How A Single Parasite Species Can Change Every Life-Form Around It
Parasites are nature’s freeloaders, living off their hosts while giving nothing in return. But scientists have come to appreciate that even the greediest parasites can indirectly benefit other species by manipulating ecosystems—providing food, assisting predators and even building habitats. Indeed, some parasites are now counted among the ranks of “ecosystem engineers”— organisms that create, modify,…
