odds ratios. See Table 2 for abbreviatures of the variables.
 2.S2.csv. Description: **Table S2.** Explanatory variables of
 environmentally favorable territories for flea assemblage according to the
 favorability model. The variables are shown in order of entry in the
 construction of the model. Estimate: coefficient of variables. Std. Error:
 Standard Error. Wald: Significance of each variable in the model. p:
 statistical significance. Exp(B): Odds ratios. See Table 2 for
 abbreviatures of the variables.
 2.**Final_Coor_Phyllotis_complex_Xant.csv**. Description: Geographic
 coordinates of the occurrence of the rodent system of the
 xanthopygus-fleas complex. This was used for favorability modeling. The
 tabular data uses commas instead of periods, as required by the software
 employed in this study.