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This book looks at the weird and wonderful world of parasites, the most abundant form of life on Earth. Parasites come in all forms and sizes and inhabit every free-living organism. Parasitism is now, and always has been, a way to survive under changing environmental conditions. From arctic oceans to tropical forests, Scott Gardner, Judy Diamond, and Gabor Racz investigate how parasites survive and evolve, and how they influence and provide stability to ecosystems.
Taking readers to the open ranges of Mongolia, the Sandhills of north-central Nebraska, the Andes of Bolivia, and more, the authors examine the impact parasites have on humans and other animals. Using examples of parasites from throughout the tree of life, the authors describe parasite-host relationships as diverse as those between trematodes and snails and tapeworms and whales. They even consider the strange effects of thorny-headed worms on their hosts. Parasites offer clues to the evolutionary history of particular regions, and they can provide insights into the history of species interactions. Through parasites, biologists can weave together a global knowledge of the past to predict the challenges that we will face in the future.

Introduction
Parasites on the Move
Parasites of Poverty
Africa’s Threatened Paradise
Parasites in the Tree of Life
A Perfect Host
Hoberg’s Tapeworms
Whale of a Worm
Weaponized Worms
Hunting for the Origins of a Deadly Virus
Parasites in Paradise
Diversity in the Dunes
Kissing Bugs and Bucktoothed Potatoes
A Balancing Act
Appendix. A Guide to Parasites Mentioned