When a species dies, so do its parasites

Parasites are vulnerable to conventional threats such as climate change and habitat loss, but also to declining populations of their host species. Many recent extinctions are likely to have been caused by the extinction of a species the parasite depended upon.

Conservation actions may be as simple as stopping the unnecessary use of anti-parasitic chemicals or as complex as breeding “insurance populations” of parasites in captivity. Although there is increasing expert support, there is still a distinct lack of practical work.