Ecological consequences of parasite invasions

Invasions of pathogens and parasites can have far-reaching ecological consequences in their recipient ecosystems. In this chapter, we provide a conceptual overview of the various mechanisms underlying these ecological consequences, which we illustrate using examples from the literature. We first describe the different ways invasive parasites can interact with hosts and parasites in invaded ecosystems and then discuss the direct effects of invasive parasites on native and invasive hosts. Following this, we explore the indirect effects of invasive parasites on other species via altering species interactions and identify knock-on effects on the invaded communities and ecosystems. Finally, we highlight that parasite invasions can also affect native parasites, and we identify knowledge gaps and areas for future research.