Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Interactions: Parasitism01:22

Microbial Interactions: Parasitism

Parasitism is a form of microbial interaction in which parasitic microbes exploit a host organism for nutrients and shelter, often at the host's expense. Unlike mutualistic relationships, where both organisms benefit, parasitism benefits only the parasite and harms the host.Classification of ParasitesMicrobial parasites are broadly classified based on their location relative to the host.Ectoparasites remain on the host’s surface, such as the skin or outer tissues, drawing nutrients...
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
Diversity of Protists I01:15

Diversity of Protists I

Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
Overview of Protists01:27

Overview of Protists

Protists are diverse eukaryotic microorganisms that lack the specialized tissues of plants and animals and the chitinous cell walls of fungi. Their early divergence within Eukarya resulted in structural, functional, and ecological diversity. They are classified into supergroups such as Archaeplastida, Excavata, Amoebozoa, Rhizaria, Alveolata, and Stramenopiles, determined through genetic analysis and structural similarities.Structural and Functional AdaptationsProtists have various adaptations...
Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores02:40

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the biosynthesis of the...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The fitness of drug-resistant malaria parasites in a rodent model: multiplicity of infection.

Journal of evolutionary biology·2011
Same author

Partitioning regulatory mechanisms of within-host malaria dynamics using the effective propagation number.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2011
Same author

Comparative biology and disease ecology.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same author

Counting the cost of disease resistance.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same author

A lively bustle.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same author

Catching the Red Queen? The advice of the Rose.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same journal

Can habitat modification in the native range promote invasion?

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026
Same journal

The host-microbiome dimension of ecological regime shifts.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026
Same journal

The emerging field of wild animal welfare science.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026
Same journal

Integrating nutritional mutualists into the evolution of defense.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026
Same journal

Formation of three great Asian plateaus, climate change, and biodiversity: (Trends Ecol. Evol. 40, 970-982; 2025).

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026
Same journal

Digital twins as a tool for ecosystem research.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Leveraging Micro-CT Scanning to Analyze Parasitic Plant-Host Interactions
06:23

Leveraging Micro-CT Scanning to Analyze Parasitic Plant-Host Interactions

Published on: January 12, 2022

Ultimate parasites.

A F Read1

  • 1Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK EH9 3JT.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|January 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This book explores the evolutionary ecology of parasites, examining how their interactions shape individual hosts and entire ecological communities. It provides a comprehensive overview of parasite evolution and its broader ecological implications.

More Related Videos

An Introduction to Parasitic Wasps of Drosophila and the Antiparasite Immune Response
13:04

An Introduction to Parasitic Wasps of Drosophila and the Antiparasite Immune Response

Published on: May 7, 2012

Mass Isolation and In Vitro Cultivation of Intramolluscan Stages of the Human Blood Fluke Schistosoma Mansoni
12:05

Mass Isolation and In Vitro Cultivation of Intramolluscan Stages of the Human Blood Fluke Schistosoma Mansoni

Published on: January 14, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Leveraging Micro-CT Scanning to Analyze Parasitic Plant-Host Interactions
06:23

Leveraging Micro-CT Scanning to Analyze Parasitic Plant-Host Interactions

Published on: January 12, 2022

An Introduction to Parasitic Wasps of Drosophila and the Antiparasite Immune Response
13:04

An Introduction to Parasitic Wasps of Drosophila and the Antiparasite Immune Response

Published on: May 7, 2012

Mass Isolation and In Vitro Cultivation of Intramolluscan Stages of the Human Blood Fluke Schistosoma Mansoni
12:05

Mass Isolation and In Vitro Cultivation of Intramolluscan Stages of the Human Blood Fluke Schistosoma Mansoni

Published on: January 14, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Parasites play a crucial role in ecological systems.
  • Understanding parasite evolution is key to comprehending host-parasite dynamics.
  • The field integrates individual-level interactions with community-level impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize current knowledge on the evolutionary ecology of parasites.
  • To explore the transition of parasite dynamics from individual hosts to ecological communities.
  • To provide a framework for understanding parasite-driven evolutionary processes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research.
  • Theoretical modeling of host-parasite interactions.
  • Analysis of ecological and evolutionary principles applied to parasites.

Main Results:

  • Parasite evolution is influenced by host population structure and behavior.
  • Parasites can significantly impact host fitness and population dynamics.
  • Coevolutionary arms races between hosts and parasites drive biodiversity.

Conclusions:

  • Parasite evolutionary ecology is a dynamic field with broad implications for community structure and function.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the complex interplay between parasites and their hosts.
  • This work serves as a foundational text for students and researchers in the field.