Parasites and Biological Invasions

Biological invasions - the introduction, establishment, and spread of invasive alien species - are complex global phenomena that can cause significant environmental, ecological, and economic harm. Along with the direct effects of an invasive host organism, there is the additional threat of co-introduced pathogenic and parasitic species. Co-introduced parasites can affect the success of the invasive organism but can also go on to infect hosts in the new range, resulting in novel ecological interactions and complex impacts. These invasive parasites can have profound impacts on the success of a biological invasion, and can pose a significant risk to wildlife, in addition to organisms cultured for agriculture and aquaculture.

Compiling information on parasite invasions for the first time, this unique book:

• Provides an in-depth resource on parasite invasions, revealing the subtleties underlying biological invasions and co-introduced disease;
• Examines the phenomenon and consequences of parasite release in invaded host communities;
• Explores parasite invasion impacts, interactions and diagnostic techniques;
• Includes case studies across a broad range of hosts (plants, vertebrates and invertebrates) and parasites (viruses to large Metazoa), from a plethora of aquatic and terrestrial environments.

Authored by leading researchers in the discipline, this new book is a useful tool for helping invasion researchers incorporate disease data into their invasion models, as well a vital resource for researchers, policy makers, and environmental managers that are more generally interested in the myriad consequences of species invasions.