The Potential of the Parasite Fauna as an Indicator of Ecosystem Health in the Anthropized Environments of Mexico

Hernández‐Camacho, Norma; Zamora-Ledesma, Salvador

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-17277-9_26

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…These events can constitute a conservation risk for parasites (co-extinction) and a disease outbreak risk for hosts (changes in host use), including humans (spillovers). Knowing how parasite communities are varying across time can indicate how ecosystem complexity changed, even before we can observe changes in free-living organisms, and thus inform us on the health status of an ecosystem ( indicator potential ) (Shea et al 2012, Hernández-Camacho and Zamora-Ledesma 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Worms of change: anthropogenic disturbance changes the ectoparasite community structure of Lake Victoria cichlids

Gobbin,

Van Steenberge,

Vranken

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Host-parasite interactions increase the complexity, and thus robustness and resilience, of an ecosystem. This role is particularly relevant in global change times. Environmental changes cause biodiversity loss and shifts in community compositions of free-living organisms, but how these changes affect parasite communities is still unclear. We tested how parasites respond to anthropogenic perturbations, using the Lake Victoria case (East Africa), after 40 years of their onset. Lake Victoria experienced multiple human-induced invasions (e.g. Nile perch), eutrophication, which heavily affected haplochromine cichlid fishes (whose species richness decreased from 500 to 250 species in a decade). We compared gill macroparasite communities of 13 haplochromine species before and after perturbations, using historical and recent fish collections. The host-parasite network re-arranged in a way that buffers the impact of perturbations, indicating resilience. However, the host range of parasites, which is linked to resilience ability, decreased and thus we expect a decreased resilience ability in the future. We also found a decrease in infection parameters, co-infection occurrence, and biodiversity indices highlighting the urgent need of a conservation plan for wildlife parasites, to preserve their ecosystem services in face of global change. This study serves as a proof-of-concept of how often overlooked aspects of host-parasite interactions provide a tool to monitor the health status of an ecosystem.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Worms of change: anthropogenic disturbance changes the ectoparasite community structure of Lake Victoria cichlids

Gobbin,

Van Steenberge,

Vranken

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…Human activities, notably urbanization and agricultural expansion, have profound effects on these biomes, leading to habitat fragmentation, and have substantial ecological consequences [ 6 ]. Fragmentation reduces the biodiversity and population sizes of native felid species; it impedes their ability to locate prey, suitable territories, and mating partners, thus intensifying intraspecific competition and affecting survival [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gastrointestinal Helminths in Wild Felids in the Cerrado and Pantanal: Zoonotic Bioindicators in Important Brazilian Biomes

Moraes,

Silva,

Andrade-Silva

et al. 2024

Animals

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Environmental changes in the Brazilian Pantanal and Cerrado facilitate the spread of parasitic diseases in wildlife, with significant implications for public health owing to their zoonotic potential. This study aimed to examine the occurrence and diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in wild felids within these regions to assess their ecological and health impacts. We collected and analyzed helminth-positive samples from 27 wild felids using specific taxonomic keys. Diverse parasitic taxa were detected, including zoonotic helminths, such as Ancylostoma braziliense, Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma pluridentatum, Toxocara cati, Toxocara canis, Dipylidium caninum, Taenia spp., Echinococcus spp., and Spirometra spp. Other nematodes, such as Physaloptera praeputialis and Physaloptera anomala, were identified, along with acanthocephalans from the genus Oncicola and a trematode, Neodiplostomum spp. (potentially the first record of this parasite in wild felids in the Americas). Human encroachment into natural habitats has profound effects on wild populations, influencing parasitic infection rates and patterns. This study underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and research on parasitic infections as a means of safeguarding both wildlife and human populations and highlights the role of wild felids as bioindicators of environmental health.

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The Potential of the Parasite Fauna as an Indicator of Ecosystem Health in the Anthropized Environments of Mexico

Cited by 2 publications

References 60 publications

Worms of change: anthropogenic disturbance changes the ectoparasite community structure of Lake Victoria cichlids

Worms of change: anthropogenic disturbance changes the ectoparasite community structure of Lake Victoria cichlids

Gastrointestinal Helminths in Wild Felids in the Cerrado and Pantanal: Zoonotic Bioindicators in Important Brazilian Biomes

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