Parasites Lost: Neglecting a Crucial Element in De-Extinction

Christian Selbach; Philip J Seddon; Robert Poulin

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2017.08.003

Parasites Lost: Neglecting a Crucial Element in De-Extinction

Trends Parasitol. 2018 Jan;34(1):9-11. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.08.003. Epub 2017 Sep 1.

Authors

Christian Selbach¹, Philip J Seddon², Robert Poulin²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. Electronic address: christian.selbach@otago.ac.nz.
² Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.

PMID: 28870497
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.08.003

Abstract

Bringing back iconic and beloved extinct species is a hot and intensely debated current topic. Yet, the parasites of de-extinction candidate species have remained largely overlooked in this debate. Here we point out the potentially far-reaching ecological impacts of bringing back extinct species without their parasites.

Keywords: de-extinction; ecosystems; parasites; resurrection biology.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Conservation of Natural Resources
Ethics
Extinction, Biological*
Host-Parasite Interactions*
Parasites / physiology*