Invasive Parasites and Global Change

Global connectivity is increasing the number of biological invasions. In turn, further anthropogenic stressors including a changing climate are increasing the establishment and impact of invasive alien species (IAS). IAS may provide novel hosts for parasites in the new range. Furthermore, parasites may be co-introduced with their invasive hosts, with opportunities for spillover to new hosts. IAS may themselves be parasites. In this chapter, we explore the effect of global change (climate, pollution, etc.) on biological invasions that are directly associated with invasive, co-invasive or acquired parasitic species (viruses, bacteria, Protozoa, Metazoa, etc.), as well as their role in disease emergence of native parasites. We provide a table of 23 examples from mammalian, avian, reptilian, amphibian, piscine, insect, crustacean, molluscan and plant invasions, which are associated with both global change and parasitism.