Ichthyo(parasito)logical research for parasite conservation, One Health, and education

Abstract

Aquatic ecosystems are crucial for nature’s positive contributions to people and biodiversity, but they are heavily impacted by human activities. Fish are the most diverse vertebrates, and dominate most waterbodies. The health of aquatic ecosystems and its fauna underlies a plethora of services they provide, thus it represents a societally urgent challenge requiring a One Health approach. We assess how global change alters host-parasite systems in African aquatic ecosystems. In protected Ramsar sites in the Congo Basin, we monitor how the community of macroinvertebrates, fishes, and their respective parasites changes along a gradient of anthropogenic impacts. In Senegal, we compare protected and unprotected mangroves to estimate how fishing influences their health-related ecosystem (dis)services and the pathogenic landscape, particularly through potential changes in vector predation. Finally, in the Lake Victoria region we reconstruct how bio-invasions and eutrophication rearranged fish-parasite networks in decades, retrieving parasitological information from host historical collections. The science of ecosystem monitoring can only truly underpin sustainable development of ecosystem services in a One Health context when not confined to the research environment. Therefore, we endeavor to extend our work into capacity development, decision-making and higher education. We support the recently-founded Parasite Specialist Group within the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, aiming for assessment of conservation status of parasites, parasite conservation plans (excluding species of medical or veterinary concern) and awareness about ecological roles of parasites. To innovate collection-based education in zoology in general and parasitology in particular, we apply state-of-the-art scanning and digitization techniques to extend our collaborations in the Global South. We expand the use of parasites as indicators of ecosystem health while working with local research partners and communities on specific approaches.