Short Wave Save The Parasites
Aug 14, 2020
Chelsea Wood, an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington, dives into the surprising world of parasites. She highlights the critical role of parasites like nematomorphs and tapeworms in ecosystems, including their unique relationships with hosts such as crickets. Chelsea discusses a global initiative to conserve endangered parasites, underscoring the need to appreciate these often-misunderstood organisms as essential to ecosystem balance and biodiversity. Through captivating stories, she advocates for a new perspective on wildlife conservation.
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Nematomorph Manipulation
- Nematomorphs, parasitic roundworms, manipulate crickets into drowning themselves.
- This delivers the cricket, and the nematomorph, into a stream where they become trout food.
Parasites' Importance
- Parasites play a crucial, if unseen, role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
- Their absence can destabilize food webs and endanger other species.
Trepanorinx Tapeworms
- Trepanorinx tapeworms, Chelsea Wood's favorite, live in fish and await consumption by sharks.
- They have four tentacles with rows of hooks, used to latch onto their shark host.