About this Research Topic
Marine ecosystems are increasingly exposed to anthropogenic pollutants, including toxins that pose significant threats to the health of aquatic organisms. Monitoring and assessing the impact of these toxins on marine fauna is essential for ecosystem management and conservation. This research topic explores the potential use of marine parasites as bioindicators for toxins and investigates their role as sinks for contaminants within marine ecosystems. Parasites, being intimately associated with their hosts, can accumulate, and concentrate toxins, providing a valuable tool for biomonitoring studies.
The bioaccumulation of toxins within marine parasites reflects the contaminant levels in their host organisms, making them indicators of the overall health of the ecosystem. This approach offers advantages over traditional biomonitoring methods, as parasites integrate exposure over time and across multiple trophic levels. Moreover, the study of parasites allows for the assessment of both biotic and abiotic factors influencing toxin dynamics in marine environments.
Furthermore, this research topic explores the potential role of marine parasites as sinks for toxins, contributing to the removal and sequestration of contaminants from marine fauna. The ability of parasites to accumulate and concentrate toxins may act as a protective mechanism for host organisms, potentially preventing the spread of contaminants through higher trophic levels. Understanding the dynamics of toxin accumulation and the mechanisms underlying the interaction between parasites and pollutants is crucial for elucidating the complex pathways through which toxins move within marine ecosystems.
This research topic will accept research through a multidisciplinary approach to assess the bioaccumulation patterns of toxins in marine parasites. By elucidating the dynamics of toxin transfer within marine food webs and the potential sink function of parasites, this research topic aims to contribute valuable insights for the development of effective conservation and management strategies to mitigate the impact of pollutants on marine ecosystems.
This research topic aims to collect a wide range of articles on the areas above. We will accept all article types permissible in Frontiers in Parasitology submission guidelines.
The bioaccumulation of toxins within marine parasites reflects the contaminant levels in their host organisms, making them indicators of the overall health of the ecosystem. This approach offers advantages over traditional biomonitoring methods, as parasites integrate exposure over time and across multiple trophic levels. Moreover, the study of parasites allows for the assessment of both biotic and abiotic factors influencing toxin dynamics in marine environments.
Furthermore, this research topic explores the potential role of marine parasites as sinks for toxins, contributing to the removal and sequestration of contaminants from marine fauna. The ability of parasites to accumulate and concentrate toxins may act as a protective mechanism for host organisms, potentially preventing the spread of contaminants through higher trophic levels. Understanding the dynamics of toxin accumulation and the mechanisms underlying the interaction between parasites and pollutants is crucial for elucidating the complex pathways through which toxins move within marine ecosystems.
This research topic will accept research through a multidisciplinary approach to assess the bioaccumulation patterns of toxins in marine parasites. By elucidating the dynamics of toxin transfer within marine food webs and the potential sink function of parasites, this research topic aims to contribute valuable insights for the development of effective conservation and management strategies to mitigate the impact of pollutants on marine ecosystems.
This research topic aims to collect a wide range of articles on the areas above. We will accept all article types permissible in Frontiers in Parasitology submission guidelines.
Keywords: Ecotoxicology, Trophic transfer, Parasitic biomagnification, Contaminant sequestration, Environmental health
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
