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VOL. 7, ISSUE 4 (2025)
Climate Change and parasite Conservation: Balancing biodiversity and disease dynamics in Wildlife
Authors
Mampi Dey
Abstract
The escalating climate crisis presents a profound paradox for wildlife
conservation: while parasites are a significant part of Earth’s biodiversity,
they are also agents of disease whose dynamics are being fundamentally altered
by environmental change. This review critically examines the intersection of
climate change, parasite conservation, and wildlife disease ecology. We argue
that traditional conservation paradigms, which often focus on eradicating
parasites, are increasingly unsustainable in a warming world. Instead, we
support a nuanced framework that distinguishes between parasites that require
active conservation as essential components of ecosystem function and
evolutionary history, and those posing emerging threats to wildlife populations
under climatic stress. By synthesising recent literature, this article explores
how climate change influences host-parasite interactions, including range
shifts, phenological mismatches, and immune system modulation. We assess the
conflicting conservation goals when a parasite is both a threatened species and
a pathogen of concern. Through comparative case studies- from nematodes in
Arctic ungulates to trematodes in amphibian systems- we emphasise the need for
adaptive management strategies that incorporate ecological, evolutionary, and
climatic data. Ultimately, this review proposes a roadmap for future research
and conservation efforts, underscoring that a comprehensive approach to
biodiversity must include the “unloved” majority parasites if we want to
accurately predict and reduce the cascading effects of climate change on
wildlife health and ecosystem resilience.
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Pages:202-210
How to cite this article:
Mampi Dey "Climate Change and parasite Conservation: Balancing biodiversity and disease dynamics in Wildlife". International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Vol 7, Issue 4, 2025, Pages 202-210
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