Parasites as conservation tools

Abstract

Parasite success typically depends on a close relationship with one or more hosts; therefore, attributes of parasitic infection have the potential to provide indirect details of host natural history and are biologically relevant to animal conservation. Characterization of parasite infections has been useful in delineating host populations and has served as a proxy for assessment of environmental quality. In other cases, the utility of parasites is just being explored, for example, as indicators of host connectivity. Innovative studies of parasite biology can provide information to manage major conservation threats by using parasite assemblage, prevalence, or genetic data to provide insights into the host. Overexploitation, habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, and climate change are major threats to animal conservation, and all of these can be informed by parasites.

Viral Sequences Recovered From Puma Tooth DNA Reconstruct Statewide Viral Phylogenies

“…These results support the potential for genomes from rapidly evolving viral genomics to inform host connectivity more so than the genetics of the animals itself (Biek et al, 2006;Gagne et al, 2021). The results mirror studies evaluating interstate barriers to bobcat gene flow compared to FIVlru phylogeny, that illustrated Southern Californian interstates are more permeable to viral transmission than host gene flow (Lee et al, 2012;Ernest et al, 2014;Kozakiewicz et al, 2019Kozakiewicz et al, , 2020.…”

“…The results mirror studies evaluating interstate barriers to bobcat gene flow compared to FIVlru phylogeny, that illustrated Southern Californian interstates are more permeable to viral transmission than host gene flow (Lee et al, 2012;Ernest et al, 2014;Kozakiewicz et al, 2019Kozakiewicz et al, , 2020. Because host genetic identities reflect dispersal related to reproductive events, it is less temporally sensitive than viral phylogeography, given the high evolutionary rates of viruses (Richardson et al, 2016;Gagne et al, 2021).…”

How to study parasites and host migration: a roadmap for empiricists

“…The transport of parasites on migrants has long been recognized as a by‐product of host movement across landscapes. Parasite community composition can be used to elucidate migration routes, population origin and time since arrival in a new habitat (Criscione, Cooper & Blouin, 2006; Thieltges et al ., 2010; Alarcos & Timi, 2013) even for use as a conservation tool (Gagne et al ., 2021). Yet, parasites are now increasingly recognized as drivers of animal migration as opposed to passive passengers along for the ride (Altizer et al ., 2011).…”

Ectoparasitic fungi of Myrmica ants alter the success of parasitic butterflies

“…When any of the species involved in such interactions are of conservation concern, then an understanding of the effects of multiple infections on both hosts and parasites is vital. While the importance of conserving parasites is being increasingly acknowledged [10][11][12] , the threats or protection offered by co-infecting parasites has largely been ignored.Colonies of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are subject to numerous parasites, ranging from pathogens and endo-and ecto-macroparasites and parasitoids that exploit individuals, to social parasites that exploit entire colonies and their resources [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] . This makes ant colonies good model organisms for parasitological studies.Myrmica ants are particularly rich in parasites.…”

“…When any of the species involved in such interactions are of conservation concern, then an understanding of the effects of multiple infections on both hosts and parasites is vital. While the importance of conserving parasites is being increasingly acknowledged [10][11][12] , the threats or protection offered by co-infecting parasites has largely been ignored.…”