Microbiomes are integral to conservation of parasitic arthropods

Kelly A. Speer, Nolwenn M. Dheilly, Susan L. Perkins

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Parasitic arthropods have not typically been included in conservation and management strategies, possibly because the most well-known blood-feeding arthropods are associated with human and livestock disease. However, the vast majority of parasitic arthropods pose no threat to human health and instead contribute to the overall stability of communities to which they belong. The loss of parasitic arthropod biodiversity likely has repercussions for host health, population density, and community structure. The need for parasitic arthropod conservation is urgent given they represent the majority of parasitic animal biodiversity and environmental change is expected to pose a significant threat to their survival. We urge that microbial associations of host–parasitic arthropod assemblages be considered in conservation efforts. Parasitic arthropods are dependent on their microbial associates for development, nutrient acquisition, immune function, and reproduction. The microbiome also mediates the interactions between a parasitic arthropod and a host, and the role of a parasitic arthropod in vectoring pathogens to its host. The microbiome may therefore represent a “weak link” that increases the susceptibility of parasitic arthropods to environmental change. Fundamental knowledge is missing, precluding assessment of this complex association between microbes and parasitic arthropods. We highlight broad areas of future research that focus on building primary knowledge, developing experimental protocols and novel statistics, and leveraging new techniques to increase the resolution at which we can examine microbial communities of parasites. Conservation of parasitic arthropods that accounts for microbiota will likely be more effective at maintaining parasite biodiversity and at controlling arthropod-vectored disease emergence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number108695
JournalBiological Conservation
Volume250
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Extinction risk
  • Host–parasite interactions
  • Microbiome–environment interactions
  • Parasite microbiome
  • Vector competence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Nature and Landscape Conservation

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