A Hierarchical Niche Structure, not Niche Partitioning, Organizes a Seasonally Dynamic Flea Community

A Hierarchical Niche Structure, not Niche Partitioning, Organizes a Seasonally Dynamic Flea Community | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Ecology and Evolution This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 18 October 2025 V1 Latest version Share on A Hierarchical Niche Structure, not Niche Partitioning, Organizes a Seasonally Dynamic Flea Community Authors : Rui Geng 0009-0006-4371-1867 , Yakun Liu , Haizhou Yang , Guokang Chen 0009-0006-5901-8530 , Shuai Yuan , and Heping Fu 0000-0002-6863-1728 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176081800.04134482/v1 Published Ecology and Evolution Version of record Peer review timeline 241 views 185 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Interactions in single-host–parasite systems provide a tractable framework for understanding the ecological mechanisms that maintain community stability. Here, we integrated network topology, multidimensional niche analysis, and functional group delineation to investigate the adaptive strategies and assembly rules of a 12-species flea community on Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). The host–flea network was characterized by a stable, nested structure and exhibited strong seasonal dynamics, with connectivity peaking in summer and modularity increasing in autumn. To understand the niche mechanisms driving these patterns, we identified four key ecological gradients (Seasonal Climate, Host Physiology, Weather Exposure, Host Behavior) and quantified the niche breadth of each species along these axes. Our analysis revealed that the community was organized along a steep hierarchy of generalization. Two ”hyper-generalist” species (Nosopsyllus laeviceps kuzenkoui and Xenopsylla conformis conformis) dominated the community, exhibiting near-maximal niche breadth across all four dimensions and occupying the core of the co-occurrence network. A broad niche was a major determinant of a species’ role, correlating strongly with a wider range of exploited hosts (p < 0.05). In contrast, specialist species, such as the ”extreme specialist” (Ophthalmopsylla jettmari), were confined to the network’s periphery and a narrow subset of ecological conditions. Clustering based on the multidimensional niche profiles identified four distinct functional groups, reflecting a clear hierarchy of ecological strategies from dominant hyper-generalists to highly restricted specialists. Overall, by integrating a multidimensional niche framework with network analysis, this study demonstrates that a hierarchical niche structure, rather than complex trade-offs, is the primary organizing principle in this seasonally dynamic community, providing a more nuanced understanding of stability in parasitic systems. Supplementary Material File (flea co-occurrence network.docx) Download 11.54 KB File (flea_niche_breadth_pca_kaiserguttman_analysis.docx) Download 15.14 KB File (host_flea_network_filter.docx) Download 11.74 KB File (k-means clustering.docx) Download 12.02 KB File (main document.docx) Download 1.21 MB File (nmds.docx) Download 13.00 KB File (seasonal_network_data.doc) Download 23.00 KB File (taxonomic clarification of flea species and subspecies correspondence between original data codes and scientific names.docx) Download 10.80 KB File (wilxox.docx) Download 11.32 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 18 October 2025 Peer review timeline Published Ecology and Evolution Version of Record 12 Jan 2026 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Ecology and Evolution Keywords community ecology comparative invertebrate statistical terrestrial Authors Affiliations Rui Geng 0009-0006-4371-1867 Inner Mongolia Agricultural University View all articles by this author Yakun Liu Inner Mongolia Agricultural University View all articles by this author Haizhou Yang Inner Mongolia Agricultural University View all articles by this author Guokang Chen 0009-0006-5901-8530 Inner Mongolia Agricultural University View all articles by this author Shuai Yuan Inner Mongolia Agricultural University View all articles by this author Heping Fu 0000-0002-6863-1728 [email protected] Inner Mongolia Agricultural University View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 241 views 185 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Rui Geng, Yakun Liu, Haizhou Yang, et al. A Hierarchical Niche Structure, not Niche Partitioning, Organizes a Seasonally Dynamic Flea Community. Authorea . 18 October 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176081800.04134482/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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