PARAsites as BIOlogical indicators: investigating marine TrophIC networks ecological dynamics

Objective

Parasites are a neglected component of marine biodiversity, despite their crucial role in eco-evolutionary dynamics. While frequently perceived as a threat to wildlife and human health, and environmental degradation, most metazoan parasites lack zoonotic potential. Conversely, abundance and diversity of parasites, especially in high trophic-level hosts, such as elasmobranchs, are reliable indicators of trophic network health. Pioneering studies showed that these hold great promise as indicators for biodiversity monitoring, which is a key tool for conservation, especially in this era of rapid environmental changes. Hence, the PARABIOTIC project, through an integrative systematic parasite community monitoring approach, aims to: i) Generate evidence-based knowledge for incorporating parasites into marine biodiversity monitoring; ii) Assess spatio-temporal trends in helminth biodiversity to evaluate trophic network status and threats; iii) Develop cost-effective monitoring protocols; iv) Shift stakeholder perceptions of parasites. My experience in parasites ecoepidemiology and quantitative analyses will be complemented by the extensive expertise on parasite taxonomy and ecology of Dr. Mario Santoro (SZN, Italy), and on parasite molecular taxonomy and population genetics of Dr Alicia Rojas (UCR, Costa Rica). Selecting Costa Rica as our experimental field will provide a unique opportunity to advance this research for several reasons: the country is a biodiversity hotspot, where extensive environmental and ecological data are available and continuously collected; Caribbean and Pacific coasts differ in habitat features and measurable anthropogenic pressures; an established network of collaboration among academia and stakeholders is already in place; collaboration on a similar project already exists between SZN and UCR. This research lays the groundwork for incorporating parasites into biodiversity monitoring and enhancing marine biodiversity assessments globally.