Network link prediction
The plug-and-play algorithm performed solidly (mean AUROC = 0.72, full model AUROC = 0.85) despite the missing data (Fig. 5a) and outperformed the Poisson N-mixture model (mean AUROC = 0.59). According to the former, a substantial amount of species interactions likely remains undetected (Fig. 5b; Appendix S7). All input parameters improved performance of the plug-and-play algorithm (Fig. 5c). However, the ecosystem, host and parasite phylogenies, and trophic level parameters were significantly more important than morphological parameters including the host length and attachment and reproductive organ measurements.
Discussion