Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of
Date of this Version
8-1993
Abstract
Recently, Frey, Yates, Duszynski, Gannon, and Gardner (1992) suggested that parasitologists deposit specimens of hosts from which type specimens of new parasite species are collected. Their proposal was directed especially at systematic and evolutionary biologists. Frey et al. (1992) pointed out that, whether one emphasizes microevolutionary (e.g., Price, 1980) or macroevolutionary (e.g., Brooks and Mc- Lennan, 1993) aspects of parasite evolutionary biology, much of the context of evolution involves hosts. Robust estimates of the selective effects and the patterns of diversification of host associations require the best possible estimates of the host species involved. This is true for discussions of the relative importance of host specificity in parasite evolution, of host switching in parasite speciation, studies of the patterns and processes of parasite-host coevolution, and differentiation of evolutionary and ecological components of community evolution (Brooks and McLennan, 1993). I support the proposal by Frey et al. (1992) and suggest an extension of it: that parasitologists deposit voucher specimens of all host species examined in the course of survey or inventory studies, including purely ecological field studies. This practice would enhance and broaden the goals of the Frey et al. proposal and could produce new opportunities for parasitologists in biodiversity and conservation studies.
Comments
Published in the Journal of Parasitology (August 1993) 79(4): 631-633. Copyright 1999, the American Society of Parasitologists. Used by permission.