Focus on Hyperparasites: Biotic and Abiotic Traits Affecting the Prevalence of Parasitic Microfungi on Bat Ectoparasites

The tritrophic association of bats, bat flies, and Laboulbeniales microfungi is a remarkably understudied system that may reveal patterns applicable to community ecology theory (hyper)parasites. are biotrophic microfungi, exclusively associated with arthropods, several species specialized on which themselves permanent ectoparasites bats. Several hypotheses were tested biotic abiotic traits influence the presence prevalence hyperparasitic fungi based southeastern European data. We found wide distribution fungal infection underground-dwelling bats hosting more Laboulbeniales-infected flies compared crevice-dwelling species. Bat host behavior, sociality, roost selection (underground versus crevice), fly sex, season all have significant effects infection. infections common infecting dense long-lasting colonies ( Miniopterus schreibersii , Myotis myotis blythii ), primarily in underground sites. Inside these sites, elevated temperature humidity enhance development transmission fungi. Sexual differences hosts’ behavior also an effect risk, densely roosting female hosts harboring flies.