Chelsea Wood is on her knees, scouring the beach in Tacoma, Washington for shore crabs. Her mission is to dissect these crabs in search of parasites. Jesse Nichols captured this scene for Grist.
Wood explains that finding parasites in the local shorebirds is actually a positive sign. She believes that parasites play a crucial role in ecosystems, indicating the health of the ecosystem. Just like predators, parasites are essential for the balance of nature.
The story of gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park serves as a perfect example. In the 1920s, wolves were eradicated from the park, leading to a surge in the elk population. This overgrazing resulted in the decline of native beavers, causing a ripple effect on the entire landscape. However, when wolves were reintroduced in the 1990s, the ecosystem flourished once again.
Wood draws parallels between predator and parasite ecology, highlighting the impact of parasites on ecosystems. For instance, nematomorphs, a type of parasitic worm, influence creek water quality in a unique way. These worms manipulate their hosts—bugs like crickets or spiders—into carrying them back to water for mating, ultimately leading to the host’s demise.
Through her research, Wood aims to shed light on the importance of parasites in maintaining healthy ecosystems, much like predators do.
