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Individual-Level Traits Outweigh Neighborhood and Landscape Level Factors for Frugivorous Insect Parasites in Small Forest Patches
Thomas Back, Nolan Miller, Suann Yang. Not indexed, 2026-06-25
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Abstract Frugivorous insect larvae are dependent on fruiting plants for development, leading to complex host-parasite interactions that may be influenced by many factors at various scales. We compared the relative effects of factors at the individual, neighborhood, and landscape scales in forest patches. Our results suggest that in areas like upstate New York, where agricultural land uses are dominant, individual scale factors are the most influential. Specifically, parasitism increased with host fruit crop size, but was not associated with host species richness or proximity to forest edge. Notably, the most parasitized hosts were non-native species, including Frangula alnus Mill. ( Glossy Buckthorn), indicating a potential role of invasive species to shape host-parasite interactions in our system. Our results underscore the importance of host-specific traits in structuring parasitism patterns and suggest management could consider both the ecological context of host traits and the influence of invasive species at multiple scales.
Key findings
- Our results suggest that in areas like upstate New York, where agricultural land uses are dominant, individual scale factors are the most influential.
- Specifically, parasitism increased with host fruit crop size, but was not associated with host species richness or proximity to forest edge.
- Our results underscore the importance of host-specific traits in structuring parasitism patterns and suggest management could consider both the ecological context of host traits and the influence of invasive species at multiple scales.
Why it matters
This study examined factors affecting parasites of fruit-eating insect larvae in small forest patches. It provides no information on treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 29/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record and impact for its field and year, so those were left out: it earned 26 of the 90 points we could judge it on, which is 29 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Not indexed) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Suann Yang: h-index 17 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | The University of Texas at El Paso: institution h-index 367 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 26 / 90 | Scored on 18 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 26 of the 90 points we could judge it on is 29 out of 100. |
| Total | 29 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.64898/2026.06.24.734278
- Original source →
- Free full text: bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. This record has no journal, so the citation leaves it out. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Back, T., Miller, N., & Yang, S. (2026). Individual-Level Traits Outweigh Neighborhood and Landscape Level Factors for Frugivorous Insect Parasites in Small Forest Patches. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.06.24.734278
Vancouver
Back T, Miller N, Yang S. Individual-Level Traits Outweigh Neighborhood and Landscape Level Factors for Frugivorous Insect Parasites in Small Forest Patches. 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.06.24.734278.
BibTeX
@article{back2026-2b0b9387,
author = {Back, Thomas and Miller, Nolan and Yang, Suann},
title = {{Individual-Level Traits Outweigh Neighborhood and Landscape Level Factors for Frugivorous Insect Parasites in Small Forest Patches}},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.64898/2026.06.24.734278},
url = {https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.06.24.734278}
}
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