Parasite-Modified Chemical Communication: Implications for Aquatic Community Dynamics

Chemical communication within an aquatic environment creates intricate signaling web that provides species with information about their surroundings. Signaling molecules, like oxylipins, mediate a multitude of interactions between free-living members community including non-consumptive effects by predators. Parasites are another source molecules in communities and contribute directly synthesizing them or indirectly manipulating host chemical cues. If cues infected hosts altered, then other the may also be affected. Different from alter behaviors individuals related to foraging, competition, defense priming. Here, we discuss how parasites could modify cues, which have far reaching consequences for ecosystem. We modification represent mechanism parasite-modified behavior some systems provide parasites. Further, propose host-parasite system used investigate key, unanswered questions regarding relationship behavior, effects. explain trematode-gastropod can test whether there alterations diversity amounts available, if habitat use, immune function, Finally, argue changes pathway crosstalk broad ecological implications.