Integrating biotic interactions in niche analyses unravels patterns of community composition in clownfishes

Mutualistic interactions play a fundamental role in shaping species distributions, driving niche differentiation, and structuring communities. Yet their influence on realized niches and patterns of coexistence remains poorly understood. In clownfishes, mutualism with sea anemones underpins their biogeography and ecological success, with species classified as generalists or specialists according to their host specificity. However, the extent to which host availability constrains or expands clownfish niches has remained unclear. Here we used ecological niche models (ENMs) across the Indo-Pacific to examine how host sea anemones shape clownfish realized niches and community composition. We integrated occurrence data with climatic and habitat predictors and refined estimates by incorporating host niches, quantifying changes in niche breadth, position, and overlap. We further developed a multilayered framework to account for host use within niche quantification, allowing us to assess pattern..., Occurrences, environmental variables and all input data for the analyses have been collected from online databases and open-source datasets., All analyses are done in R. Developed functions are provided in form of a package called NINA., <!---
This README uses Markdown syntax, though it is saved in .txt format.
To view the file with its intended text formatting, save a copy as a .md file.
Then you can open it with the browser or text viewer of your choice.
--->

# Reference Information

## Provenance for this README

* File name: README.txt
* Authors: Alberto Garcia Jimenez
* Other contributors: Olivier Broennimann, Antoine Guisan, Théo Gaboriau and Nicolas Salamin
* Date created: 2023-02-20
* Date modified: 2023-03-30
* Date modified: 2025-09-27

## Dataset Version and Release History

* Current Version:
* Number: 1.1.0
* Date: 2025-09-27
* Persistent identifier: DOI: 10.5061/dryad.2bvq83bv8
* Summary of changes: Updated files following the revision process, including abstract modifications to align with the current manuscript version and improved file organization.
* Embargo Provenance: n/a
* Scope of embargo: n/a
* Embargo period: n/a

## Dataset Attribution and Usage

* Dataset Title: Data for the articl...,