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Parasite biodiversity faces extinction and redistribution in a changing climate
Colin J Carlson1, Kevin R Burgio2, Eric R Dougherty1
1Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
Science Advances
|September 16, 2017
Summary
Climate change threatens parasite diversity, with 5-10% of species facing extinction by 2070 due to habitat loss. Ectoparasites like ticks are particularly vulnerable, and invasive species may alter ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Climate Change Biology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Climate change is a known driver of wildlife extinction and disease emergence.
- Impacts of climate change on parasite diversity remain largely undocumented.
- Parasites play crucial roles in ecosystems and disease dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of climate change on parasite diversity.
- To project range shifts and extinction rates for major parasite clades.
- To identify parasite groups disproportionately affected by climate change.
Main Methods:
- Compiled a comprehensive, spatially explicit dataset of 457 parasite species (53,133 occurrences).
- Utilized climate change models to project parasite range shifts.
- Estimated extinction rates considering direct habitat loss and host-driven coextinctions.
Main Results:
- Projected 5-10% of parasite species committed to extinction by 2070 due to climate-driven habitat loss.
- Ectoparasites, especially ticks, face higher extinction risk than endoparasites.
- Up to 30% of parasitic worms may face extinction when accounting for host coextinctions.
- Parasite richness may increase in some areas due to invasions by climate-tracking species.
Conclusions:
- Climate change poses a significant threat to parasite diversity, with substantial extinction risks.
- Ectoparasites are particularly vulnerable, highlighting the need for targeted conservation.
- Invasive parasite species may lead to unpredictable ecological consequences in new environments.
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