How parasites play a vital role as caretakers of Earth’s ecosystems

When most of us think of parasites, our minds will likely turn to thoughts of the various icky creatures that can invade our bodies, make their homes there and end up making us ill. But the truth is that parasites make up a hugely significant part of all life on Earth and bring many benefits to the organisms they live in or alongside and the wider ecosystems they are a part of.

As part of our Nature’s Unsung Heroes miniseries, we’re joined by Timothy Brown, a researcher based at the University of Leeds and member of the IUCN Parasite Specialist Group who works on the conservation of parasite diversity, to talk about the many ways in which parasites influence life on Earth.

He tells us how our own bodies are host to trillions of different beneficial organisms, the key role parasites play in managing the balance of the animal life in the ecosystems they are part of and talks us through the most recent ideas researchers are working on to preserve these overlooked, but ecologically vital creatures.

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