Parasites as Agents of Selection in Fish: from genes to ecosystems

Parasites are increasingly recognised by biologists as important mediators of ecological interactions and agents of natural and sexual selection in host populations. Fish serve as hosts to a wide range of 'conventional' parasitic organisms (i.e. agents of disease such as viruses, fungi, lice and worms), and have proven to be extremely good models for testing key hypotheses in lab and field research. Furthermore, investment in courtship and parental behaviour risks parasitism by conspecifics that engage in 'sneaky' mating tactics. There is currently considerable interest in the impacts of both 'conventional' heterospecific parasites, and conspecific 'cuckoos' on the fitness of host individuals and the consequences of parasitism for populations and communities. This meeting addresses some of the most relevant and pressing research themes in fish parasitology, behaviour and evolutionary ecology.