Global expert group conducts research on how parasites fare worldwide
What is the state of global populations of parasites such as lice, ticks, tapeworms and roundworms? How can we better monitor them and what challenges and positive aspects do these species bring to the environment? To answer these questions, the nature conservation organisation IUCN, known for drawing up red lists of endangered species, is starting a global expert group of which Hasselt University, with funding from the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO-Vlaanderen), coordinates the European members and supports the activities globally.
Parasites
"The story about an Australian woman with a living worm in her brain a few months ago. Yes, I can fully understand that that horrifies most people" Prof Maarten Vanhove of the Centre for Environmental Sciences at Hasselt University starts. "And so will the thought of tapeworms, bedbugs, botflies or leeches. Yet, when not infecting humans, parasite species in nature are of great biological value. They play an incredibly important role in our ecosystem because they regulate species, are an important part of biodiversity and are a valuable indicator of how our planet is doing. Parasites have been forgotten for far too long and with this expert group, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) wants to change that. Obviously, these IUCN efforts do not pertain to the parasites of humans or domesticated animals."
Valuable biodiversity
The IUCN works with global groups of scientists who each study the state of animal, plant, algae and fungal species on Earth from their own field of expertise. "For example, the info in zoos whether a certain species is in danger of extinction or not is based on the knowledge from the IUCN" says Prof. Maarten Vanhove. Worldwide, they have so far analysed more than 66,000 plant species and almost 90,000 animal species. "Thus, they provide valuable information about the state of our planet and how many and how fast species are going extinct worldwide."
But until now, the IUCN has barely paid attention to parasites. And yet these are the organisms with the highest number of species on Earth. "Indeed, every species on Earth has at least one and often several species of parasites that use them as hosts. Often they are specific to their host, and parasites can differ between certain locations or organs on or within their host. For example, birds may have different types of lice on their heads than in their wings or on their legs" says Prof. Nikol Kmentová from Hasselt University.
Barely studied
And yet there are less than 10 different species of parasites on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, while it is estimated that more than 30 per cent of the world's parasites are on the brink of extinction by the end of this century. "Parasites are thus barely studied and there are also an incredibly large number of species still undiscovered. For example, it is estimated that barely 10 per cent of all parasite species worldwide have yet been identified. So it is high time to change this, which is why the IUCN is now establishing the IUCN Species Survival Commission Parasite Specialist Group" says Maarten Vanhove.
This group consists of global experts in parasites who will work together to offer insights into how parasite species are doing in the world. Hasselt University, with expertise mainly in fish parasites and other aquatic parasites, will facilitate the work of this expert group of nearly 30 academics with financial support from the Research Foundation-Flanders.
Over the next few years, the group will evaluate the conservation status of already known and new parasite species. How is each species doing, which are thriving, which are endangered and which are already extinct? This will give them a much better picture of how parasite species are doing worldwide. On the 6th and 7th of May the expert group will gather for a first time at Hasselt University.
Flukes
"Parasites are very valuable for biodiversity and for Earth's ecosystems" Dr. Tiziana Gobbin, Programme Officer of the Parasite Specialist Group at Hasselt University, stresses. For example, a large-scale US study in estuaries in California previously showed that the biomass of one group of parasites (trematodes or flukes) in that area was greater than the weight of all birds present in that area.
"Take away these parasites, and there is no doubt it will have a big impact on the ecosystem on site. It's like suddenly taking away all the elephants in the world. For better or worse, that too would have a huge impact on biodiversity and interactions within an ecosystem. The same goes for parasites. They therefore also play an important role, if only because they can have a regulatory effect on certain other species. It would therefore be crazy to continue to lose sight of parasites completely. We are very pleased that IUCN recognises this and is now giving this expert group the opportunity to assess and develop a conservation policy for parasite species worldwide" concludes Maarten Vanhove.
