Host-parasite coextinction and the plight of tick conservation

Abstract

The dilemma of preserving the parasite biodiversity of rare, endangered, or extinct hosts has been highlighted recently (Windsor 1990, 1995; Rózsa 1992; Stork & Lyal 1993). Host cxtinction also results in cocxtinction in nature of all associated hostspccific parasites. Further, visible ectoparasites often are removed purposely from rare or endangcred animlas with an aim towards increasing host fitness and survival. Because the number of parasitic species may be about four times that of free-living species on earth (May 1992), such practices could have dire consequences for parasite te biodiversity, which represents a significant proportion of total biodiversity. Negative human perception of parasites, in addition to the typically small size of the latter, has hindered the conservation of rare parasites and actually has decreased the abundance of certain species.