PATTERNS IN THE COLONIZATION OF NATURAL HOST COMMUNITIES BY PARASITES

The nature of the community interactions that promote or reduce parasite infections are still being debated, and this study seeks to elucidate some of the processes involved in the successful parasitism of host communities. The expected impact will be fundamental changes in the way that we look at parasites as agents of disease and also as biological entities, and contribute to the development of better strategies to manage parasites, invasive host species and aquaculture operations, based on sound ecological considerations.