Ecological effects of parasites: their contribution to stress responses of their hosts and their importance for dispersal processes (A09)

• Subject Area: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 426547801

The impact of the host-parasite-stressor nexus on ecosystem recovery, particularly in case of riverine food webs, remains unclear. Project A09 seeks to understand host-parasite interactions in rivers facing multiple stressors. In Phase II we will focus on the tolerance of parasitised and unparasitised macroinvertebrate hosts to salinity and temperature in laboratory experiments. To address the effect of parasites on dispersal, we will compare the dispersal capabilities of infected and uninfected aquatic insects. Additionally, we plan to study parasite recolonisation patterns following drought in the field flume system and in the recently restored main stem of the Emscher (recovery from severe degradation).

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1439: Multilevel response to stressor increase and release in stream ecosystems (RESIST)
• Applicant Institution: Universität Duisburg-Essen
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Bernd Sures