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The analysis of stable isotopes (SIA) in organisms, especially those of carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N), is a well-established and powerful tool for analysing trophic interactions between free-living organisms and energy and nutrient fluxes in ecosystems. However, SIA has only been increasingly used for parasitological studies in the last two decades. In this chapter, the basics of stable isotope chemistry and isotope ecology are first introduced in order to reach scientists who are not familiar with this field of research. It then reviews the main studies on host–parasite interactions and summarises the fractionation patterns observed between different parasitic taxa and their associated hosts, also highlighting the potential impact of parasitism on the isotopic composition of the hosts. In addition, different approaches to study nutrient uptake in parasites using mixing models are presented. Another focus is on nutrient fluxes within host-parasite systems using compound-specific stable isotope analysis, which has been used in very few studies to date. At the end, we present a short conclusion and outlook addressing urgent research needs.

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Host–Parasite Trophic Interactions as Revealed by Stable Isotope Analyses: Determinants for Trophic and Isotopic Niches of Hosts and Their Associated Parasites

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  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Milen Nachev,
  • Philip M. Riekenberg,
  • Maik A. Jochmann,
  • Ana Born-Torrijos,
  • Marcel T. J. van der Meer,
  • Nico J. Smit,
  • Torsten C. Schmidt,
  • David W. Thieltges,
  • Bernd Sures

摘要

The analysis of stable isotopes (SIA) in organisms, especially those of carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N), is a well-established and powerful tool for analysing trophic interactions between free-living organisms and energy and nutrient fluxes in ecosystems. However, SIA has only been increasingly used for parasitological studies in the last two decades. In this chapter, the basics of stable isotope chemistry and isotope ecology are first introduced in order to reach scientists who are not familiar with this field of research. It then reviews the main studies on host–parasite interactions and summarises the fractionation patterns observed between different parasitic taxa and their associated hosts, also highlighting the potential impact of parasitism on the isotopic composition of the hosts. In addition, different approaches to study nutrient uptake in parasites using mixing models are presented. Another focus is on nutrient fluxes within host-parasite systems using compound-specific stable isotope analysis, which has been used in very few studies to date. At the end, we present a short conclusion and outlook addressing urgent research needs.