Host-parasite relationships in anthropogenically affected environments

寄生虫在环境中广泛存在，是自然生态系统的组成部分。它们可以对宿主产生明显或微妙的影响，影响宿主的生化、生理、形态和行为特征。然而，寄生虫也能够积累大量的污染物，从而减少有毒物质对宿主的负面影响。在环境研究中，寄生虫及其对受感染个体和人群的影响得到了承认，但往往被忽视，宿主的反应往往被解释为仅仅是暴露于环境污染物的结果。总体而言，拟议的研究计划侧重于硒污染对水生系统中宿主-寄生虫相互作用的影响。通过实验室实验，拟议的研究计划将调查寄生和硒污染的综合影响的生存，游泳性能，能量学，和血液化学的黑头呆？将通过质谱（ICP-MS）和同步加速器技术（X射线吸收光谱）研究成年寄生虫（绦虫）中金属积累、分布和形态形成的动力学。

Parasites are widespread in the environment and are an integral part of natural ecosystems. They can have pronounced or subtle effects on their hosts affecting biochemical, physiological, morphological, and behavioural host traits. Parasites however, are also capable of accumulating pollutants in considerable amounts and thus reduce the negative impact of toxicants on the host. In environmental studies, parasites and their influence on infected individuals and populations are recognized, yet often overlooked, and host responses are often interpreted solely as a result of exposure to environmental pollutants. Overall, the proposed research program focuses on effects of selenium contamination on host-parasite interactions in aquatic systems. Through laboratory experiments the proposed research program will investigate combined effects of parasitism and selenium pollution on survival, swimming performance, energetics, and blood chemistry of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) and walleye (Sander vitreus). Dynamics of metal accumulation, distribution, and speciation in adult parasites (tapeworms) will be studied by means of mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and synchrotron technology (x-ray absorption spectroscopy.)